People on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) will be paid the social welfare Christmas bonus if they have spent at least four months on the income support.
The measure was one of the last agreed last night during final negotiations on Budget 2021, which will be announced at 1pm today.
The largest budget in the history of the state will focus on Covid-19, Brexit, housing and getting people back to work.
What’s likely to hit your pocket:
💶 No change in income tax up or down
🚬 50c onto a pack of cigarettes
🚙 Increased motor tax & VRT for high polluting cars
⛽️ Carbon tax means diesel, petrol, coal & briquettes more expensive
🍻 Alcohol likely to be left untouched— Seán Defoe (@SeanDefoe) October 13, 2020
Health is to get an extra €4 billion euro to spend between Covid and other healthcare including extra beds and ICU capacity.
There will be a multi-billion euro fund including targeted supports for businesses that have been forced to shut because of Covid and the live entertainment industry.
At least €500 million will be given to the Department of Housing which will tell local authorities to directly build social housing.
There will be money for affordable housing and the help-to-buy scheme is being retained at the higher €30,000 rate.
Carbon taxes are going up by €7.50 a tonne, which will mean it will cost €1.47 extra to fill a tank of diesel and €1.28 for a tank of petrol.
A bag of coal will cost 90c more and a bale of briquettes 20c more.
Motor tax and VRT are also set to rise for high polluting vehicles.
The cost of a pack of cigarettes will go up 50c but alcohol is expected to be left alone.
Income tax rates are also not going to change under the first budget of this coalition Government.
