Budget Main Points

Finding Budget 2013 difficult to digest? On this page, we have the main points announced by Ministers Noonan and Howlin.

• Wednesday 05 December, 2012 17:54:13

  

  Twenty thousand pensioners to lose medical card

  Twenty thousand pensioners are to lose their full medical card and receive a GP visit card instead.

• Wednesday 05 December, 2012 15:47:54

  

  Noonan: 'We're emerging from crisis'

  Ireland is emerging from its economic crisis, Finance Minister Michael Noonan declared as Budget 13, the sixth austerity budget in a row, got underway.
  
  »newsflash

• Wednesday 05 December, 2012 15:28:31

  

  Unvouched expenses system to end: Howlin

  Minister Brendan Howlin has announced an end to the unvouched expenses system.

• Wednesday 05 December, 2012 15:25:49

  

  No cuts to weekly social welfare payments; child benefit cut by €10

  There will be no cuts to weekly social welfare payments.
  
  »newsflash

• Wednesday 05 December, 2012 15:19:34

  

  Additional €1bn in cuts to pay and pensions bill: Howlin

  An additional €1bn in cuts to the pay and pensions bill must be achieved, Minister Brendan Howlin said.

• Wednesday 05 December, 2012 15:09:33

  

  Increases in motor tax, VRT; petrol and diesel unchanged

  There will be an increase across all catergories of motor tax and VRT.

• Wednesday 05 December, 2012 15:04:46

  

  Beer, spirits, wine and tobacco all to rise in price

  There will be an increase of 10c on a pint of beer or cider from midnight, a hike of 10c on a measure of spirits and a bottle of wine will be €1 extra.

• Wednesday 05 December, 2012 14:57:01

  

  Property tax of 0.18% in effect from July

  The property tax will be in effect from July 1 2013, Minister Noonan said.

• Wednesday 05 December, 2012 14:53:45

  

  Noonan increases minimum annual PRSI contributions for self-employed

  Minister Michael Noonan has abolished the weekly PRSI allowance for workers, increasing the minimum level of annual contribution from the self-employed from €253 to €500.
  
  »newsflash

• Wednesday 05 December, 2012 14:48:19

  

  New deficit to be 8.2%; Minister announces pension tax relief plans

  Ireland's new estimate deficit will be 8.2% - well inside the 8.6% limit in the Troika agreement, Minister Noonan said.

• Wednesday 05 December, 2012 14:40:27

  

  Noonan: Lower VAT rate to remain in 2013; mortgage interest relief measure to end

  Minister Michael Noonan has confirmed the lower 9% VAT rate is to remain for 2013.
  
  »newsflash