Senior coalition figures met this evening to finalise plans on cost-of-living measures, with the final package due to be signed off by the full Cabinet tomorrow.
It is understood the cost-of-living package includes a €200 lump sum to pensioners, carers and people with disabilities; €100 extra on the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance and a €100 lump sum on child benefit, at a total cost of €400m.
The overall size of the cost-of-living package, subject to Cabinet approval, is €1.25bn.
.@RTENewsPaulC with details on cost-of-living measures set to be signed-off as Cabinet meets tomorrow, including a lump sum for pensioners and carers, and Back to School funding | More: https://t.co/qSXMROgf8R pic.twitter.com/zyzrygxh5U
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) February 20, 2023
The 9% reduced VAT rate for the hospitality sector is to be extended, for the final time, by six months - i.e. until the end of August.
The excise duty on petrol and diesel is to increase in three stages: 1 June; 1 Sept; and 31 October.
Petrol will go up by 6 cent on 1 June; 7 cent on 1 Sept; and 8 cent on 31 October.
The Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme is to be extended by three months. Entry criteria is also changing to allow access for companies using, for example, heating oil.
The three coalition party leaders were joined at the talks this evening by the Ministers for Finance, Public Expenditure and Social Protection.
