Property tax, child benefit cuts and duty hikes unveiled
Excise duty is to increase by 10 cent on pints of beer and cider and measures of spirits, and by €1 on a 750ml bottle of wine from midnight. The price of a pack of cigarettes is to go up by 10 cent from midnight and the price of a 50g pouch of tobacco is to rise by 50 cent.
Motor tax is to rise by between €10 and €126, with a carbon tax on peat and coal to be introduced on a phased basis.
Spending in the areas of Social Welfare and Health will increase by €150 million each, to €20.2 billion and €13.6 billion respectively.
Mr Howlin said the Government had decided that reducing the primary weekly rates of social welfare would have a detrimental impact on domestic demand.
However, he said child benefit would be cut by €10 per month, saving €136 million next year, and jobseekers benefit would only be available for nine months, rather than 12 months, which would save €33 million in 2013 and €82 million in a full year.
Mr Howlin announced changes to the telephone element of the household benefits package, to save €60 million, and the electricity allowance, to save €20 million.
Noonan and Howlin's Budget 2013 speeches to the Dáil:
Prescription charges for medical card holders are being tripled from €0.50 to €1.50 with the monthly cap for a family rising from €10 to €19.50.
The respite care grant, which is made to carers on an annual basis, is to be cut by €325 to €1,375 per annum.
In health, access to medical cards for over-70s is being restricted with individuals with an income of €600-700 per week (€1,200-1,400 for a couple) now qualifying for a GP-only card rather than the full card.
Professional fees for GPs and pharmacists are being cut again, in a move which will save €70 million.
The €2,250 third level student contribution charge is to increase by €250 in each of the next three years.
The reduced rate of USC for those over 70 with an income in excess of €60,000 will be discontinued at the end of the year and they will pay the standard rate.
Mr Noonan said he was increasing the DIRT tax on deposits by 3 per cent to 33 per cent, decreasing the threshold at which Capital Acquisitions Tax applies by 10 per cent and increasing the rates of Capital Acquisitions Tax and Capital Gains Tax by 3 per cent to 33 per cent from midnight tonight.
"Today, on Budget Day, the Government recommits itself to this task, and political friends and foes alike should be under no illusion; this Government will not resile from the task in hand," Mr Noonan said. "We will not dither or procrastinate but will drive forward to lead this country out of the despair and despondency and lack of self worth in which we found ourselves in March 2011."
