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LAST UPDATE | 30 Sep 2024
THE BUDGET IS set to include a €2 billion cost of living package and a number of once-off payments, The Journal understands.
Coalition leaders and senior ministers have wrapped up budget negotiations ahead of the announcement tomorrow at 1pm.
Taoiseach Simon Harris took to Instagram to say Government leaders and the money ministers have “just finished” budget negotiations at 10.20pm this evening. “It is 23 minutes past 10 and the budget is now ready to go to Cabinet tomorrow,” he said.
“I think it’s a really good package. I think what we’ve tried to do here is get the balance right,” he said.
He added that the first element of the budget is to assist the public with the cost of living while the second element of the budget is to plan for next year’s investment in education, healthcare, childcare and housing.
Once-off social welfare payments will likely be issued before and after Christmas, which will include two double child benefit payments before Christmas along with extra payments on fuel and living alone allowances.
It is understood that the ‘Baby Boost’ payment, which grants a triple child benefit payment to new parents, has been agreed and will be announced tomorrow.
From next year, new parents will receive a one-off €420 payment as well as increases to maternity and paternity leave benefits.
Cost-of-living measures
Tax measures
Social welfare
Health
Other measures
There has been much talk at the weekend about a sticking point over the level of social welfare increases.
The Taoiseach agreed with Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys yesterday that the jobseekers’ allowance should not increase at the same rate as other social welfare payments, saying it is a “practical” matter rather than an “ideological debate”.
“These are many good ideas, how do we best make the carpet fit the room,” Harris tod reporters yesterday.
He agreed with his Fine Gael colleague that the allowance should not be prioritised over payments to carers, pensioners and people with disabilities given that the economy is operating at near full employment.
However it is understood that a €12 increase will now be rolled out to all social welfare payments, including jobseekers after the Greens and Fianna Fáil said leaving out one cohort of people would not be acceptable to them.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said today that the budget is now “largely complete” but added there will be a meeting this evening to finalise it.
Martin said he is “bemused” by the reports of back and forths between coalition parties, stating that there was never a €15 increase put on the table for discussion at any meeting he has attended.
He said there was “spinning”, “mischief” and a “phoney war” going on, stating that it has been “overplayed” and is “much to do about nothing”.
“There’s a bit of spinning going on here that has no substance, really. Because for the last four years in government, this never arose. There was never an issue made about this by any party government. It was always agreed that the same level would apply… maybe it’s the cycle we’re in,” he added.
Martin said inflation has come down but prices have remained at an elevated level, he said.
There continue to be sticking points, with ongoing discussions on the VAT rate for the hospitality sector.
Government sources state that this spend was not accounted for in the Summer Economic Statement, however with bumper surpluses, the money might be found.
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Maybe if we were not taxed to death, we wouldn’t need a cost of living package. Only getting our own hard earned cash back is all.
@Shimo F: Govt also need to stop wasting money so that that massive increase in Income tax and VAT takes thanks to the cost of living can reduce the amount of tax we pay. Temporary COL measures aren’t good enough. They need to adjust the tax bands and credits to better reflect the inflation while cutting their spending. Inflation is a little over 20% since 2019, their spending is up over 30%, income tax changes = breadcrumbs
@Shimo F: yes but as is the norm in all these things. Given in one hand and I’m afraid taken back double with the other
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: it’s a contradiction that though. While I agree we are taxed way too much, reducing taxation is in itself inflationary. It will drive inflation so you are contributing to an endless cycle. The reason they are doing one off credits is because it doesn’t put money back in the economy as such. It isn’t as inflationary. But you are right, taxation in this country is much too high, especially for what we receive from the taxation which is very, very little.
@Shimo F: we’re not, taxes on work are amongst the lowest in Europe, plus we don’t pay water charges.
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: like bailing out rte so they can buy rubbish about the royal family
@Tony McGrath: The Irish love the Royal family.
@Pat Hazzard:
Now, Pat , slow down we have the highest energy charges in the euro zone
don’t mention the property tax. Pensioner’s pay 40% on earnings over €350 pw
. A housing crisis .
