Budget day is here with Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party to present their first in Government.
Paschal Donohoe will announce all the big changes on Tuesday afternoon with some difficult decisions expected to be revealed.
This year’s Budget is going to be one of the largest giveaways in history as the double threat of Covid and Brexit, along with record low borrowing costs on the markets, means the Government is going to splash the cash like never before this afternoon.
Here's everything we are expecting to be announced later today;
Christmas bonus
Christmas bonuses will be paid to all pensioners, those on disability, unemployment assistance and all other regular welfare recipients.
And in a last minute Budget 2021 deal, nine out of 10 on the PUP (Pandemic Unemployment Payment ) will also get double money before Christmas - reportedly on December 7.
Normally you have to be on a benefit for 15 months to qualify for a Christmas bonus, but this has been shortened to just four months in an “exceptional time” a Government source said.
More Gardai
Paschal Donohoe will announce later today that 600 new Garda recruits will enter Templemore next year.
Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, has also agreed to funding for 70 brand new Garda squad cars.
Pensioners
Every elderly person who qualifies for the fuel allowance will get an extra €3.50 a week into their pocket with an across the board increase in this payment.
More money - an extra fiver a week - has been found to provide for a hike in the Living Alone allowance that so many older people qualify for.
And every pensioner will enjoy the Christmas bonus as part of the Department of Social Protection’s generous double payment to all welfare recipients in December.
Carbon tax
The hit this year will amount to an extra €7.50 a tonne, which in real terms will see the cost of filling a 60 litre car with diesel up by around €1.50.
Cigarette prices
Another consumer tax hike that can be bet on as pretty much a sure thing is another which on packs of cigarettes.
It will be between an extra 20c and 50c on a pack of 20, it is expected.
Follow all the updates here
You can follow all the very latest updates on our live blog here throughout the day.
