The budget

[Taytocrisps]

Well, what do you think?

Very happy with the tax cuts, although I'm not sure exactly how much extra it will mean in take home pay.

Also very happy with the reduced VAT rate for electricity (I don't have gas) and the three energy credits in 2024. Home heating oil is horrendously expensive atm - €1,200 for a full tank of home heating oil. If my electricity bill is lower then it will free up money for oil.

I will also benefit from reduced college fees.

The Mortgage Interest Tax Relief won't impact me but I'm happy for those who will benefit from it. Same with the Social Welfare increases and free school books for secondary school (1st - 3rd years).

I’m about €30 per month better off but doesn’t touch the sides of cost of living.

For me the extra 2k before 40% kicks in. They've already started taking that back via increased PRSI. Reduced USC from 4.5-4% better than nothing.
2 kids in primary and a toddler (use a cm) older kids already get school meals and feee books. I think child benefit will be paid at 18 if child is still in FT education, not sure secondary or college. I'd say everyone got a tiny bit 😂
No mortgage relief (we switched before rates shot up), glad for evergy relief but I'd rather tax credit to reduce income tax but hey can't complain.

Not impressed with the increase in social welfare. They should be focusing on getting people who can, into work, and rewarding workers. Too many people long-term unemployed doing nothing.

I thought this budget was in favour of the middle people. Looks like it's the bottom who benefited again. If I have to listen to my neighbour brag to me again about how much she has gained , she's only delighted with herself. Sure why wouldn't she, sitting in her hole all day because she's a lone parent with 3 young kids and the 80 euro rent she pays a month is "killing her" ! She can go socialising 3 nights a week, runs a big fancy car and take numerous breaks and holidays.

Mean while I had my carer's cut, hopefully I'll be able to get it back with the increase of the threshold to 900. Fuck sake, work my blooming arse off caring for my severely disabled dd but I'm obviously not worth the miserable money they pay! Maybe I should tell DH not to bother working.. anyone know when this new means test/threshold of 900 comes into effect ?

The electric, god i'm moaning big time here, when's the 1st payment ? Usual shite, budget happens all the bills come in the next day, poxy electric is 350 euro ffffs. Bet next door doesn't pay that much, probably included in her council house and benefits. I usually use the carer's towards the electric but that's not going to go very far.

Social welfare is already ridiculously low.. People have to be able to live on social welfare.

You might find yourself on social welfare yourself. You could lose your job.

220 a week is absolutely nothing.

Job seekers allowance is 880 a month.

Renting a room is about 600 - 700 a month

I lost my job and I was on JSA for about three months while looking for another job . I wouldn't have survived at all if it wasn't for my parents.

I was talking to a woman from Sweden. Everyone in Sweden , if they lose their job, they get 80% of their previous income. Everyone gets that.

She couldn't believe how low JSA was in Ireland.

We all might lose our jobs at some stage or be in between jobs. The JSA needs to be enough that people can afford to live on it, in between jobs.