Budget 2026

The Finance Minister is delivering the country's budget for the year ahead now.

THE CELT is following today's delivery of Budget 2026 live.

Follow on here for budget announcements as they are made by Minister of Finance, Paschal Donohoe, followed by Minister for Expenditure, Jack Chambers, in Dáil Éireann this afternoon:

Mr Donohoe announces that the budgetary package is €9.4m.

The minister said the surplus this year will be €10.3bn and next year will be €5.1bn.

In his introduction, Paschal Donohoe described the country's finances as being in "good shape".

Paschal Donohoe says the aim of the budget is to protect jobs and address inflation and the high cost of living in Ireland.

He says the government is aware there is an over-reliance on corporate tax receipts.

He added that the Government continues to put money into savings funds to mitigate against this uncertainty.

Tax package is reduced by 150m in order to give targeted supports for the most vulnerable.

SOCIAL WELFARE: There will be a €10 per week increase to social welfare payments for 1.5 million people.

The Christmas double rate is to remain.

ENERGY BILLS: the 9% VAT rate on electricity and gas bills is to remain until 2030.

INCOME TAX: There are no changes to income tax rates in this budget.

MINIMUM WAGE: The minimum wage will rise by 65c an hour to €14.15 for those aged 20 years.

USC: The ceiling for the USC 2% rate band will be increased by €1,318 to €28,700.

CHILDREN: Child support payment increase by €8 per week for under 12s and 16 per week for over 12s.

Working family payment also rising by €60 per week.

SCHOOLCHILDREN: The back to school clothing and footwear allowance is being extended to two and three year olds.

FUEL ALLOWANCE: to increase by €5 weekly to €38.

Eligibility extended to all recipients of the working family payment.

CARERS: The carer's allowance disregard has been increased to €1000 for a single person and €2000 per couple.

CHILDCARE: 2,300 extra childcare places promised.

The Domicillary Care Allowance has been increased from €20 to €380 per month.

DISABILITY: An extra €600m has been announced for the disability budget.

RENT TAX CREDIT: to be extended for three years. It was due to end at the end of this year.

MORTGAGE INVESTMENT RELIEF has also been extended for two years.

CIGARETTES: 50c has been added to a packet of 20 cigarettes with a pro rata increase on other tobacco products.

HOSPITALITY: The VAT rate for food and catering businesses to reduce to 9% from next July 1.

The same VAT rate applies to hairdressers.

CARBON TAX: As planned, Carbon tax is to rise to €71 per tonnefor vehicle fuels from tomorrow and for other fuels like heating oil and coal from May 1.

APARTMENTS: The VAT rate on the sale of completed apartments will drop to 9% from 13.5% from midnight tonight until the end of December 2030.

HOUSING: The government commits €5bn in capital investment for housing delivery next year.

CONSTRUCTION: A corporation tax deduction for certain costs incurred during the building of apartments.

DERELICT HOMES: A new Derelict Property Tax will be charged at a rate of no less than the current 7% under the Derelict Sites Levy.

STAMP DUTY: The residential stamp duty refund scheme is being extended until the end of 2030.

RETROFIT: The income tax incentive for landlords who retrofit a property will be extended for three years.

FARMING: The farm consolidation relief, farm restructuring relief and young trained farmer reliefs have been extended until the end of 2029.

€85 million to tackle TB.

€20million for ACRES.

€2 million for the National Sheep Welfare Scheme (NSWS).

EVs: The €5,000 VAT releif on electric vehicles has been extended until December next year (2026).

EDUCATION: 1,717 extra SNAs this year.

806 additional special needs teachers.

THIRD LEVEL: A €500 reduction in the student contribution fees.

HEALTH: The number of acute hospital beds increased by 220.

Extra 1.7million home support hours.

500 more nursing home beds.

MENTAL HEALTH: Funding for increased staff numbers.

ARTISTS: Basic Income for Artists Scheme to become permanent.

SPORT: Almost €11 million for sports projects.