Health crisis etc etc.
Check out the many creative Tax loopholes and you may see where the real money is going..
Happy days.
@Shimo F: Except this is not true. Next year, a single person with standard credits, living with their parents can earn €44,000 and only pay 18.5% in total tax. If they rent, have kids or cohabit that can be much less. A person earning €50k will only pay 24%, 80k will pay 40% and anyone earning more than that can afford the tax! It is a fair system but taxes on property and assets would be fairer. The IMF tried and failed to bring that in here when we were bankrupt so what chance does any government have of bringing it in now!!
@Sean Callan: we don’t, Belgium, Italy and Germany are currently higher. Our LPT is far less than the property taxes in UK, France and most of Europe too. Plus you didn’t mention no one on state pension pays a cent in tax on that, and anyone with a private pension availed of tax relief at up to 40%.
@Pat Hazzard: what do you mean by water charges? We’re paying motor tax and taxes in petrol where you are paying for water.
Another thing is can we call that what’s running from our taps as water? Smell and coloured where people are told not to drink it even if cooked?
@Pat Hazzard: we do pay for water in our motor tax!!
Delighted to be an artist.
@Shimo F: aye!; they’re never giving anything back, just taking less.
These once-off social welfare payments will likely be issued before and after Christmas
What’s the point in getting up at 5am Monday to Friday when you get rewarded for doing nothing
@Mick O’K: Mate, have you actually totted up what the annual income is for someone ONLY on benefits with a council house etc? You can definitely survive but it’s not exactly a glamorous life anyone would aspire to.
@Mick O’K: You do realise non means tested one-off payments go to the wealthiest also, like michael O learys, wife gets children’s allowance as does Simon Harris, and all those Tds and senior civil servants.
Yet the marginalised are singled out by you. I have more of a problem with the waste in this country. Over a 1000 euro a week increase for tds and senior civil servants who waste tax payers money, and get rewarded as opposed to some poor person, who doesn’t work through many reasons.
@Rob Hunt: hi Rob, married couple of kids, I work my wife works, mortgage goes out on time every month, bills paid on time, running a ten year old car, tax and insurance paid on time. All that comes from our efforts in the work place. I’d like to have a dropsie before Christmas too. There are people that have never worked a day in their life, there are people on sick benefits and well able to work. If you’re able to work you should work, there is no need to sit at home all day
@Colette Byrne: do parents not get children’s allowance Collette? Or is just ‘wifes’ as you put it?
@Rob Hunt: still doing alot better that those familys who work and rent and barely cover all costs
@Colette Byrne: Simon Harris salary is about €240,000. He contributes around €84k in income tax, €9.5k in PRSI and €15.5k in USC (tax calc used, pension not included)……. I wouldn’t begrudge him getting any children’s allowance for contributing that much.
@Sean Parker: separated Dads don’t get children’s allowance, and they more than likely pay maintenance. They are forever forgotten in the budget.
@Fiona Wyse: 100%
@Rob Hunt: i know plenty who have kids with the girlfriend. she gets new three bed semi D, fella moves in with them, claiming the dole. then they do gym classes or personal training on the side for cash in hand. I know of a married couple, he’s a guard and she’s a teacher. got a brand new 4 bed house for free as the girls father is a local county councilor. there’s plenty of ways to play the system.
@Mick O’K: always looking at the social welfare and not concerned at where the billions have gone that has us in debt to €230bn – doubled by this government. It’s not social welfare spends that has increased this debt for our kids to come.
@Peter McGlynn: if they’re giving out free money Peter I’d like to get some. Why should someone who gets money from the government every week be the ones getting it and not those in the work force
@Sean Parker: don’t change the subject, the fact that everyone gets it’s regardless if they need it or not. Weather it parents or husband or wife or cat. It’s not means tested, and the wealthy don’t need it.
