BUDGET 2017: The headlines
MAIN POINTS OF BUDGET 2017:
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Local TD and Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Helen McEntee has secured significant increases to budgets for homecare and mental health.
She said an additional €10m has been allocated for home help bringing its budget for 2017 to €394m. ' This €10m is completely new money on top of the increases throughout the year which will follow through to 2017'.
In the area of mental health, an increase of €24.7m has been secured bringing the budget from €826m to €851.3m. ' Of the 24m, a percentage this year will go towards initiating €35m worth of new developments.' Capital funding has also been announced for the Central Mental Hospital.
'I am happy to deliver on our programme for partnership to support older people and increase funding and support for mental health,' said Minister McEntee.
Fine Gael TD for Meath East and Government Chief Whip Minister Regina Doherty, has said that in Budget 2017 Fine Gael has ensured that childcare is made more affordable for thousands of hard pressed families.
‘This is a budget for families – young and old. The childcare package is a signature element of this. In Budget 2017 Fine Gael is taking another step forward in supporting parents back into work or education, by designing more accessible and affordable childcare. The new scheme will be both universal and targeted in its approach.
“I am particularly delighted to see Fine Gael’s election proposal for universal childcare support for parents of children aged 6 months to 3 years being implemented in this Budget. It bridges that gap between a return to work after maternity leave and the start of the Free Pre School Years. This payment will go directly to the registered childcare provider, whether that is a crèche or a registered childminder, in line with international best practice. It will provide support to parents whose child is in fulltime childcare, to the value of €960 per year.
‘In Budget 2017 there is also increased support for parents who choose to stay at home and care for their children. The Homecarer’s Tax Credit is being increased by 10%, from €1,000 to €1,100.