The main points of Budget 2014 are as follows:

  • Pensions, carers’ allowance, disability benefit are untouched. 
  • Basic rate of social welfare stays the same, as does child benefit. 
  • Maternity benefits standardised at €230 per week 
  • Free travel, respite care grant untouched. 
  • Telephone allowance in the household benefit package to be discontinued from January 1st.
  • Fuel allowance has been left untouched.  
  • €113m to be saved by removing “ineligible and redundant” medical cards. 
  • Income threshold for medical cards for over-70s lowered 
  • Free GP care for children aged five and under confirmed 
  • Reduced rate of €100 extended to new entrants under 25  to jobseekers scheme
  • Home heating oil and petrol/diesel have also been left alone. 
  • VAT rates are staying at 9%, 13.5% and 23% in 2014
  • No increase in income tax, USC in 2014.
  • DIRT rises to 41%
  • Medical insurance tax relief capped at €1000 for adult, €500 for a child  
  • Air travel tax to be reduced to zero from April 2014
  • Beer and spirits hit by 10 cent rise, wine up 50 cent