By John Madden.
It’s that day of the year again, the Annual Budget. It’s not a ‘Giveaway’ Budget so it’s doubtful there will be too many huge expectations once it is all announced over the course of the next day or so.
Here are some of the main announcements of Todays’ Budget Address:
Cigarettes tobacco: 20 cigarettes will increase by 50 cents
Social Welfare: Extra €5 per week
Old age Pension: Extra €5 per week (to be confirmed)
Diesel: No change
Petrol: No change
Medical Cards: Prescription charges are to be reduced for everyone with a medical card under the age of 70. This will see a decrease €2.50 to €2 per item. This also means that the monthly cap for prescription charges will be decreased from €25 to €20.
Sugar tax: To be implemented in April of next year.
Welfare and pension Christmas bonus: Social welfare Christmas bonus is expected to be paid at 85 %, e.g. If your weekly payment is €188, your Christmas bonus would be €160 (give or take a few cent).
Alcohol: No change
Increased spending on SNA’s: Expected to see an increase of 1000 SNA’s across the country.
Family Income Supplement: Increase of €10 per chid
