Budget 2023 to offer free GP cards, support for renters, reduced childcare costs

The giveaway budget for 2023 has revealed support for renters, employers with rising energy bills and those in need of a GP card.

Expected measures include a new credit for renters who pay tax, energy credits amounting to €600 over three bills, an increase in social welfare payments and a 25% reduction in childcare costs. Social welfare payments are increasing by €12 per week. A double child benefit will be paid in November.

Budget funding is also set to be made available to provide free contraception to women up to the age of 30 under a plan drawn up by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.

Those renting will benefit from tax relief of €500 this year, and another €500 in 2023. The credit will be per renter rather than per tenancy, so if there are two or three people sharing a property, they will each get the credit. Of course, if landlords simply hike up rent again, that money will likely just end up in their pockets unless there's a rent freeze.

Threshold says there will be a 'catastrophic winter' due to the inadequate support in Budget 2023 for tenants. It claims that the tax relief is worth just seven days of rent in Dublin.

There is also expected to be “minor changes” for the tax treatment of landlords. The Help-to-Buy Scheme – first introduced for first-time buyers in Budget 2017 – is being extended for two years.

To support businesses grappling with rising energy bills, payments of up to €10,000 a month will be made available, according to The Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe. This would be a "significant intervention in our economy," said Donohoe. "We have to protect jobs and we have to put in place measures that will stop a surge in pricing turning into threat to jobs."

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said that the budget's goal is to "deal with the cost-of-living crisis". "It will mean investment in public services, it will mean significant reduction in cost for people in childcare, education, health and also allocating funding to people through taxation reductions, social welfare payments and energy credits," he told RTÉ.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the "basic thrust" of #Budget2023 is to "deal with the cost of living crisis that is there at the moment" | Read more: https://t.co/wEJlbrTE2O pic.twitter.com/qqbnvBBcNn

— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 27, 2022

Furthermore, an additional 430,000 people will be eligible to receive a GP visit card. This means that for the first time, more than half the population of Ireland will have a GP visit card or a full medical card- a major step toward universal healthcare.

Ahead of the final pre-Budget meeting, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the package will be comprehensive and sustainable.

“We will do it in a way that is sustainable, not just this year but throughout 2023,” he said. “It will mean investment in public services, it will mean significant reduction in costs for people, childcare education, health and also then allocating funding to people through taxation reductions, social welfare payments and energy credits.

“It’s a comprehensive package, but what we do have a significant eye on, 2023, and we have to be sustainable from a public finances perspective. In other words, have to make sure that not only do we get people through this winter in the teeth of this unprecedented crisis, but also make sure we have the reserves to get through the entirety of 2023 as well."

In @FineGael, we understand that the cost of living is rising. It's making it more expensive to do the weekly shop, to fill your car, or to pay your utility bills.

So #Budget2023 is a Cost of Living Budget designed to help you and your family. pic.twitter.com/Kdyx0K4bqs

— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) September 27, 2022

Pascal Donohoe will deliver his speech at 1pm, followed by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath. Both are expected to speak for around 45 minutes, which will bring us up to around 2.30pm.

As the main opposition party, Sinn Féin will get an hour in reply, with the other opposition parties and groupings getting 45 minutes each. The speeches should be done by 8pm. At 8.30pm, voting on the Budget measures will begin, which should end by midnight.

Price reductions on public transport will be extended for the duration of 2023.

Cigarettes are increasing by 50 cent, but no additional charges have been placed on alcohol.

There will be a €1,000 reduction in third level fees this year and a €500 fee reduction next year subject to an income cap of €100,000.

Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts and Media Catherine Martin has secured €7.5m in funding to establish a new commission to oversee online safety and media regulation.