@Colette Byrne: Anyone that works deserves credits and tax breaks, should not matter what they make or where they work. Mind you that people that earn more also contribute much more. Just because someone earns more should not mean he has to pay for all the bums out there. Those who don’t work deserve nothing (unless you are physically handicapped or over 66).
@Mick O’K: you can add Saturdays to that aswell.
@Rob Hunt: probably surviving just as much as the middle income workers
@Colette Byrne: not changing any subject nor do I disagree with your point. I just come from an area where the local was packed on ‘micky money day’ with women. Just hate the suggestion of children’s allowance being viewed as the mothers wage rather than the parents allowance to support their child.
If you choose not to work, not to contribute, even though you are physically able to, then why would you vote for a change in party if you are getting an increase in welfare payments. Their votes count as much as the worker.
@Peter J H: I doubt many of them vote
@Peter J H: why can’t these people who as you said are able to work not made work for their social welfare payments? Why do we give the money away for free for no return, nothing, jot squat. If you have a physical ailment that’s fair enough but if not…….
@Thomas Meaney: which costs the state more, someone on job seekers allowance or someone getting a free gaff in a new development in the likes of Howth, Blackrock, Killiney……etc because a % of new developments need to be social housing.
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: it’s in their interests to vote for the ones that accommodate their chosen lifestyle
@Thomas Meaney: Ireland is too soft, simple as that
@Peter J H: well said peter
@Peter J H: yeah I get what you’re saying but If theyre too lazy to work I don’t think they’re too bothered about politics or even reading the news. You’re overestimating their intelligence!
@Peter J H: Do I have to fly home to pick up the Christmas bonus or can I just stay in Tenerife?
@Peter J H: it’s the Greens who want the job shy to get the same increase as pensioners. Thankfully it appears they won’t be in Govt next time.
@Peter J H: It’s also funny that the one claiming “IRISH first!” are usually the one benefiting from welfare the most while doing peanuts for their country.
@Peter J H: because it’s still not enough given the cost of living including rent increases?
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: No-one gets a free gaff. Where do you come up with this bullshyte?
@Thomas Meaney: perhaps one day you might be let go from your place of employment and you’ll be happy to receive some help too. It doesn’t take a lot in life to find yourself at the bottom of the pile
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: no free gaffs, they still pay rent, heating, electricity…
@Thomas Meaney: why can’t these people who as you said are able to work not made work for their social welfare payments?
That’s called slavery and it is illegal. If there is a job there for them they can go to that job and get paid a living wage.
@peter willekens: Nominal rent. Either way, govt spends a million on one gaff in these estates because of this % social housing requirement
@kendo Nagasaki: how is it slavery? They are getting paid by the tax payer for doing nothing with all sorts of freebies with it, why not make them do something? Social welfare is far too high in ireland and people get too comfortable on it. It should be much lower like in the US, Canada, UK etc, where you are pretty much in poverty.
People on the dole should not be getting once off payments.
@Rick James: People called (P)Rick shouldn’t be judging other people.
@kendo Nagasaki: get a job
Lol Australian family who visited over the summer shocked. They earn more, taxed less and cost of living here is far higher.
@James King: They were lying to you. I moved to Australia in the 80s, when it was cheaper and higher paid than Ireland, and I moved back to Ireland almost 5 years ago to retire. We go back every year from Late November to January and find it way more expensive than here. We can live well here but we would be struggling a bit if we had stayed there. A lot of groceries and everyday items are close to twice the price as they are in Ireland. My daughter, granddaughter and a friend are visiting here at the moment and they find it much cheaper than Australia. They are astonished at how cheap it is to live here.
@David C: if they come back to live here they would have a different outlook quite quickly though I think.
@James King: cost of living is way higher. They promise the world, but I don’t know anyone in Australia working a 4 days week they have to work, 5 days to afford to live comfortably.
Lying to you.
@James King: Australia has a lot of natural resources which Ireland hasn’t.
@Vincent Alexander: Kylie!!!
@Buster Lawless: In her prime I’d say she was something else.
