Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has announced Budget 2018 in the Dáil this afternoon.
It's his first time to deliver a budget as Finance Minister.
Here are the main points:
-The Universal Social Charge (USC) rates are being reduced. The 5 per cent rate is being cut to 4.75 per cent, while the 2.5 per cent rate is being lowered to 2 per cent, with the ceiling for this rate raised from €18,772 to €19,372. The entry rate of €13,000 remains.
-The threshold for entry to the higher rate of income tax is to rise by €750, from €33,800 to €34,550.
-Most social welfare payments will be increased by €5 a week but the Christmas bonus will stay at its current level.
-A major public service recruitment drive has been announced. Thirteen hundred teachers and 1,000 special needs teachers will be hired next year. Eight hundred extra Gardaí will be recruited in 2018, while an additional 500 civilians will also be hired into the force.
-The price of a 20 pack of cigarettes will increase by 50 cent.
-A sugar tax will be brought in next April, subject to State aid approval.
-The area of housing will get €1.3 billion next year, with 3,800 new social homes to be built, while the Housing Assistance Payment scheme will be increased by €149,000,000.
-The Department of Health will get an extra €685,000,000 next year. The National Treatment Purchase Fund is getting an extra €55,000,000 while prescription charges will be reduced by 50 cent.
-Twenty million euro is being invested in ensuring a full free two year pre-school programme.
