Budget 2017, the key points
Pensioners, first time buyers and families with children have most to celebrate from budget 2017.
Tax cuts and spending increases costing over 1.3 billion euro have been unveiled by Ministers Michael Noonan and Paschal Donohoe.
Pensioners will save 5 euro a month as prescription charges for medical card holders over 70 are cut, this is on top of the much predicted 5 euro increase in the weekly pension payment which will kick in from next March.
An increase in the Christmas bonus is on the way which means an extra €24 for pensioners.
The Jobseekers' allowance will also rise in line with other social welfare payments by €5 per week.
On the childcare front, a new package to subsidise payments will be means tested and come into force in September 2017.
As predicted USC bands for all workers earning up to €70,000 will be cut by half a per cent, savers will see a 2% per year reduction in Dirt, from 41% for the next 4 years and there's to be an increase in tax credits for the self employed by €400.
Meanwhile the Finance Minister conceeded that there are difficulties in the housing market especially for people trying to get their foot on the property ladder so with that in mind he's introducing a new help to buy scheme
First time buyers will be entitled to a 5% grant on newly built homes up to the value of €20,000 and the tax free rental allowance under the 'rent a room scheme' is being increased to €14,000 per year.
As regards the so called old reliables, a packet of 20 cigarettes will rise by 50 cent from midnight but there will be no change to alcohol, petrol or motor tax.
The budget also contained plans for almost 4,500 additional frontline staff - Gardai, nurses and teachers - in 2017.
€290 million is being put aside for public sector pay increases, a special team to deal with Brexit will be established in the Department of finance, there's €28 million for emergency accommodation for the homeless and a sugar tax has been confirmed but will not be introduced until 2018
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