Results 5,121-5,140 of 19,445 for speaker:Brian Cowen

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: These rate changes are all significantly higher than inflation and show that the Government has met its commitments in the programme for Government and the social partnership agreements. The total cost of all the increases in the social welfare rates that I have just announced is €973 million in a full year. Other social welfare measures In addition to providing for these very substantial...

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am also increasing the annual respite care grant by €300 to €1,500. We are increasing the back to school clothing and footwear allowance to €180 and €285. We are increasing the free fuel allowance to €18 per week and increasing the income threshold for eligibility to €100 per week. This means we will have doubled this allowance in the past two years.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: For people of working age, the reckonable earnings threshold for maternity benefit will be increased to €350, and we are improving the position of qualified adults of pension age. These are mainly women who, because of their commitment to home-making, may not have a record of social insurance contribution. Accordingly, I am raising the rate for the qualified adult payment to €173 per...

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: The number of elderly citizens is increasing and we must prepare for this. The Government has already given considerable thought to how people needing long-term residential care should be supported. The Minister for Health and Children will be announcing plans in the very near future which will build on the measures I have announced today.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: These improvements will be part financed by a 25% increase in the charge for private beds in public teaching hospitals.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: This increase is in line with Government policy since 1999, that the full economic costs of private beds should be charged and will raise €50 million in a full year. As I stated earlier, the proceeds of the 0.5% increase in the health levy on earnings over €100,000 will also contribute to the cost of these service improvements in the care of our elderly. Social inclusion/primary care...

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: ——inclusive of VAT and by corresponding amounts on other tobacco products. This increase serves to underline the desire of us all to curtail the consumption of tobacco, particularly among young people where price sensitivities are greatest. It will raise €112 million in a full year. I believe we should plan for further increases in tobacco excises for a period ahead so as to keep the...

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: Ireland has led the world by successfully introducing the workplace ban on smoking and it is important to build on this. The Minister for Health and Children will announce measures in the near future to restrict the sale of cigarette pack sizes containing less than 20 cigarettes. Helping Young Families I am acutely aware of the pressures on young families today. Families are the core of our...

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: In 2007, I want to see additional support going to those who have bought, or are trying to buy, a home for the first time. Assisting first-time home buyers In the current market situation, any stamp duty cuts would, more likely than not, be incorporated into the sale price and so end up in the pocket of the seller.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: This will not help first-time buyers to purchase new homes. Our firm aim is to help the first-time buyer——

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: ——directly and substantially, not only those who are in the market now, but also those who are already paying their first mortgages.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: The best way to do this is by way of mortgage interest relief. The Government therefore proposes to double the ceiling on mortgage interest relief for first-time buyers from €4,000 per year for single people and €8,000 per year for married or widowed people to €8,000 and €16,000, respectively.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: This increased support will be available to all those currently in receipt of first-time buyer's relief who are in the first seven years of their mortgage. About 125,000 first-time buyers will benefit directly as a result of this measure, at a cost of €60 million in a full year.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: As a result of this initiative for first-time buyers, a couple with a joint mortgage of up to €379,000 over 33 years, at an interest rate of 4.25%, will be able to claim interest relief on the full amount of the interest on their loan. Such a couple will now gain up to €1,600 extra per year, or €133 per month, in mortgage interest relief directly credited against their mortgage bill.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: Single people will gain up to €800 per year, or over €66 each month. This will help existing first-time buyers who are already in their first home, as well as potential first-time buyers, without acting to inflate house prices further.

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: I am also raising the ceiling on interest relief for non-first-time buyers from €2,540 for single people and €5,080 for married people to €3,000 and €6,000, respectively. In addition, I propose to increase the rent relief for those living in private rented accommodation by more than the rate of inflation to assist those facing increased rental costs. The total cost of all these...

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: In recent years, the Government has channelled considerable resources into child income support and child care generally. This is highlighted by the fact that the monthly rate of child benefit for the first two children, which in 1997 was €38 per child, now stands at €150, or nearly four times higher. Today, I am announcing a further increase in child benefit of €10 per month for all...

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: While this increase will benefit all children, I want to see additional support being given to those most in need. That is why I have agreed with the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to increase the back to school clothing and footwear allowance payments and to replace the existing three rates of child dependant allowance by a new standard rate of €22 per child per week. This is...

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: In last year's budget, I announced a major new Government child care strategy. Since then, investment in child care facilities has intensified. The EU co-funded equal opportunities child care programme has exceeded all targets and has generated over 56,500 child care places to date. More than 32,000 new places have been created and a further 24,500 places have been supported with grant aid...

Budget Statement 2006 (6 Dec 2006)

Brian Cowen: In response to recent representations received from the childminding sector and indications from the Office of the Minister for Children that the uptake of the scheme may be slow, I have decided to increase the exemption limit in 2007 from €10,000 to €15,000 per year.