Finance Minister Michael McGrath has announced he will unveil a significant income tax scheme in the upcoming autumn budget, as reported to the Fianna Fáil ardfheis. McGrath emphasised the importance of such schemes to individuals, families and the wider economy, citing the need for Ireland to uphold a competitive personal taxation system.
He assured the delegates of a declined childcare expense and further rollouts of the no-cost schoolbook scheme under the supervision of Education Minister Norma Foley, beginning in September. McGrath, the South-Central Cork TD, cited recent enhancements to the Susi student grant system designed to render further studies more financially accessible for families and students in subsequent academic years.
McGrath acknowledged the strain of escalating costs on small enterprises nationwide, explaining it as the impetus for abolishing the interest on deferred tax debt. He revealed that a sum exceeding a quarter billion euro has been allotted to the Increased Cost of Business Support Grant, now open for businesses to apply. He also noted the government’s plans to reform Employers PRSI and increase the energy efficiency grant, involving more rigorously considering the impacts on SMEs in all governmental policy decisions.
State Minister Anne Rabbitte communicated to the ardfheis that the prior government had implemented the Progressing Disability Services programme without the necessary structure for its execution. She admitted the HSE’s struggle in stabilising Children’s Disability Network Teams. Rabbitte assured her commitment to ensure accessibility to therapies such as speech and language, physio and occupational therapy for children. A significant issue she pointed out was the unwarranted removal of therapists from extraordinary schools, expressing her continuous efforts to rectify the situation after meeting with various stakeholders.
Ms Rabbitte has secured funding to work towards reinstating clinicians within school environments, however, the realisation of this plan is taking longer than expected. She is also finalising a scheme to be initiated this year that will provide specific grants to special schools for the employment of therapists right on their premises, ensuring predictable and steady service for their wards.
In other news, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien stated that milestones are being reached in housing under the Housing for All programme, the largest-ever investment in housing in the nation’s history, according to him. He expressed confidence in the comprehensive, revolutionary yet practical plan pointing towards a secure future, evidenced by the tangible buildings coming up.
Since 2020 when Fianna Fáil returned to government, over 100,000 homes have been erected, he remarked. He also reported that first-time home buyers are securing mortgages with increasing frequency, even reaching the highest rate since 2006. Thanks to the assistance from the First Home Scheme, an increasing number of single individuals are now able to purchase their very own homes.
Social housing structures are now more numerous than any other time in the past 50 years, and this record is expected to be broken again within the current year, he added.
In a different arena, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, speaking at the ardfheis, revealed his commitment to taking further steps to safeguard children from the potential harm of inappropriate smartphone and social media content.
He pronounced that it is unacceptable for children to be exposed to harmful content promoting self-harm, suicide, eating disorders or violence against women, and stressed that parents and children should be provided with adequate support. He strongly advocated for stricter regulation and accountability of companies.
He also revealed actions taken against vaping, including making the sale of vapes to anyone under 18 illegal. Additional measures including restrictions on colour, flavours, and the banning of disposable vapes, are presently being considered.