@Lydia Mcloughlin: Why do you think that? My kids have their own houses but in general anybody under 45 will probably never own a home. They have a similar or worse housing crisis than we have. When a house comes on the market people who can afford it bid against each other on the day it becomes available and then it usually sells on that day for way over the asking price. Also when rentals become available you can have 30 or 40 people bidding above the rental asking price and it goes to the highest bidder. As I said in my post I go back for a couple of months every year and we keep a small car there. The only thing I find cheaper there is petrol. Everything else is much more expensive and we would be struggling to live there again compared to how well we have been living here for 5 years
@James King: In things that never happened, you took the today’s price.
@David C:
This is an interesting observation. Are there any relatively new Irish immigrants to Australia who could make an observation about the observed budget differences , i. e. Taxation, Accommodation, food , living expenses, health insurance etc?
@James King: The average house price in Australia is €800,000 so I don’t think so.
@James King: Really? I have seen 1bed apartments in Sydney for over 1.2 million. Hardly cheaper there.
Every budget time these parasites in FFG/g try to buy the election. Unfortunately for the rest of us they normally succeed.
@Gerry Lamont: You are fortunate that the alternative government doesn’t get it. Less social welfare or more tax to pay for an extra ministry and a border poll.
@Gerry Lamont: yes I agree with u. But the electrit buy in all the time. And then complain when it’s done. What are we at
@John Flanagan: What is the alternative? Vote for change. Change to what? SF has one agenda and that is Irish unity. It is not a bad objective but it won’t put food on the table or bring stability. Their policies are populist and unachievable.
@Vincent Alexander: true but surely we try anything once
@John Flanagan: I haven’t put my hand in a fire yet and I have no intention of trying it.
Scrap green taxes, Ban vulture funds buying up our homes.
These giveaways are to hide spending…..an analysis of the details of spending is what is needed after the budget.
Elderly care is a mess, education for children with additional needs is massively under funded and under resourced yet, we will see more money pumped into vanity project for the political parties…ones that make them look great at international stage im sure plenty of money will be found to house and support more and more aslyum seekers arriving. Anyone dare speak a word and they will be labelled as far right
I would like to ask if the HOMEHELPS will get any rise alot of people thinks we are Carers but we are not. Just like to c HomeHelps getting something because without them we r all lost they do great work.
@carmel danaher: do you mean private home helps or hse, because hse will say they don’t supply home helps only carers, and you can only help with cooking a lite meal and personal care needs.
Now they are saying you are not allowed feed a person.
Yet a vast amount of people with alziemers would need help with feeding. So no, I wouldn’t be increasing their wages, as their work loads are getting less and less.they need to speak out against these crazy changes that effect many households that have family carers who do the work for very little and when they actually get supports told they have to stay to feed their loved ones so no break at all for them. Many home helps don’t even stay their alloted time.
Get our national debt down.
@Paddy Ryan: Why? When was the last time we were free from national debt?
@Alan Kennedy: my point exactly
@Paddy Ryan: It’s been reducing the past few years after an increase during COVID. Not many countries debts are reducing
@Paddy Ryan: why? Like genuine question, why? You do know what happens national debt with inflation? It becomes smaller in relative terms. Why would we pay a chunk of it off now when it’s gonna be worth less in a couple of years time? It’s not clever and does nothing to improve the life of citizens here. It’s a horrendous waste of money paying a chunk of that off now and only advocated by people who think all debt is bad and are afraid of their lives of it. Improve infrastructure, more schools, more hospitals and don’t let BAM near any of them. Also raise tax bands to the 50k they promised 6 years ago and give something back to the people who actually work (including carers and pensioners) and keep this country going rather the consistent hand outs to those that don’t.
@Paddy Ryan: Your point shows your lack of understanding and knowledge about a national debt. You just embarrass yourself.
@Eoin Jackson: by that logic let’s not pay it off at all. Let’s keep borrowing money like there is no tommorow and saddle the next generations with debt they can’t afford. There is never a right time to pay off a countries debt but let’s do it when we are able to. Look at interest rates we are paying on an hourly basis
Shocking.
