USEFUL RESOURCES
IRISHRAIL.IE/MEDIA/DETERMINATION_ ORDER_2017.PDF This document, from the National Transport Authority, outlines the changes to public transport fares which kicked in at the start of this month. It runs through the increases and decrease on various Dublin Bus, Irish Rail, Luas and Bus Eireann fares. It also outlines the fares which have been withdrawn or newly introduced. Dublin Bus’s city centre fare, for example, will be withdrawn by the end of next month while since December 9, Luas has introduced a city centre fare of €1. Towards the end, there are fare tables that allow you to check if there has been a change to the exact fare you pay for your travels. ÷ SEAI.IE/SUSTAINABLE-SOLUTIONS/ ENERGY-SAVING-TIPS/ This link, which is from the website of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), offers advice on how to make your home more energy efficient — which in turn should reduce your energy consumption and bills. ÷ SWITCHER.IE This is a price-comparison website which allows you to search for the best gas and electricity deals — as well as the cheapest suppliers for broadband, TV and phone. ÷ BONKERS.IE This is a price-comparison website which allows you to search for the best deals on electricity, gas, broadband, mortgages, credit cards, and loans — among others. ÷ BUDGET.GOV.IE This website gives details of the various changes announced in Budget 2018 and is worth checking to remind yourself of the various tax changes set to kick in in the New Year. ÷ AFFORDABLECHILDCARE.IE This website offers information on the various childcare subsidies available under the More Affordable Childcare Scheme. The scheme’s universal subsidy is available to all parents who have children between the ages of six months and three years in childcare — as long as the childcare provider is registered with the child and family agency, Tusla and has signed up to Zappone’s affordable childcare scheme. The scheme’s means-tested subsidies, which are available for children up to the age of 15, are expected to become available at some stage in 2018. In the meantime, there has been an increase in the means-tested childcare subsidies already available to families on low incomes, or who are training or returning to work. You can also get a list of the childcare providers that have signed up to the subsides on this website. THEAA.IE/AA/MOTORING-ADVICE/COSTOF-MOTORING.ASPX This is a link to the Automobile Association’s breakdown of the cost of motoring. On the ‘Fuel prices’ link of this page, you can find out the average cost of a litre. ÷ PUMPS.IE This website outlines the petrol and diesel prices charged by garages around the country and average petrol and diesel prices.