The stimulus package at a glance...

SOCIAL PROTECTION

THERE was good and bad news for those on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP). The bad news is it will be reduced and divided into three separate rates on September 17: €203 for those who earned less than €200 per week before Covid; €250 for those who earned between €200 and €300; and €300 for those who earned over €300. The good news is it will be extended until next April, when all three rates will merge into the standard jobseekers’ allowance payment of €203.

HOLIDAYS

PEOPLE holidaying in Ireland can claim back up to €250 on their hotel, food and (non-alcoholic) drinks bill. It will run from October until April and people will have to spend up to €625 to claim back the maximum €125 tax rebate per person – a couple can claim €250. A €10million restart fund for the tourism sector is also being introduced, along with a €10million pilot performance support scheme for the culture sector, to help plan for events in the context of Covid-19.

TRAINING

EMPLOYERS will be paid €3,000 for every apprentice they hire. They will be paid €2,000 in the first year and €1,000 in the second if the apprentice is retained. There will also be €200million for work placements, for those who lost their jobs during lockdown. This will include 10,000 placements for those without work for over six months and 2,500 places under the training support grant, with a further 35,000 places in education and training courses.

TRANSPORT

THERE will be €113million for trains/ buses, and the cycle-to-work scheme allowance goes from €1,000 to €1,500 for e-bikes and to €1,250 for pedal bikes.

SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY

THERE will be €75million for repair and minor construction in schools. €40million for infrastructure in heritage, arts, tourism and the Gaeltacht and €20million for the Court Service and the Gardaí. There will also be €60million for refurbishing vacant homes and improving water infrastructure. There will be an additional €10million for town and village renewal and €10million for fishing and for renewable energy projects on farms.

PROPERTY

GOOD news for first-time buyers. The help-to-buy payment will increase from €20,000 to €30,000 on the price of new homes. The cap on the price of homes that qualify stays at €500,000.

SHOPS AND SERVICES

THERE will be a six-month reduction in standard rate of VAT (23% to 21%), from September at a cost of €440million.