Budget 2007 - Main Improvements
◊ €1.4 billion Increase in Welfare Support Packages
◊ Budget Digest
◊ Alleviating Child Poverty
◊ Recognising Carers
◊ Women And Pensions
◊ Supporting Older People
€1.4 billion Increase in Welfare Support Packages
- Total spend of €15.3 billion in 2007 to benefit over 1.5 million people
- Payments increased by almost three times rate of inflation.
- €1 in every €3 of Government day to day spending for welfare
- Reform packages targeted at supporting pensioners, women, alleviating child poverty, rewarding carers, assisting those with disabilities and activation measures.
- Lower rates increased by €20 per week
Budget Digest
- Fuel & Energy Relief - Fuel Allowance doubled in two years to €18 per week in addition to over €50 million to protect vulnerable from electricity/gas price rises.
- Disability Benefits - Full Disability Allowance extended to all resident in institutions. Funding for personal advocacy service. Disability Allowance capital disregard increased by €30,000.
- Maternity Benefit - Weekly earnings threshold increased to €350 and new payment rate of €280 per week for Maternity & Adoptive Benefit
- Bereavement Support - Widowed Parent Grant increases by €1,300 to €4,000. Bereavement Grant up by €215 to €850.
Alleviating Child Poverty
- Investment of over €240 million in a range of measures.
- Extra €60 million for targeted payments to families of 342,000 children
- New standard weekly increased Qualified Child Allowance (formerly CDA's) to €22 in new targeted measure in addition to €140m child benefit package
- FIS weekly income threshold raised by up to €185 per week
- Increases (50%) of €60 and €95 in Back To School Allowance
- Additional funding of €3 million to extend school meals
- Earnings threshold for One-Parent Family payments rises to €400 per week
Recognising Carers
- €107 million support package – including Carer's Allowance up to €218 per week
- New payment of half Carer's Allowance to those with other Welfare entitlement
- Respite Care Grant up €300 to €1,500
- Carer's Allowance means test eased
- Earnings threshold for Carer's Benefit increase to €320 pw
- €500,000 for Carers' Associations
Women & Pensions
- €60 million commitment to bring Qualified Adults (QAAs) to level of State Pension within 3 years.
- First year increase of over €23 for QAAs over 66.
- Pension QAAs to receive payment in own right and be paid directly.
Supporting Older People
- Over 400,000 pensioners to benefit from increases
- State pensions rise by €16 & €18 pw to €209.30 & €200 pw
- Increases of over €23 for 35,500 Pensioner Qualified Adults
- Companion Free Travel Pass extended for 66 to 74 year olds
- Telephone Allowance Scheme to include mobile phone options
- Allowed employment earnings for State Pension (Non-Contributory) doubled to €200 per week
Download Budget Factsheet 2007 in PDF