@Paddy Ryan: when are we borrowing money Paddy? Did we borrow money this year? Do you understand what a surplus is? You do know the service of that debt is already built in to the surplus. Like there literally is zero benefit what so ever to paying a chunk of the national debt off – absolutely none. We save a couple hundred mil of interest next year. Yipeeee!! Add it to the billions of a surplus. That money we saved is going to drastically improve the lives of citizens here at the expense of 25bn. What a smart idea. We have paid 13bn off the national debt in the last 2 years alone. Did you know that? I bet you didn’t have a notion… stay afraid of the big bad debt paddy. It’s going to get you!!
Double it up dem dogs in d Dail are squandering money to bate d band let’s have a party P
@Paddy Ryan: USA are only 37 TRILLION in debt….. doesn’t seem to bother them much.
Trying to buy votes after the numerous financial f ups that have come to light and nothing more.
@Maire Hicks: you’re right Maire. Better if they gave nothing away. Then you could moan about them doing nothing
More squandering of taxpayer’s money by Government.
@Jack Cass: if they gave nothing in the Budget U would still have something to complain about
@Sheila McNulty: Giving nothing is a lot preferable to the squandering of hard earned taxpayers money. Then again, as a minimum wage paid mouthpiece for the Government, I wouldn’t expect anything but criticism from you.
I’m reading there hospitality might get there vat changed back it amazes me that these restaurant and hotels can charge what they like. But prices up with a bat of the eye. And when there is a big concert or show on. Prices rocket up. Proves one thing though. If u are a large lobbying group pressure works.
@John Flanagan: have you ever experienced a price reduction in the hospitality sector when VAT has been reduced from 13.5% to 9%? There should be no reduction in VAT for this sector on that basis alone.
@Jack Cass: no price reduction no. But when the vat went back up to 13.5% you see them raise prices by 15-25%. You know, for the vat. I inquired in a takeaway after the 13.5% came back in about the price rise and they said “vats gone back up”. I quickly said I agree with him yeah the vat went up 4.5% and the price on this menu raised 20% not 4.5%. There was no response to that. They all do it, not just a select few. Reducing vat to 9% is just giving them an excuse in 2-3 years to jack prices again when the 13.5% is restated.
When a packet of coco pops is nearly 5 euro in Dunes, it’s trouble.
@Áine G: coco pops are bad eating
Need healthier options.
Doesn’t appear to be a whole lot in it for the single worker… Again!
@Nicola O’Leary: wrong, average worker should be at least €1,000 better off, those with young children more so.
@Pat Hazzard: How so? If you’re single, no children and nowhere near the famous average wages?
@Athena: average worker is on the average wage, hence use of the word average.
Child support , energy support, welfare increase ….will not help people .
You just want votes , since 2004 governments bribe the voters in legal way ,and it works brainless keep vote for cl0₩n$
You need to focus in housing, education, health system.
@sakk sa: Have you read the article?
It’s all a game.
@James Leahy: Keep your eye on the ball, see if you can guess the cup!?!?
@Thesaltyurchin: lol the cup will be overflowing this time but it could be empty the next time.
I really wish adult public transport fares were reduced more, dare I say it even to the level of teens and OAP’s. Not all of us have the luxury of driving and rely on public transport to go anywhere. It does add up quite significantly every month.
How many ‘one off payments’ do we get before it’s not a one off payment anymore?
@Dermot Blaine: well the Usc was a once off. And it worked perfectly
@John Flanagan: so was the VAT increase from 21% to 23%, it was meant to be temporary
USC is a penal tax that was introduced at the height of the financial crisis in 2010 by FF to help fill up a huge hole in public finances. It was meant to be a temporary but 14 yrs later it still exists! Reducing it by 1% when it should no longer exist is unacceptable!
