2012 crippling Budget

The house tax will be 0.18 per cent of the market value for houses worth under €1 million while houses valued at more than that will be charged at 0.25 per cent of market value.

• This means that a house worth €150,000 would pay €270 for one year.
• Those who haven’t paid the tax this year will have to pay €200 when the new tax comes in July next year.
• Workers were also hit with new PRSI rules with every individual employee in the country will see their net income fall by €264 a year.
• Now employees earning more than €352 per week pay PRSI at a rate of 4 per cent on their gross pay – though €127 of that is exempted from the rate.
• This will be scrapped from January, however – meaning employees will have to pay the levy on all of their income.
• Pregnant women will face new taxes on their maternity pay, while child benefit will reduce by €10 for every child.
• Cigarettes are up 10c per pack of 20 while rolling tobacco will rise by 50c per pack.
• Diesel and petrol escaped rises – and there was good news for hauliers who will get a rebate on their fuel from next July.

Other measures include:

• People over 70 with an income of €600-€700 per week for a single person and €1,200-€1,400 per week for a couple will have their Medical Card replaced with a GP only card.
• The allocation to VECs will be reduced by €13m in 2013.
• The Drug Payment Scheme threshold is being increased from €132 to €144 per month.
• The prescription charge for Medical Card holders is being increased from 50 cent to €1.50 per item, and the monthly cap for a family is being increased from €10 to €19.50.
• €14m in funding to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to increase the number of childcare places available to low income workers.
• There will be reductions in telephone allowance scheme, to achieve savings of €61m next year. Changes to the electricity allowance will be made to achieve savings of €20m in 2013.
• The duration of Jobseeker’s Benefit will be reduced by three months, saving €33m in 2013.
• No reduction in any primary weekly rate of social welfare payment. Dole stays the same.
• Spending in the areas of Social Welfare and Health will increase by €150m each in 2013.
• Sick leave referral arrangements for teachers and SNAs will be made similar to those operating in the civil service.
• Gardai face massive cuts: Reductions in Garda overtime and various other payroll and efficiency measures will yield over €60m.
• 20pc increase in motor tax.
• 10c on a pint of beer from midnight (so get to the pub early!)
• €250 increase in student registration fees.
• €250M extra charges on large pension pots for the wealthy.
• Homes in unfinished estates exempt from property tax
• Maternity pay will be taxable from next July
• From 2014 Donegal County Council can raise property tax up or down by 15%.
• First time buyers exempt from household tax for three years.
• Two sets of car registration for Donegal next year 13-1-DL until end of June. Then 13-2-DL after that.