Many sectors have been giving their thoughts and opinions on today's budget announcements.
The Government has unveiled a €6.4b Budget package for 2024.
It includes tax cuts, increases to a box of cigarettes, and cuts to the costs of childcare.
Subject to certain conditions being met, rental income of €3,000 for the year 2024, €4,000 for 2025 and €5,000 for the years 2026 and 2027, will be disregarded at the standard rate of tax.
CEO of the Institute of Professional Auctioneers and Valuers, and Castlepollard's Pat Davitt says small landlords will welcome the tax relief measure announced in today's budget:
A number of new social welfare supports will be brought forward, while the minimum wage is set to increase €1.40 to €12.70.
CEO of Irish Rural Link, and Ballycumber's Seamus Boland says he welcomes many of the measures but there will be disappointment about the minimum wage increase:
Meanwhile the farming community is disappointed with a lack of detail, and a lack of overall funding after today's announcement.
The Department of Agriculture is set to receive €1.9b for 2024, which represents a 21% decrease.
IFA President and Toomevara's Tim Cullinan says the government have failed to back the rural community:
Home carer and single person child carer credits are set to rise by €100, and there will be a €450 disregard for the Carers Allowance means test.
Head of Communications and Policy with Family Carers Ireland, based in Tullamore, Catherine Cox says thousands of more family carers will now be eligible for the carers allowance:
While acknowledging World Mental Health Day, there was little clarity on what allocation the sector would receive in 2024.
Fiona Coyle, CEO of Mental Health Reform, says they're worried that it won't meet requirements:
While a reduction in childcare costs is welcome, having to wait almost a year is not good enough.
That's the opinion of the Director of Kilminchy School House in Portlaoise, Sonya Duggan.
In the Budget, the government announced that childcare costs would be reduced by a further 25%, but this will only come into effect in September 2024.
Member of the Federation of Early Childhood Providers, Sonya says when it does come in, it will be a huge benefit to parents:
With ending child poverty outlined as a key aim for the Government, it announced a number of measures targeting children.
Tanya Ward, CEO of the Children's Rights Alliance, has welcomed the extension of free school books to secondary schools:
The State pension is being increased by €12, along with all core welfare payments.
A number of lump sums will also be paid out in 2024, including a €300 fuel allowance payment.
Advocacy groups have been calling for the State pension to be pegged with wages or inflation.
Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys says that has now been effectively achieved:
The Irish Tourism Industry Confederation say many small businesses who rely on the sector will be forced to close.
It was announced today the hospitality VAT rate will remain unchanged, while the national minimum wage has been increased to €12.70 an hour.
Chief Executive of the ITIC, Eoghan O’Mara Walsh, says it’s going to be a tough few months ahead because no extra supports were announced for the tourism sector:
The Irish Hotels Federation says it's "deeply disappointed" with Budget 2024.
It says there's a lack of measures to address the soaring costs of doing business for tourism and hospitality.
President of the IHF, Denyse Campbell, says they expected some measures to help hospitality businesses:
€242m has been allocated to tackle the homeless crisis.
However, Wayne Stanley, Executive Director of the Simon Community, says they needed bigger changes across the housing sector:
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