As for €250 energy credit, if electricity bill does not amount to €250 any credit left over a 9% tax is deducted from the credit balance. Despicable! As for other benefits the gov is offering in upcoming budget it’s of zero assistance to me as I’m a home owner barely managing to meet mortgage repayments. I’m single, child free, full time healthcare worker earning under €42k, non smoker/drinker. No wonder why so many Irish people leave this hell hole as it’s unbearable to live in. Can’t wait to leave this cesspool!
@Denise Deacy: you’re rather confused. If your bill doesn’t amount to €250 then the remainder of the amount remains as a credit on your account to be used against future bills. Plus you will also benefit from increase in tax allowances, as well as pay rises agreed in public sector pay agreement, with another 1% due tomorrow.
44k 20% bracket is an insult. Veradkar promised 7 years ago this would at 50k within 5 years. At this rate it will be 3 more years before it reaches that. Another disappointing budget for the taxpayer.
@Fintan Stack: and you believed leo the liar!
Where are the substantive budget policies? We need massive investment in housing and infrastructure and to issue international tenders to bring in construction workers – another nonsense budget that will achieve nothing!
@John Lyons: it’ll keep the below average intelligence levels of your typical fianna gael voters happy though. This is enough to buy them off.
Tell me how u would try buy an election without saying ur trying to buy an election?
The government giving the taxpayers some of their own money back. Trying to buy votes.
@Chris Lane: are you new to politics or what?
Bring back something like “laser” card for welfare payments which can be only used everywhere but in ROI no cash can be withdraw from it or small amount.
@Bliger: so how do you pay for a carton of milk?
@Bliger: what? bring “back” laser cards that can only be used everywhere? I dont think they ever had them to bring them back and only using them “everywhere” really narrows it down
@Alan Kennedy: by card
@barry williams: main point to spend money in the ROI not for weeds subsidies and not for cash going out. Name the card as you wish.
@Bliger: * but only in ROI
@Bliger: Who do you think you are to tell other people what to spend their money on? Get back in your box.
@kendo Nagasaki: beggars can’t be choosers
Jack & Paschal & FF, FG & Greens proving once again that it doesn’t pay to work hard & pay your Taxes in Ireland. Most of the measures are geared around those who don’t work or contribute, it’s sickening. No once off bonus payment before Christmas for those working & paying for it all. Young people working are leaving in droves, no hope left in Ireland, more respect for the Ukrainian’s & Immigrants than the working Irish. Massive social division & a lot of pent up anger ready to explode in Ireland.
So much for the working man
And what does the hard working person who gets up 5am every morning and not home until 7pm get, kettle me guess taxed more? Sure at this stage it be better to get the double payment at Xmas. I’d say if we see 40 euro a month extra in our wages, wouldn’t buy you bread, milk and eggs at this rate.
As usual there’s nothing there for an awful lot of middle earning people.
@Pat Barry: true cut the child benefits to single payments not double and give the money to the working people
USC is a penal tax that was introduced at the height of the financial crisis in December 2010 by FF to help fill up a huge hole in the public finances. It was meant to be a temporary measure. But 14 years later it still exists! Reducing it by 1% when it should no longer exist is an utter cop out.
@Denise Deacy: it’s prudent to gradually reduce it, as it’s a stable tax base.
442k for each modular home for refugees. Basically a glorified caravan.
That’s it, not voting for you muppets.
Vulture funds bulk buying only up 5% as if it matters to them it’s an instant wright off in taxable expenses technically cost’s Vulture fund buyers nothing so the cartel continues
@N D K: Yes on charity status.
So the undesirables on the dole get a rise!!! Alrighty then
Social welfare should decrease not increase and it might get them to try and get a job, if not tough sh it, country is way too soft.
@Shane O Mac: why would they do that. only cost them votes.
The VAT has to reduced down to 9. The hospitality sector has no hope unless it does. At least then it can survive the increase in min wage and sick pay. It’s has a catastrophic few years with rising costs.
@Happy Harry: Any employer { whether hospitality or otherwise} that claims it needs a government subsidy in order to ” survive the increase in minimum wage and sick pay” simply ISN’T viable to start with.
