Simon Harris: Budget 2025 puts more than €2 billion back in people’s pockets before Christmas

It is my first budget as Taoiseach and I make no apology for it being ambitious and showing I have listened to what people have told me as I crossed the country in the last six months

Budget 2025 is for families, for parents, for pensioners, for workers, for carers and for a fair society.

It is a budget that puts more than €2 billion back in people’s pockets before Christmas because people deserve and need more help now. It is a budget that also thinks long-term and will deliver more housing, more hospital beds, and build more schools.

It is a budget that secures your children’s potential and ensures we put money aside to protect us from future shocks. It is my first budget as Taoiseach and I make no apology for it being ambitious and showing I have listened to what people have told me as I crossed the country in the last six months.

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Between now and December 31, every child in Ireland will receive €700 in child benefit. That is made up of this Thursday’s standard payment as well as double payments in November and December. I believe this money is necessary to help families as we await falling inflation to be reflected in the prices in the shops.

Those families who have children in school will see hot school meals extended to all primary schools and free schoolbooks for every student up to their Leaving Cert, those under nine years old will travel for free on public transport.

Families with children in third level will see college fees cut by €1,000. Families with new arrivals from January 1 will see a payment of €460 to help them with newborn costs and all households and families will get €250 in energy credits. Maternity, Paternity and Parental benefits will be increased by €15 a week.

The budget ensures our pensioners and carers are recognised and given a bit more help. Every pensioner will receive an increase of €12 per week in their pension. There will be an extension to the fuel allowance so more people qualify and people over 70 can bring a companion on public transport for free.

Our carers will receive a significant package, including an increase in the support grant. There will be a €12 increase for weekly payments for carers and people with disabilities too. We will extend carer’s allowance to the self-employed and carers will now be for eligible to apply for fuel allowances. We have invested in special needs education with 1,600 special needs assistants and 700 special needs teachers.

Workers have not been forgotten and we have increased the point at which people pay the higher rate of tax from €42,000 to €44,000. We are cutting the USC by 1 per cent on incomes between €25,000 to €70,000. All of this means a full-time worker on €56,000 will get €916 in tax savings. That’s 50 per cent more than in the Sinn Fein budget. They won’t tell you that when they’re shouting and throwing personal insults.

I know housing remains the number one issue in Ireland and that is why my first budget as Taoiseach sees the most any government has ever invested in housing. The housing budget is being boosted by €3 billion from the sale of AIB shares. €7.8 billion has been given to the Department of Housing, making us one of the biggest spenders on housing in Europe and we’re extending Help to Buy until 2029 – offering €30,000 in support to first-time buyers. A scheme Sinn Féin would scrap.

In six months, I have shown that I can bring new energy to government delivery. I am determined that will continue to mean more private housing, more social housing and more affordable housing. Budget 2025 is about delivering for you and your family.

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