We’ve broken down some key takeaways so you don’t have to.

Health

• An extra €2.7 billion for the health sector over the next two years
• 495 new beds added across hospitals and community services
• Tax exemptions on payments to women affected by CervicalCheck failures
• Ongoing support for women’s health, including expanded free access to IVF and Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Cost Of Living:

• Less Energy Credits This Year: Last year, households received three energy credits of €150 each, but Budget 2025 is expected to offer two credits worth €125 each.
• One Off Payments: €400 carer’s support grant; a €300 fuel allowance, €500 disability support grant, a €200 living alone allowance; a €400 working family payment; and a €100 child support grant 
• The Child Support Payment: This is a renaming from what was the “The Qualified Child Payment”, with some increases. Weekly payments for children under 12 will be increased by €4, to €50. For over 12s this will be increased by €8, to €62.
• Minimum Wage: Is rising by 80 cents
• Rental Tax Back: Rent tax credit will rise by €250, to €1,000 (€2,000 for a jointly assessed couple for 2025)

Cigarettes, vaping, and alcohol:

• €1 increase in excise duty on packet of 20 cigarettes, making them €18.05 from midnight.
• No increase in alcohol duty
• A tax of 50 cent per ml of e-liquid will be introduced from mid-2025, raising the typical cost of a disposable device to €9.23.

Education

• Free schoolbooks extended to cover Leaving Certificate students
• No fees for Junior and Leaving Certificate exams
• Hot meal programme to reach all primary schools by 2025
• Funding allocated for 786 new special education teachers and 1,600 additional Special Needs Assistants