The government is finalising a €2 billion cost-of-living package in advance of today’s budget release, reports Breaking News.
Budget 2025 calls for two child benefit double payments, potentially before the year ends.
It is also anticipated that welfare rates, including the state pension, would rise.
In addition, Leaving and Junior Certificate fees are scheduled to be waived for a further year, and a €250 energy credit is expected to be revealed, reports Breaking News.
Niall Conroy, senior economist of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, is apprehensive about the planned tax cuts and expenditure hikes.
Mr Conroy told Newstalk: “When the economy is performing really well, as it is at the moment, with really high employment and really low unemployment, this isn’t the time when the economy really needs support from the government.”
The jobseekers’ allowance shouldn’t rise at the same pace as other social assistance benefits, as agreed upon between the Taoiseach and the Minister for Social Protection, reports Breaking News.
Leading coalition figures and top-ranking ministers had high-level talks on Sunday evening in anticipation of Tuesday’s budget.
According to Mr. Harris, this is not a “ideological debate,” but rather a practical one.
“At the end of the day, Government is ultimately going to have to say, ‘These are many good ideas, how do we best make the carpet fit the room?’,” reports Breaking News.
He added: “We’re going to see all of the social welfare payments increase – it is just a question of how much. For everything we do here, it means you can’t do something else there. That’s the balance we have to try and get right,” reports Breaking News.
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