Half-price public transport for young people, free contraception and a hike in the weekly fuel allowance are among the measures to be announced in today’s budget.
The 4.7 billion euro package will see 1.5 billion in additional spending, largely aimed at addressing the rising cost of living.
Pensions and most social welfare rates, including the weekly fuel allowance, will rise by five euros a week, and a full Christmas bonus will be paid.
There’s funding for 800 new gardai and a 100 million euro package to help the tourism sector.
Meanwhile, a Leitrim Councillor is expressing concern that the 5 euro per week increased in the fuel allowance which will be included in today’s budget will do little to ease fuel poverty across the north west.
The number of people who’re eligible for the payment’s also set to be increased.
Leitrim Sinn Féin Councillor, Padraig Fallon, says that the increase in no way reflects how fuel costs have increased and also fails to take into consideration how serious the issue of fuel poverty is for many families in the north west.
