Article last updated at 4:50pm.
The government have announced its Budget measures for 2023 this afternoon.
Relief for students, renters and families was a core focus of this year's announcement.
Here's what you should know:
STUDENTS:
- Students will see 1000 euros permanently slashed from third-level fees
- There will be a 10 to 14 per cent increase in student grants
- There will be a double payment of the student grant, likely in December
- Postgraduate fee contribution grants will increase by 1,000 euros
- The reduction in public transport fares is being kept - 50 per cent on youth travel cards and 20 per cent on public transport for all
YOUNG EARNERS:
- The point at which people pay the higher rate of income tax is now €40,000 (putting 800 euros back in the pockets of those earners)
- An extra 50c will be charged on a 20 pack of cigarettes
- There will also be a proportional increase on other tobacco products
- Alcohol will be left alone
RENTERS:
- Tax credits of 500 euros have been announced this year and next year for renters
- The help-to-buy scheme will be extended for a further two years
CHILDCARE:
- Childcare costs will be reduced by 25 per cent
- Free primary school books has been confirmed
- There will be a double payment of child benefit rates in December
- Child allowance will increase by 2 euros a week
- A double child benefit payment will be given in December
FUEL & ENERGY:
- The fuel allowance criteria will be extended to include 60 to 80 thousand more homes
- Those on the fuel allowance will also get a once-off cash lump sum of 400 euros this winter
- All households will get three energy credits - 200 euro before Christmas and two more in the new year
SOCIAL WELFARE:
- Social welfare rates will increase by 12 euros, including the State pension
- A double social welfare payment will be paid in October (and December?)
- Carers and people with disabilities will be entitled to a lump sum of 500 euro
EMPLOYMENT:
- 1,000 extra gardaí and 430 garda civilian staff will be recruited in 2023
- Businesses will be given money to deal with energy price hikes of up to 10,000 euros a month
- 1.25m euro will be given to support Irish as a living language in the Gaeltacht
- 370 new teaching posts will be announced across the country
- An extra 4,800 apprentice placements will be funded by the government
HEALTH:
- Free contraception will be extended to people aged 30 and under
- State-funded IVF treatment is to be introduced
- Hormone replacement therapies will have a 0% VAT
- Nicotine replacement will also have a 0% VAT
- All public inpatient hospital charges will be removed
- The free GP card will be extended to include another 430,000 people
