All social welfare payments are to increase by €5 per week from next year.
The Christmas bonus for welfare recipients will also be restored in full, to commence later this year.
Donohoe said: “In addition to a €5 per week increase in all weekly social welfare payments from next March, I am also pleased to be able to fully restore the 100% Christmas bonus payment to all social welfare recipients this year.”
The Qualified Child Payment of €2.20 per week for under twelves and €5.20 per week for over twelves will be introduced alongside, a €25 increase in Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance rates.
St Vincent De Paul Ireland welcomed the additional help to parents.:
Increase in Back to School allowance is welcome but schools will continue to seek voluntary contributions from parents in spite of 5% increase in capitation. Also missed chance to address the shortage of school book funding #Budget2019 pic.twitter.com/nmhZBJAMA4
— SVP – Ireland (@SVP_Ireland) October 9, 2018
Finally, a new paid paternal leave scheme will begin in November 2019, the scheme will provide two weeks additional leave to very parent of a child in their first year. This is planned to be increased to seven weeks in the coming years.
Callum Lavery
Image Credit: news.wbfo.org