The budget for 2019 was announced today.
Among the announcements, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe confirmed the allocation of €2.3 billion to housing programmes in 2019.
He also allocated €1.25 billion to create 10,000 new social homes in 2019, telling the house that “more new homes will be provided this year than any year in the last decade”.
A further €60 million increase in capital funding has been allocated for emergency accommodation in 2019.
Minister Donohoe also increased the welfare payments buy €5 a week, as well as fully restoring the Christmas bonus.
The minister also confirmed that parents are going to be getting an extra two weeks of parental leave, with a new scheme set to begin in 2019.
A €1.05 billion increase in health funding was announced, bringing the overall health budget to €17 billion. Mental health services will be allocated an additional €84 million next year, bringing the total budget to €1 billion.
Minister Donohoe added that he is allocating an additional €1.4 billion for schools, universities, public transport and other important infrastructure projects in 2019.
Around €196 million is capital funding has been allocated for education, with 1,300 new jobs to be created in schools next year.
The budget for 2019 will also see the minimum wage increase to €9.80 as of January 1, 2019
Check out the rest of the highlights below.
Total expenditure on capital in 2019 will be €7.3 billion #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
€2.3 billion to be allocated to housing programmes in 2019 #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Minister Donohoe says that €59.2billion current expenditure – a 4 per cent increase – will be seen in hospitals, garda stations and schools #Budget19 #HerBudget
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
A 1 per cent surcharge will apply on diesel vehicles. Minister Donohoe adds that Ireland will no long purchase diesel-only buses after July 2019 #Budget19 #HerBudget
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Inheritance tax threshold for children receiving property from their late parents to rise by €10,000. #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
9 per cent VAT rate for newspapers remains – and gets extended to electronic publications #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
There will be a €5 per week increase in all weekly social welfare payments beginning next March. #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Affordable Childcare Scheme base income threshold to rise from €22,700 to €26,000 and multiple child deduction will increase from €3,800 to €4,300. #Budget19 #HerBudget
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Home Carers’ tax credit to increase by €300 #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
An additional 950 Special Needs Assistants to be recruited in 2019 #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Garda budget to go up by €60 million – 3.5 per cent increase. This will allow for an additional 800 new gardaí. #Budget19 #HerBudget
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Minimum wage will be increased to €9.80 next year. #Budget19 #HerBudget
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Third rate of USC to be reduced from 4.75 per cent to 4.5 per cent #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
New paid parental leave scheme to provide two extra weeks to every parents of a child in their first year. Gov intend to increase this to seven weeks over time. Scheme to be introduced in November 2019 #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Betting tax to double to 2 per cent. #Budget19 #HerBudget
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Entry level for the higher rate of income tax will increase by €750 to €35,300 #Budget19 #HerBudget
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Higher education is getting additional €150 million. Overall, education is getting an additional €196 million in capital funding. #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Earned Income Credit for people who are self-employed to be increased by an additional €200. #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Increase in €60 million in capital funding for emergency accommodation in 2019 #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
1,300 new jobs to be created in schools in 2019 #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
€1.25 billion to be allocated to create 10,000 new social homes in 2019 #Budget19 #HerBudget
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Income thresholds for Affordable Childcare Scheme will increase in 2019. Max. income threshold will go up from €47,500 to €60,000 after tax. #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Christmas bonus payment has been restored to 100 per cent this year #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Defence Services to get €29 million for investment projects. This includes equipment replacement for Army, Air Corps and Naval Services #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Minister Donohoe says he is allocating an additional €1.4 billion for schools, universities, public transport and other important infrastructure projects in 2019. #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Funds schools get for their day-to-day operation to rise by 5 per cent next year #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
A pack of 20 cigarettes to increase by 50 cents from midnight. #Budget19 #HerBudget
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Paschal Donohoe says the rate of unemployment is at its lowest level in a decade #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Funding for mental health services to be increased to €1 billion #Budget19 #HerBudget
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
VAT for hospitality sector to rise to 13.5 per cent on January 1, 2019. #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Minister Donohoe says that 'more new homes will be provided this year than in any year in the last decade' #HerBudget #Budget19
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018
Minister Donohoe announces €1.05 billion increase in health funding in 2019 #Budget19 #HerBudget
— Her.ie (@Herdotie) October 9, 2018