A so called giveaway budget has been delivered at Leinster House this afternoon.
Finance Minister Jack Chambers and the Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe outlined spending here for the next year.
An increase in the minimum wage by 80 cent, along with a new 3 per cent entry rate of USC were announced.
Meanwhile, the Government has extended the Help to Buy scheme until 2030.
That aims to help first-time buyers in getting a newly built home or apartment.
The Minister announced a 3 billion euro Infrastructure fund.
one billion euro is going to Uisce Eireann, 1.25 billion to the Land Development Agency to help with the scaling up of housing.
While Eirgrid will get 750 million euro.
The 9% rate of VAT on gas and electricity is being extended six months to 30th April 2025.
The cost of a pack of 20 cigarettes will go up by 1 euro from midnight.
It’ll bring the most popular pack to 18.05.
The Vintners’ Federation of Ireland says its gravely disappointed and frustrated.
They say the budget offered no reduction in VAT or excise duty for the pub sector from 13.5 per cent.