@Buster Lawless: You forgot a few things…… Increases in rent, insurance, energy bills, food, drink, new pension enrollment, sick pay….etc. Minimum wage has also sky rocketed in the past number of years compared to inflation so maybe have a clue what you’re talking about before you post. It isn’t just an increase to minimum wage that’s affecting businesses…… Although I’d expect nothing less from a hard core Trump supporter
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: kinda miles off topic bringing American Election into matters?? I’ll make this v simple….. There is NO ONUS on government/taxpayer to ensure every business is viable & profitable….. If business “A” needs government subsidy to make it profitable….. Let it sink & focus/ support the businesses with a future
@another one? everyone has those increases, workers have increases in health ins, and all those bills and keep you in business, by showing up every day. If the business is not viable, it’s just no viable. To many coffee shops, with crazy prices.
A salad anywhere from 10 to 16 euro. And sandwich up to 12 euro. That why they close over charging for basics.
@Buster Lawless: It’s your mentality from those posts and what you spout…. If the govt is forcing pay increases (the min wages) which far outstrip inflation, if they force sick pay, if they force pension contributions well there is an owus IMO. I’m in favour of them for the worker but there has to be some sort of bedding in period and relief for the business if needed. The higher cost of everything has caused the govts VAT receipts to explode as well. It’s massive compared to pre covid. These businesses are getting hit from all angles compared to a few years ago. It’s a perfect storm, prices and costs go up for the businesses, they in turn up their prices, customers are turned off, they generate less revenue, they close. Like we’ll known and established restaurants like Brasserie sixty6.
@Colette Byrne: I’m not a business owner. See previous comment why prices have gone up. It’s not 2019 anymore, you need to adjust your reality as to what’s the normal price of things now.
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: look, I’ll make this as SIMPLE as I possibly can….. There’s a cafe in town ( nice place, nice staff)…. I used to stop in there regularly & a cappuccino was €4.60c……. then this new place opened just down the street ( again, a nice place with nice staff) & their yummy Cappuccino is €3.20……. whenever I’m in town & fancy a coffee which place is always packed out….. Go figure
@Happy Harry: Most of the hospitality businesses that have gone to the wall this year because the tax that they had to payback to revenue in the warehouse scheme was due to be paid back from May.Most milked it for the summer and got as much cash out too as they could.
@another one? what’s going on is the semi state sec: & with due respect DON’T become a business owner either, it’s not for everyone & there’s ZERO guarantee you’ll be successful & turn a profit
@Buster Lawless: there will never be an agreement on this. There is enormous costs now in running a restaurant. Every week some blue collar knob sitting in his office thinks of something else to torment us with to justify his job. No one one wants to work anymore. You’re constantly looking for staff. As soon as there trained (at cost) they leave and half of them are clueless anyway. HR costs are gone through the roof. It’s just not worth it anymore and that’s wrong. It’s 24/7 now and very stressful. I suggest you give it a try and see how you get on.
@Happy Harry: been there, done that, retired comfortably early 50′s……. Always lived by some simple tenets….. first & foremost was that the STAFF are the best asset of the company
@Buster Lawless: well I got out myself a few years ago. My timing was impeccable. But I still have acquaintances who I know are on fumes.
@Buster Lawless: well done, you can get coffee for around 2 quid in McDonald’s….. If you’re going to make things SIMPLE make the point on the topic ….. There are a lot of extra financial pressures on businesses since 2019. This is compounded by govt decisions to buy votes. Min wages is up 30% since 2019 and more expected in the budget……. Assistance is needed to help them. Especially considering the govt VAT take was 36% higher last year than 2019, and probably more this year!
Credits for electricity,but they seem to forget that a lot of peoples heating is gas or oil fired to heat they’re homes..
@Will Q: every single house in the country uses electricity though is the point, if you use gas or oil heating for example you won’t pay an electricity bill for a while…
The entire Transport sector in all of it’s decades-long generational neglect we have free fares for under nines, clearly a milestone in the evolution of Irish services, I genuflect to the wisdom bestowed upon the Irish people by such staggering ideas…
@Thesaltyurchin: we will have thousands of 9 year olds running freely for their free buses, the green impact on mammy’s in range rovers should save us a fortune.
