Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Deputies should know similar changes last year did not have an impact on any recipient. We got better deals from providers.

We will reduce the child benefit rate by €10 per month. This measure will save €136 million next year. We are conscious of the impact it will have on many households. Therefore, we are providing for additional supports that are specifically targeted at low-income households. These include €14 million in funding to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to increase the number of child care places available to low income workers and €2.5 million additional supports to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs to further enhance targeted early-childhood and education supports for children in a number of very disadvantaged areas. Full details of the specific social welfare measures are set out in the expenditure report. My colleagues, the Ministers for Social Protection and Children and Youth Affairs, will expand on these measures later today.

Health

I am allocating €13.6 billion to the Department of Health next year.

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