This guide provides a high-level overview of Budget 2024. It aims to explain how money will be raised and spent in 2024.
One-Off Cost of Living Supports
| Measure | Date |
| €450 electricity credits (3 x 150) | 2023/24 |
| €300 Fuel Allowance lump sum | Winter 2023 |
| €200 Living Alone Allowance lump sum | Winter 2023 |
| Double month Child Benefit | Winter 2023 |
| €400 Working Family Payment lump sum | Winter 2023 |
| €100 Qualified Child Increment lump sum | Winter 2023 |
| Double week for all weekly welfare schemes | January 2024 |
| €400 lump sum to selected welfare categories | Winter 2023 |
| Double payment of Foster Care Allowance | Winter 2023 |
Tax Measures
- An increase of €2,000 in the income tax standard rate cut-off point for all earners.
- €200 increase in the Incapacitated Child Tax Credit.
- €100 increase in the Personal Tax Credit.
- €100 increase in the PAYE Tax Credit.
- €100 increase in the Earned Income Credit.
- €100 increase the Home Carer Tax Credit.
- €100 increase in the Single Person Child Carer Credit.
- A reduction in the middle rate of Universal Social Charge (USC) from 4.5% to 4.0%.
- An increase of €2,840 in the threshold at which the middle rate of USC is paid, from €22,920 to €25,760.
- Increase in the Rent Tax Credit from €500 to €750.
- 75c Increase in Excise Duty and VAT on a pack of 20 cigarettes.
- Extension of VRT relief for Battery Electric Vehicles to the end of December 2025.
Expenditure Measures
- Free School Book Scheme for junior cycle students at post-primary level.
- 1,000 new Garda and 250 Garda Staff.
- Restoration of maintenance grants to postgraduate students on a similar basis to undergraduates.
- 400 additional military personnel.
- €67 million to provide 16,000 craft apprenticeship programmes.
- 10,200 new tenancies under the HAP and RAS schemes.
- 20% fare reduction on public transport continued to end of 2024.
- 6,400 affordable homes for sale and rent.
- 6,000 new households supported through Social Housing Current Expenditure Programme.
- €207 million to bring back vacant and derelict units through the voids programme and Croí Cónaithe scheme.
- €12 increase in the Weekly Social Welfare Rate for working age recipients.
- €12 increase in weekly payments for Pensioners.
- €54 per week increase in the Working Family Payment threshold.
- €4 increase in weekly rate for a Qualified Child.
- Up to 2,000 additional staff to enhance capacity across acute and social care services.
- €1 million per day invested in cycling and walking infrastructure.
- €1 billion for the development, protection and renewal of our road network.
- €348 million to connect a further 100,000 homes to fibre broadband.
- National Childcare Scheme hourly subsidy increased from €1.40 to €2.14 effective from September 2024.
- €380 million for residential and community energy schemes.
- Additional €50 million for school transport scheme.
- Over 1,216 SNAs and 744 Special Education Teachers.
- Extension of Child Benefit to 18 years old in full time education.
See the budget in full here.
