Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The initiatives we announced this week specifically refer to the increased costs of working from home. The Finance Bill included some new measures of support for people working from home. The previous scheme was very narrow, but we included a new scheme of statutory benefits in the Finance Bill that was passed in the House last night. There are benefits for people working from home in recognition of the extra costs involved.

In terms of people being able to afford the extra costs, an increase in the minimum wage is due shortly. Most people in the public sector and the vast majority of those working in private businesses will be given a pay increase in the coming year. That is in addition to the increase in the tax bands for people who are working, not to mention the increases to which I already referred on the social welfare side. People will have additional money in their hand to meet some of the additional costs that are arising this winter.

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