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Extensive childcare package announced in Budget 2016

Tuesday, 13 October 2015 18:55

It includes 8,000 new childcare places.

'A modest giveback to people who are vulnerable'. 

That's how the Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin has described Budget 2016.

The threshold at which people pay USC will rise to 13,000 euro and the minimum wage will also rise by 50 cent an hour.

There will be a rise in the fuel allowance, a restoration of the Christmas bonus by 75 per cent and the old age pension will rise by 3 euro per week.

Brendan Howlin has also announced an extensive childcare package which includes 8,000 new childcare places, two weeks paid paternity leave for fathers, a second free pre-school year, and a 5 euro increase in the children's allowance.

Plans to extend free GP care to all children under 12 are in the pipline subject to negotiations with the Irish Medical Organisation.

An additional 120 million is being earmarked for housing with NAMA being given the green light to build some 20,000 housing units over the next five years.

Minister Howlin says the budget will benefit a number of sectors. 

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