The Irish Government announced its Budget for 2025 this week, with a number of new measures introduced to alleviate the cost of living for Irish citizens. Crosscare Irish Diaspora Support Project welcomes increased funding for social welfare supports and measures aimed at helping individuals and families overcome the difficulties associated with the current cost-of-living crisis. These measures will benefit returning Irish citizens, particularly those most vulnerable who may be facing financial difficulties upon return.
Policy and Outreach Officer Niall Foster breaks down some of the highlights and what it might mean for you below.
Families
Families have been given a boost in Budget 2025 through a number of measures. As well as the weekly increase of weekly payments by €12, there have been increases of €15 to Maternity, Paternity, Adoptive, and Parent’s Benefit payments from January 2025. For those returning home and expecting a child, a Newborn Baby Grant will also come in to effect for children born on or after January 1st, providing parents with an additional €280 on top of their first month of Child Benefit (€140). The government have also introduced a double payment of Child Benefit to be paid in November and December 2024.
For low income households, the Government has introduced a number of cost-of-living alleviation measures for these families, including a Cost-of-Living Lump Sum for those in receipt of Working Family Payment of €400, an extension of the Hot School Meals programme to all primary schools in the state, and a €100 lump sum payment paid in November of this year for each Qualified Child in every family.
Pensioners
For Irish citizens returning in retirement age, there have been some positive measures introduced to assist with the cost-of-living crisis. A Cost-of-Living Lump Sum payment will be paid in November 2024 to those in receipt of Fuel Allowance or the Living Alone Increase (€300 and €200 respectively). The state pension has also been increased by €12 per week, bringing the Non-Contributory rate up to €278 for those aged 66-80, and €288 for over 80’s. Other benefits for pensioners include the introduction of free travel for a companion on public transport, as well as an extension of the means test disregard for fuel allowance, meaning more people will qualify for this support going forward.
Jobseekers
As a pivotal supporting payment for Irish citizens returning home and looking to re-enter employment, we welcome the Government’s €12 increase in weekly Jobseekers payments, along with other measures such as the October Cost-of-Living Lump Sum.
Conclusion
Overall, while some of our organisation’s asks in this year’s Budget have not been met (see our Pre-Budget 2025 Forum article for more), there have been positive measures across Budget 2025 which will be welcomed by individuals and families in a variety of financial circumstances. To read more on the Budget and what it might mean for you, check out the Citizens Information Board’s guide to Budget 2025 here.
