{
  "id": 12306403,
  "title": "Measures on childcare, energy costs expected in Budget",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/measures-on-childcare-energy-costs-expected-in-budget",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-06T05:01:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "RTE News",
    "slug": "rte-news",
    "url": "https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2026/1006/1594136-budget-2027/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Budget announcement will occur at 1pm, with the Government vowing a personal tax package, childcare initiatives, and steps to alleviate energy costs. Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris, alongside Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers, will unveil €8.65 billion in additional spending, comprising €7 billion on new measures and €1.65 billion in tax adjustments. The Cabinet will convene this morning to give the final approval before the Budget speeches, to be delivered over 90 minutes in the Dáil chamber by Harris and Chambers. Tax proposals will garner attention following last year's minimal personal tax changes, which displeased opposition parties and some government backbenchers. Despite inflation nearing 4%, the Government hopes citizens will still feel the effects of tax changes. This Budget, the second since the Fianna Fáil-Fine Gael-Independent coalition took office in 2025, will address fuel prices, the cost of living, and potential protests. Opposition parties may reiterate their requests for energy credits, with Sinn Féin advocating for €400 universal credits and the Labour Party and Social Democrats proposing targeted credits of €400 for middle-income earners. The government plans to pause carbon tax increases on home heating oil and gas for the remainder of its term. Excise duty reductions on petrol and diesel will be extended into the spring, while a significant €650 million allocation for SEAI home energy upgrades will include solar PV installations, new battery grants, and a boiler scrappage scheme. An extension to the farm, haulier, and transport operator fuel support scheme is also slated for announcement. Childcare affordability measures are expected to be a focal point of the Budget speeches. Harris recently approved raising the tax-free amount for those caring for children in the home from €15,000 to €20,000, and Minister for Children Norma Foley secured approval to raise the income threshold for free childcare from €34,000 to allow more families to benefit. Childcare costs will be capped at €550 a month. A €15 million scheme to aid rural pubs will be introduced, with a tax rebate scheme for draught beer kegs announced following Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke's push. The Coalition also agreed to introduce a €500 disability cost payment, payable in a lump sum in January 2027, followed by ongoing discussions on future payment arrangements. The State pension will rise by €10 weekly, alongside other core social welfare rates. The amount available for first-time buyers under the Help-to-Buy Scheme will increase by €5,000 to €35,000, with the current scheme offering first-time buyers a tax refund of up to 10% of the purchase price, capped at €30,000. Rent tax credits will increase by €150 for single individuals and €300 for couples, from €1,000 and €2,000 respectively. A significant portion of the Budget will be allocated to sports funding, and there will be a slight increase in the weekly income disregard for carer's allowance, currently set at €1,000 for singles and €2,000 for couples. Funding will also be directed towards increased capitation for schools, additional teachers, Special Needs Assistants, and therapists. The Coalition is expected to highlight record investment in special education. The buildup to this year's Budget has been marred by tense exchanges between government ministers as Harris' department attempted to impose spending curbs on other departments, with the impact of these curbs becoming apparent as individual departments detail their 2027 proposals during the Dáil speeches.",
  "summary": "The Budget will be announced at lunchtime today with the Coalition promising a personal tax package, measures on childcare and steps to help on energy costs.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Larger package of tax measures in Budget than expected",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/larger-package-of-tax-measures-in-budget-than-expected",
        "published": "2026-10-06T05:01:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}