Plenty to take on board.

Tuesday marks one of the most important days in Ireland’s political calendar as Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe prepares to outline Ireland’s Budget for the coming year.

Much of what is to come in today’s Budget is already known, such as expansion of free GP care to include children under the age of 8, a 50% discounted travel pass for people between the ages of 18 and 23, and funds for the hiring of 800 new Gardaí.

Social welfare payments, including the State pension, will see an increase of €5, as well as a €5 increase in weekly fuel allowance. Those in receipt of the Back to School allowance will also see an increase of €10.

The heaviest investment comes in the healthcare sector, with as much as €1 billion expected to be spent on measures to suppress Covid in the coming year. €200 million has also been earmarked for the purpose of reducing waiting lists in Irish hospitals.

Carbon tax will increase by €7.50 per tonne, bringing the figure to €41 per tonne, estimated to represented a €17 increase to a house’s natural gas bill, and a 90c increase in the price of a bag of coal. The higher rate of income tax will also be narrowed, with the higher rate now kicking in at €36,800 rather than €35,300.

Free optical and dental treatments will also be made available to those between the ages of 25 and 28 after just nine months of PRSI contributions, slashing the current requirement of five years’ worth of contributions.

Header image via Twitter/@PaschalD