Social Welfare
- weekly social welfare rates will be increased by €12 for working age recipients
- there will also be a €12 increase in weekly payments for pensioners
- the Working Family Payment threshold will increase by €40
- there will be a €2 increase in the weekly rate for a qualified child qualified child
- there will be an increase in eligibility for Fuel Allowance
- a €500 lump sum for families availing of the Working Family Payment , a €500 lump sum for carers , a €500 lump sum for people in receipt of Disability payments and a €20 increase in the domiciliary care allowance for sick children
Health
- all inpatient hospital charges will be abolished
- GP visit cards will be provided to those on or below the median income (340,000 additional people)
- there will be a €2 increase in the weekly rate for a Qualified Child
- the Drug Payment Scheme threshold will remain at the lower rate of €80 in 2023
- funding will be provided to provide access to IVF treatments
- free contraception will be available for all women aged between 16 and 30
Childcare and education
- there will be a Free School Book Scheme for primary school pupils from autumn 2023
- over 660 additional mainstream teachers, over 1,190 SNAs and 680 special education teachers will be provided
- the National Childcare Scheme hourly subsidy is to increase from 50c to €1.40
- there will be a €500 increase in post-graduate contribution grant for eligible families
- over 4,800 additional places on craft and consortia-led apprenticeships and 4,000 places on craft apprenticeship programmes will be supported
Housing
- funding will be made available to support 8,800 new HAP tenancies and 800 RAS tenancies
- 9,100 new-build social homes, 5,500 new affordable homes for sale and rent and 6,500 new social homes will be supported
- funding to deliver 37,000 home energy upgrades
