The main points of Budget 2014 are as follows:
- Pensions, carers’ allowance, disability benefit are untouched.
- Basic rate of social welfare stays the same, as does child benefit.
- Maternity benefits standardised at €230 per week
- Free travel, respite care grant untouched.
- Telephone allowance in the household benefit package to be discontinued from January 1st.
- Fuel allowance has been left untouched.
- €113m to be saved by removing “ineligible and redundant” medical cards.
- Income threshold for medical cards for over-70s lowered
- Free GP care for children aged five and under confirmed
- Reduced rate of €100 extended to new entrants under 25 to jobseekers scheme
- Home heating oil and petrol/diesel have also been left alone.
- VAT rates are staying at 9%, 13.5% and 23% in 2014
- No increase in income tax, USC in 2014.
- DIRT rises to 41%
- Medical insurance tax relief capped at €1000 for adult, €500 for a child
- Air travel tax to be reduced to zero from April 2014
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Beer and spirits hit by 10 cent rise, wine up 50 cent