BUDGET 2022 brings an increase in Parent’s Benefit, Back to School Allowances and an emphasis on lowering the cost of childcare in Ireland.
Children up 7-years-old will get free care in the GP and 140,000 families will receive an extra tenner in their annual Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance from next July.
Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe announced Budget 2022 today.
In the budget, Parent’s Benefit will increase to €250 from January and in line with the EU Directive, it will be paid for 7 weeks from July 2022.
Each parent can avail of the seven weeks of benefit during the first two years after their baby is born or adopted.
The Working Family Payment is an in-work support available to help working families on low incomes.
This Budget is providing an increase of €10 in the weekly income thresholds for this payment, regardless of the family size.
Essentially, it will benefit these working families who are receiving this payment by an additional €6 per week.
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Children under the age of seven will get free care at the GP and there will be a reduction in hospital costs for under 18s.
In the education system, there will be 1,165 additional special needs assistants, bringing the total number of SNAs to almost 19,200.
There will also be an extra 350 teachers to reduce school staffing schedules by one point for all primary schools. The Budget allows for 7,600 places in further education and training courses in key areas. And there’s off-the-job training places for 7,000 craft apprentices.
CHILDCARE COSTS
And college students will see a €200 grant increase in the SUSI payment.
The Budget also plans for an ambitious 716million package including €69million to freeze fees at childcare services that take funding for improved staff terms.
A National Childcare Scheme universal subsidy will be extended to under-15s.
And the removal of pre-school and school hours from subsidised hours will benefit 5,000 children from low-income families.
Parents Benefit is extended by two weeks from next July and the Back to School allowance is up €10. Social welfare payments for qualified children will rise by €2 for under-12s and €3 for over-12s.
Minister for Children, Roderic O’Gorman said: “Budget 2022 introduces a ground-breaking package of measures for the early learning and childcare sector designed to deliver quality for children, affordability for parents, stability for providers, and support employers to improve pay and conditions for staff.”