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FINANCE MINISTER MICHAEL McGrath will be in the hot seat today, taking to his feet in the Dail at 1pm to announce Budget 2024.
McGrath is the first Fianna Fail member to hold the office since Brian Lenihan and the dark days of austerity which led to the downfall of the party after the crash.
This time around, McGrath says he will be telling a different story than his predecessor.
The total Budget 2024 package is about €6.4 billion, including taxation measures worth €1.1 billion.
Cost-of-living measures
Tax measures
Social welfare
Social welfare recipients will get the usual Christmas bonus, followed by an additional payment in January. This will amount to an extra €140 (double) for Child Benefit, €100 for the Qualified Child Bonus, €200 for the Living Alone Allowance, €400 for the Carers Support Grant, €400 for the Disability Support Grant, €400 for the Working Family Payment, and €300 for the Fuel Allowance.
Justice
Housing
Business
Education
Childcare
Health
Other measures
The finance minister has said that following today’s budget, people’s living standard will improve – however, he has sounded warnings about the need to prepare for clouds on the horizon.
Transport Minister Eamon Ryan confirmed yesterday that an increase in PRSI was also being discussed in the afternoon.
“We need some tax-raising measures. We have to careful to get the balance right. Our economy is at full tilt. We have to protect people from the cost of living impacts but at same time we have to make sure that we maintain sustainable public finances,” he told reporters.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin has said the Budget will provide support to deal with the pressures they are under with the cost-of-living, while specifically mentioning the that it should help young people aged in their 20s and 30s.
He said the government will protect this age cohort’s future entitlements and secure their futures.
Meanwhile, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe said “we really never know what is around the corner”, stating that the government is attempting to get the “balance right” in a way that will keep Ireland economically safe.
McGrath will begin his speech at 1pm, followed by Donohoe at 1.45pm. The speeches are expected to conclude at 2.30pm.
Sinn Fein will get an hour to reply, followed by Labour, the Social Democrats, People-Before Profit, and the three independent groups, with each party or group getting 45 minutes to speak.
All speeches are due to finish at 8pm and any Dail debate on any overnight financial resolutions will take place from between 8.30pm to midnight.
The Journal will bring you all the latest from Budget 2024 with a liveblog running throughout the day.
Our newsroom team and the politics team based in Leinster House will bring you all the latest as it happens, with breakdowns of what Budget 2024 will mean for you.
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If people kept to the correct lane there would be less accidents!
And if people kept to correct grammar there would be fewer mistakes.
If people kept to the speed, and gave a proper distance when pulling in in front of vehicle after passing there would be less accidents! Knowing that even when the speed limited is 100km in heavy rain slow bloody down to at least 70/80km! Ediots!
What was wrong with that grammar?!
If you’re being pedantic about it- and the commenter above undoubtedly was- “less accidents” should have been “fewer accidents.”
This is because of a rule that says “less” is used for non-count nouns (words like sand, for example, where you can’t talk about “a sand, two sands” etc.) and “fewer” is used for count nouns (“an accident, two accidents,” etc.)
While “less” is used in this context in speech and in casual writing to a huge extent (indicating that the rule is dying) it is technically incorrect in formal language. The fact that this rule is becoming less and less relevant to actual language use is nicely illustrated by the fact that you, a native speaker of English, were completely unaware of it.
Making cheap digs at someones grammar while hiding behind a pseudonym. Good man. Back in your box now.
People drive so fast on that motorway, €3 each way is a rip-off. That road is paid for 10 times over.
What happens when public services are privatised, the new owners milk you for every penny, after lots of wonderful promises. So people are paying taxes but now they’re also paying separately for all the stuff their taxes used to pay for and all the money you pay in taxes is going towards grants for multinationals and tax breaks for the very wealthy, senior executive salaries, vanity building projects, bail bailouts etc, its a total scam, people need to know it is.
Mark,
Are you one of the self-appointed speed guardians who stick religiously to the overtaking lane to stop others from driving at their chosen speed ?
What is too fast? Do you mean to suit road conditions, or over the speed limit? The RSA have increased the speed limit from 70mph to almost 75mph on certain motorways.
@Mark Larson,
It was only EUR2 when the tolls were there and people could pay there and then and not bloody forget 2 days lated and end up having to pay EUR12. That’s for someone not using it all the time and may just use it 2/3 times a month. Bring back the booths!
