Double child benefit, energy credits and bonus pension pay - how to claim extra funds after Budget 2025

The Government has unveiled its multi-billion euro Budget today, with a highly anticipated cost-of-living package.

The Coalition has promised further tax cuts, social welfare payment increases and spending on infrastructure.

In his speech before the Dáil today, Finance Minister Jack Chambers spoke of needing to give hope to young people in Ireland, saying the Budget puts "Ireland on firm footing for the future".

The Minister added that one off payments in various sectors will be "transformational to address the known challenges that we face in housing, energy and infrastructure".

Described as a catch-all "election budget" by economists, opposition politicians have slammed the Budget, saying it was a spurned opportunity to tackle issues facing the country, including housing and health.

According to both Chambers and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe, the funding aims to help workers and families equally with businesses.

Here's are some of the biggest reveals - 

COST OF LIVING

Minister Paschal Donohoe said that there will be two double payments of Child Benefit in November and December. There will also be a double payment of the Foster Care Allowance.

A Social Protection package worth almost €2bn was announced, with the key funding going towards a €12 increase for those in receipt of a weekly Social Protection payment.

The Carer's Allowance Means Test disregard is being increased to €625 for a single person and €1,250 for a couple.

€300 will be issued to those on fuel allowance in November, and €200 will be given to those on the extra on the living alone allowance.

The Domiciliary Care Allowance is being increased by €20, and the Carer's Support Grant is being increased by €150 to €2,000.

Maternity, paternity, adoptive and parents' payments are being increased by €15.

Two double child benefit payments of €280 per child will be paid to parents in November and December.

The weekly rates of the Increased for a Qualified Child are going up by €4 for under 12s and by €8 for over 12s.

The Budget also confirmed that the State Pension (Contributory) Personal Rate will increase by €12 per week from €277.30 per week to €289.30 per week from January 2025.

An energy credit of €250 will also be issued over three payments – with two before the end of the year, and one in 2025.

Funding for the National Childcare Scheme will rise by 44% which, the minister says, will result in a reduction in fulltime childcare costs by €1,100.

Rent tax credit is set to to rise by €250, to €1,000 and €2,000 for a jointly assessed couple for 2025.

Inheritance tax thresholds will be increased from €335,000 to €400,000.

A €1 increase in excise duty on packet of 20 cigarettes with be introduced tomorrow,, bringing cost to €18.05 from midnight. Vaping is also set to be taxed at a rate of 50c per ml of e-liquid, bringing typical price of disposable device to €9.23 including VAT.

No increase in the price of alcohol has been announced.

AGRICULTURE

More than €2bn is being allocated to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for 2025.

There will funding for a range of supports across sectors, including: €30m for a new tillage scheme supporting farmers to plant their field crops; €10m for animal health measures improving biosecurity; €22m for the continuation of the National Sheep Welfare Scheme into 2025; and €8m to enhance payment rates on the National Beef Welfare Scheme.

EDUCATION

Student and apprentice fees are to be reduced by €1,000 in this academic year. For postgraduates, the fee contribution will increase from €4,000 to €5,000.

Free schoolbooks will be available up to the Leaving Cert, and Junior Cert and Leaving Cert fees have been waived.

TRANSPORT

For transport, there will be further investment in cycling and walking infrastructure and the continuation of temporary fair initiatives including the Young Adult Card for 19 to 25 year olds and the 90-minute fare.

Free public transport will also be extended to children aged 5 to 8.

HEALTH

Free HRT products will soon be available as a €35 million women's health package has been proposed.

The IVF scheme will be expanded to include donor assisted treatment, and to include couples experiencing secondary infertility.

OTHER

Funding has also been earmarked to recruit between 800 and 1,000 gardaí, and the garda training allowance is to rise from €305 to €354.

About 400 new staff are set to be recruited to the International Protection Office.

Roughly 1,100 extra prison spaces will be introduced over five years.