Budget 2022 will bring benefits to young people and children as we enter the Green Decade.
Waterford Green Party TD Marc Ó Cathasaigh said that
“Putting young people at the heart of Budget 2022 was something that was very important to us in the Green Party. Young people have have been among the hardest hit by the pandemic and they need our support in the coming fight against climate change and biodiversity collapse”.
“My Green Party colleagues and I worked with Comhairle na nÓg on developing the new travel card which will give half price public transport to 19-23 year olds on all services using leapcards. This will bring significant savings to students and young workers getting to their place of work or education.”
“Small but important changes include the €5 increase to all working age payments which will be passed on to young job seekers and the change to PRSI contributions which will see people aged 25 to 28 being able to avail of PRSI benefits after 39 weeks instead of 5 years.”
“Other key Programme for Government commitments were announced which included the first rise in the SUSI grant in a decade as well as an increase in the income threshold and a decrease in the qualifying distance which will increase the numbers of students eligible to receive the grant. As part of a wider funding package for women’s health, we also saw the introduction of free contraception for young women aged from 17-25.”
“In terms of children and young families, my colleague Minister Roderic O’Gorman secured Government approval for a new direct payment to childcare providers, in exchange for a freeze in fees and improved pay and conditions for staff. This will have a significant impact on families who currently pay extremely high childcare fees and also our childcare workers who play a very important role in our children’s lives but who have been poorly paid to date. Measures will also be taken to broaden the scope of the National Childcare Scheme.”
“I am proud to say that overall, this budget is progressive. The 30% of people on the lowest income in Ireland are the people who will benefit most from this budget.”
More information on Budget 2022 available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2c63a-your-guide-to-budget-2022/
