A number of changes announced in Budget 2022 back in October will be coming into effect over the coming weeks as the new year rolls around.
From Social welfare, fuel prices, and childcare, to pandemic supports and healthcare, there are several key areas seeing expenditure changes in January.
There will be new social welfare boosts as well as the creation of thousands of new jobs and education courses.
People in Ireland will notice the positive effects of Budget 2022 coming into force in the coming weeks, so here's everything you need to know.
From January 2022, the following will come into effect:
1. The minimum wage will rise 30c to €10.50 per hour.
2. Pensioners will see their weekly welfare payments by up to €13. In addition, the state pension is set to increase by €5 to €253.30, while the Living Alone Allowance will increase by €3 to €22 from the beginning of January.
3. All social welfare recipients will see an increase of €5 per week.
4. Young people up until 23 years of age will receive 50 percent off the price of tickets for all public transport.
5. Free GP care will be extended to cover children up to the age of seven.
6. Free contraception will be introduced for women aged 17 to 25.
7. A 2 percent rise in the personal tax credit, employment tax credit, and earned income credit for self-employed people will come into effect in January. The changes in the tax system will mean someone earning €40,000 a year will see their taxes fall by around €435 a year.
8. The threshold for the Drug Refund Scheme will also be lowered from €114 to €100.