Oh if the bus turns up.
@Colette Byrne: Literally the entire country outside of the m50 will of course need to drive to this service, BUT i don’t wana take away too much, it is ‘good’ after all.
Love how they casually leave out all the increases to the usual suspects like alcohol and tobacco.
Any chance they might drop the drug payment scheme by few bob 80 month is quiet expensive
@larry ryan: it was 120 so I don’t see them dropping this again anytime soon.
Micheál Martin says that the proposal for a €15 increase in social welfare was never put forward, apparently not did it ever cross his mind nor consciousness……..
The mask slips once again!
@Maurice Byrne: idle scroungers should be getting less, not more freebies!
1% tax reduction. Thanks for the generosity.
Again nothing to get excited about.
If they add 10euro per month to child benefit than all civilized and good people of Ireland will vote FG and FF. Michael Martin promised that and if not implemented than FG sneaky set him up. Absolutely disastrous move before the election to show people that such low set up is a norm for FG.
Ah crumbs for the serf from the Lords table.
Increase to threshold for higher rate…helps higher earners more, drop in 4% usc rate also helps higher earners more, as usual nothing for the middle to low income earners
@he didnt take the 120k because he already got it s: because we pay all the tax, you simpleton
It’s madness that pensioners get the same raise as jobseeker leeches.
No matter how much money they’ll give to me for “free”, I still won’t for them.
I saw a video of an unfortunate women yesterday who was holding a walky-talkie to her ear. It exploded, and took away most of her face. Was that a war-crime?
@Max: as they were targeting Hezbollah terrorists, then no
Spinning taken place says tanaiste, from the biggest spinner Ireland has ever seen.
The question here is always what do ppl want and unfortunately u have to have compromises. U can’t have low taxes and funding for public services
@John Purcell: I dont think most people mind paying tax John its the public services we get for them aint fit for purpose
@John Purcell: If the government were not so wasteful with the taxpayers’ money, we wouldn’t need such high tax rates. They are a shambles of a government
@barry williams: if u look at the comments here I’m not sure people want to pay taxes.
The issue with the public services is that it can never be changed and TD’s have no
Influence on same. Senior civil servants and the unions will never allow any efficiency projects as they all have a massive vested interest.
If you look RTE and the waste there, imagine the waste in the HSE. But u could never try and change the culture as u won’t be elected.
@John Purcell: if they all took the same approach to the HSE and collectively came together to change it someone will always be elected and the changes put into effect. This is one monster they should all want to change.
@Lydia Mcloughlin: no politician will take on the public service not one
Please sir may I have some more, the wolf is coming and he’s huffing and puffing he’s going to blow my camp away.
More loot for the Crèche’s!
tax everyone to death and then throw crumbs to the peasants …nothing much changes
I wish for Michael to go away with this budget.
Minimum wage doesn’t pay simple as that..
12 Euro for OAP which is 624 in a year and they think that matches inflation and Michael Martin thinks that 15 was been BANDIED about . They don’t give a Fluck about us
30 millions for new medicines and 35 for womans healthcare – how long is this supposed to last? 1st week of January?
Why is it that every time they get enough money to do something ground breaking for Ireland as a whole the break it up into such tiny amounts that its rendered useless just so they can try to buy off a section of the population they have lost during there tenure. Also teyna buy off the gray vote again with scraps,the one cohort that doesn’t need a house in the future.
Prediction: 33% of us will condemn the budget as not generous enough, 33% will say that it’s too generous, 33% will say it’s an election budget, and 1% are too well off to notice.
these measure to “help” are for the one they fear. The common fella can feck off with very little or zero allowance or cut
1% USC is nothing where it should have been abolished
other than that the hard working people have it in the backside again…. what’s new with the same old chesnut ?
have your say