I don’t drive as i live in central London, ive seen how some drive on the M50 and way over the speed limit, and in and out of lanes, some crazy driving. You could never drive over the limit on the M25 in London as it is covered with speed cameras.
10 times more like 50
your man would repair the damage himself for a fraction of price. rip ofs
Anyone else notice that women don’t use the left hand lane on 3 lane roads? Unless exiting of course…
First noticed this on the day of the mini marathon when I came across what I though was a funeral procession on the M50. Huge line of cars in only the middle lane driving too slow and too close together. Alas it was only hoards of marathonetts on their way to the race (walk).
All afraid to use mon-sat bus lanes on a Sunday too…
Keep an eye out folks I’m not making this up…
I don’t think it just women, or people of a certain generation that are the problem.
I think the fact that learner drivers are not taught how to drive on a dual carriageway, never mind a three lane motorway is the problem.
Lane indiscipline is rife in Ireland. And people who call the outside lane the “fast lane” really get my goat up.
Don’t get me going about road hogging silver surfers in Toyota Avensis’….
It not just silly women it’s very much men also! Friday afternoon, in pouring rain most ediots were driving 100km +!!! some like myself slightly slower, because there was no way of seeing more than a car length ahead of me. There was a male driver, pulling a caravan, in the middle lane, refused to pull into inside lane. When I actually passed him to avoid the spray he was throwing up, I looked across, he was drinking coffee/tea from a flask mug and eating a huge cookie!
I disagree. There is a shit lot of drivers not only women that drive in the middle of 3 lanes. Mainly car drivers. Sickens me. Been a truck driver I end up undertaking cars not before I give a warning flash an blow the shite out of the horn….
@ Sheila – I’m not trying to be a grammar / spelling Nazi here, but as you’ve spelt ‘idiots’ as ‘ediots’ twice now, you’ve got me curious…is it slang for something else or what!?!
@ Nuffsaid Thatsall
I do beg your pardon! I try my best to read over my comment a couple of times before posting, I am dyslexic. I wish journal.ie would allow us to re-write our comments if needs be.
Are the operators of the M50 insured if the road causes damage to a persons car. Can we get this clarified.
add delays to that, not having ramps gritted during snow and ice. or re-embursement of tolls when lucan exit was closed due to the queen. I hate using M50, if I have to be some place that’s important I’ll use other roads rather than risk tailbacks.
Eh, what’s the problem. If you cause damage and are at fault then you pay the bill through your insurance policy. Accidental damage to a road barrier is the same as an accidental rear ending.
cjmalone1969. It’s a long time since I took a bus but do CIE allow scaffolding planks and 8X4 sheets of ply, with a large steel box of tools? Ah I think I’ll stick to the van, but thanks anyway.
Don’t feed the troll!!! ; )
Yeah, I hate when the bus brakes and the top of the acrow comes flying out…
Personally, I think it’s reasonable enough. If you do cause damage as a result of negligent driving, you should be liable for the cost of damage caused.
But as other posters have mentioned, the service providers have a duty of care to the users of the M50 as well, which I personally think is lacking a lot of the time. And this is most evident come the winter months.
I recon the repair companies have a lottery on this. They could put any amount through an they would pay up. I’d love to know how much a foot of barrier is….
This totally understandable. I mean if you are driving carelessly than fork out. Well unless you will die than there is the problem. But I suppose not your anymore.
If your fatally injured and liable your insurance still pays out for your liability. It’s pretty standard and nothing new to be honest.
it sucks 3k a year from me. H.A.T.E……………………
The RSA are finally doing ads for people on motorways to tell them how to drive.
Strange that this sort of thing isn’t covered when people were learning how to drive.
Does that mean if your car is damaged due to potholes etc you can claim from them
Why don’t all you sad moaner drivers sell your car and take to walking, biking or public transport and then have a moan about that :)
I’d like to see you walking or cycling on the M50…. As for public transport: I haven’t seen any bus or LUAS stop on the M50 so far….
18,000 for a barrier?More likely 200 max & as for the labour involved this highway maintanence shower pay there staff by the week not the job.I could pick up a new car for 18,000 & a hell of a lot more work goes into that.
Scandalous.
have your say