The budget for 2019 was announced today. Among the announcements, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe confirmed the allocation of €2.3 billion to housing programmes in 2019.He also allocated €1.25 billion to create 10,000 new social homes in 2019, telling the house that "more new homes will be provided this year than any year in the last decade". A further €60 million increase in capital funding has been allocated for emergency accommodation in 2019. Minister Donohoe also increased the welfare payments buy €5 a week, as well as fully restoring the Christmas bonus. The minister also confirmed that parents are going to be getting an extra two weeks of parental leave, with a new scheme set to begin in 2019. A €1.05 billion increase in health funding was announced, bringing the overall health budget to €17 billion. Mental health services will be allocated an additional €84 million next year, bringing the total budget to €1 billion. Minister Donohoe added that he is allocating an additional €1.4 billion for schools, universities, public transport and other important infrastructure projects in 2019. Around €196 million in capital funding has been allocated for education, with 1,300 new jobs to be created in schools next year.The budget for 2019 will also see the minimum wage increase to €9.80 as of January 1, 2019
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Total expenditure on capital in 2019 will be €7.3 billion
€2.3 billion to be allocated to housing programmes in 2019
Minister Donohoe says that €59.2billion current expenditure a 4 per cent increase - will be seen in hospitals, garda stations and schools
A 1 per cent surcharge will apply on diesel vehicles. Minister Donohoe adds that Ireland will no longer purchase diesel-only buses after July 2019.
Inheritance tax threshold for children receiving property from their late parents to rise by €10,000.
9 per cent VAT rate for newspapers remains - and gets extended to electronic publications. There will be a €5 per week increase in all weekly social welfare payments beginning next March. Affordable Childcare Scheme base income threshold to rise from €22,700 to €26,000 and multiple child deduction will increase from €3,800 to €4,300. Home Carers’ tax credit to increase additional 950 Special Needs Assistants to be recruited in 2019 use by €300. Garda budget to go up by €60 million 3.5 per cent increase. This will allow for an additional 800 new gardaí.
The minimum wage will be increased to €9.80 next year.
The third rate of USC to be reduced from 4.75 per cent to 4.5 per cent. New paid parental leave scheme to provide two extra weeks to every parent of a child in their first year. Gov intend to increase this to seven weeks over time. Scheme to be introduced in November 2019. Betting tax to double to 2 per cent. Entry-level for the higher rate of income tax will increase by €750 to €35,300. Higher education is getting an additional €150 million. Overall, education is getting an additional €196 million in capital funding. Earned Income Credit for people who are self-employed to be increased by an additional €200. Increase in €60 million in capital funding for emergency accommodation in 2019.1,300 new jobs to be created in schools in 2019.€1.25 billion to be allocated to create 10,000 new social homes in 2019. Income thresholds for Affordable Childcare Scheme will increase in 2019. Max income threshold will go up from €47,500 to €60,000 after tax. Christmas bonus payment has been restored to 100 per cent this year. Defence Services to get €29 million for investment projects. This includes equipment replacement for Army, Air Corps and Naval Services. Minister Donohoe says he is allocating an additional €1.4 billion for schools, universities, public transport and other important infrastructure projects in 2019. Funds schools get for their day-to-day operation to rise by 5 per cent next year. A pack of 20 cigarettes to increase by 50 cents from midnight. Paschal Donohoe says the rate of unemployment is at its lowest level in a decade. Funding for mental health services to be increased to €1 billion.VAT for the hospitality sector to rise to 13.5 per cent on January 1, 2019. Minister Donohoe says that 'more new homes will be provided this year than in any year in the last decade'.Minister Donohoe announces €1.05 billion increase in health funding in 2019