Good news for parents, bad news for smokers: 10 key points from Budget 2019
It’s bad news for smokers, but good news for almost everyone else.
As Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe announces the details of Budget 2019, we’ve collected the key points.
Here’s what we know so far…
1. Social welfare: There will be a €5 per week increase in all weekly social welfare payments from next March. The 100% Christmas bonus payment will also be restored to all social welfare recipients this year. The Qualified Child Payment, paid to parents on social welfare, is to increase by €2.20 per week for under 12s and by €5.20 per week for over 12s.
2. Minimum wage: The National Minimum Wage has been increased from €9.55 per hour to €9.80 per hour, effective from January 1st, 2019.
3. Income tax: The entry point for income tax is to be raised by €750 to €35,300 in the case of a single entry worker.
#Budget19 pic.twitter.com/fMQ4F1Usm6
— Department of Finance (@IRLDeptFinance) October 9, 2018
4. Health: Another €84 million will be invested in Mental Health Services in 2019. Prescription charges will be reduced by 50 cent to €1.50 for medical card holders over the age of 70. The weekly income threshold for GP Visit cards will be increased by €25.
5. Housing: The Minister allocated €1.25 billion “for the delivery of 10,000 new social homes in 2019″.
6. Parental leave: All parents in Ireland will receive an extra two weeks’ paid leave in their child’s first year from November 2019.
— Dept. PER IRL (@IRLDeptPER) October 9, 2018
7. Lone parents: Working lone parents on One-Parent Family Payment or Jobseekers Transitional Payment can now earn up to €150 without it affecting their payment – this is an increase of €20 in weekly earnings.
8. Carers: There will be a €300 increase to the Home Carer Credit, bringing its value to €1,500.
9. Cigarettes and Alcohol: Excise duty on a pack of 20 cigarettes was increased by 50 cents, bringing the price of cigarettes to €12.70. There is no increase in excise on alcohol.
10. Back to School: A €25 increase in the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance was announced and will apply to each eligible child.
