Budget 2005 - Main Improvements
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- Largest ever spending on Social Welfare - up by €1bn (8.8%) to €12.25bn in 2005
- Total spending on welfare more than doubled since 1997
- Payment increased by three times expected rate of inflation
- 1.5 million people will benefit
- Four fold increase in Child Benefit since 1997
- €14 per week special increase for lower payments - new rates €148 - €163
- €12 weekly increase for Pensioners - new rates €166 - €179
- €10/€12 increases in Child Benefit
- €39 per week increase in FIS Thresholds
- €1,000 Respite Care Grant - increase of €165
- Respite Care Grant extended beyond Carer's Allowance/Benefit
- Capital Assessment eased - first €20,000 of capital to be disregarded
- Increase Maternity Benefit from 70% to 75% of reckonable earnings
- €35 weekly to residents in institutions not on Disability Allowance
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Download Budget Factsheet 2005 in PDF