Budget 2020

Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe TD, presented his Budget to the Dáil on 8 October 2019.

Below is an overview of some of the main changes announced in the Budget.

For further information on Budget 2020 and previous Budgets visit http://budget.gov.ie/Budgets/2020/2020.aspx.

• Christmas bonus payment of 100% for all social welfare recipients in 2019
• Qualified Child Payment increased by a further €3 for over 12s and €2 for under 12s
• Fuel Allowance increased by €2 per week
• Living Alone Allowance increased by €5
• €15 increase for the One Parent Family Payment and Jobseeker Transition income disregards
• €10 increase for the Working Family Payment income threshold

• Earned Income Tax Credit for the self-employed increased by a further €150, making it €1,500 per year
• Increase of €100 to the Home Carer Tax Credit, making it €1,600 per year

• Extending Help to Buy to the end of 2021
• Living City initiative extended to end 2022

• Deal or No Deal, €200 million will be available next year for staffing and infrastructure needs
• In the event of a No Deal, €650 million in contingency funding will be made available to support affected sectors. €220 million will be released immediately

• Free GP care to under 8s
• Monthly threshold for the Drug Payment Scheme is being reduced by €10 and increasing medical card income thresholds by €50 for a single person or €150 for a couple over 70
• Phased provision of free dental care for children under 6
• 50c increase in excise on cigarettes

• Increase in carbon tax from €20 to €26 per tonne – auto fuels increase on Budget day, other fuels delayed until May 2020
• Diesel rebate scheme for hauliers
• 1% diesel surcharge replaced with Nitrogen oxide emissions-based charge
• Extension of BIK zero rate on electric vehicles and VRT reliefs for hybrids
• Equalising electricity tax rates for business and non-business

For full details on the changes announced in Budget 2020, see the Minister's statement.