WE STRUCK THE RIGHT BALANCE OF RELIEF AND SUPPORTS
E‘High visibility policing is crucial’
XTRAORDINARY times demand extraordinary measures. Budget 2023 is of its time, with a wide range of supports to help to ease the costof-living pressure on households.
As the greatest crisis in global energy markets since the 1970s intensifies, there is broad agreement on a solution to the crisis.
We need to reduce our dependence on energy imports and become more energy efficient, in line with our climate goals.
A comprehensive programme of grants to make homes more energy efficient is now available for households and we have put the funding in place to deliver it.
However, these measures will take time to realise their full potential. I am fully aware that people need help now.
The Budget measures I announced on Tuesday with Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe will provide immediate relief for individuals, households and businesses.
Our €2.2billion cost-of-living package will start coming into effect in October, with further measures in the weeks ahead.
Every household is impacted by rising energy prices. As well as targeted measures, we believe it’s important to provide a certain level of support to all homes.
Therefore, an electricity credit of €600 will be paid to all households in three instalments, one before Christmas and two in the new year.
This will ease the burden on families paying these hefty bills. For businesses, our energy scheme aimed at SMEs will help with the spiralling cost of electricity and heating bills.
It was a particular priority of mine in the Budget to support working families. Those in receipt of the Working Family Payment will receive an additional €500 in November to help them with household bills. Families paying Third Level fees will benefit from a reduction in the student contribution of €1,000 this year.
A double child benefit payment will be made in November. Children and their parents will also benefit as we roll out a new scheme to make school books free for all primary school children, starting next September.
Provision has also been made for more teachers, school bus services and a cut to childcare costs of up to 25%.
This move will put up to €175 a month or €2,100 a year back in the pockets of hard-pressed parents next year.
We are also targeting resources at some of the most vulnerable in society. The cost-of-living package includes an extra €400 one-off payment for those in receipt of fuel allowance.
This will be made before Christmas. More people will qualify for Fuel Allowance in 2023.
A once-off, double-week social welfare payment will be made in October to pensioners, carers, people on disability payments and jobseekers.
The normal Christmas bonus will be paid in December. We are recognising the invaluable work of carers with a €500 lump sum payment among a range of targeted social protection measures.
Core welfare payments are the bedrock of our social protection system and the weekly increase of €12 is in addition to the range of one-off measures.
To give an example of the cumulative impact these measures will have – a single pensioner, living alone, in receipt of fuel allowance will receive approximately €2,400 extra between now and the end of 2023, as a result of this Budget.
Housing remains a priority with the Government committing a record €4.5billion next year to deliver our Housing for All plan.
We are providing the money to build 9,100 social homes, with a significantly increased budget for retrofitting social housing.
Renters will receive a tax credit of €500 this year and a further €500 in 2023.
When it comes to health, we are committed to tackling waiting lists with more funding for a targeted action plan.
The Budget also allows for the recruitment of up to 6,000 extra staff to enhance health capacity and care.
Hospital inpatient charges of €100 will be removed for all public patients while a muchneeded publicly funded IVF scheme will be introduced.
We have all been shocked by recent instances of anti-social behaviour. High visibility policing is crucial to keep communities safe.
I was pleased to allocate funding to recruit 1,000 extra gardaí and 430 Garda civilian staff.
This will guarantee that there are 200 new recruits entering the Garda College every three months over the coming years and play a major part in tackling crime and lawlessness in our society.
Overall, this Budget seeks to strike the right balance with a range of targeted measures to help those most in need, universal supports and investment in our public services.
Of course, none of this increased spending would have been possible without careful ongoing management of the public finances.
Economic uncertainty will continue to be a feature of life in Ireland for some time to come but people can be reassured that we are on a journey together to a fairer and better Ireland in the years ahead.