Budget 2024 saw the announcement of a further €338 million to the core spending budget of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Included in the package is a planned increase to the National Childcare Scheme hourly subsidy from €1.40 to €2.14, effective from September 2024. Also included in this budget allocation is a €10.5 million commitment designed to improve pay and conditions for childcare workers, enhance sustainability for providers and maintain current fee freezes. Also included are measures to reduce the costs of both the school and further education cohort.
Additional family related measures introduced in Budget 2024 include:
- funding to extend the Free School Books Scheme to all junior cycle pupils in recognised post-primary schools within the Free Education Scheme from September
- a €400 lump sum payment will be made to recipients of the Working Family Payment and an increase of the income threshold by €54 per week
- a €100 lump sum payment will be made to each child in receipt of the Qualified Child Increase
- an extension of the fee reduction on school transport services for a further year
- an extension of the fee waiver for students sitting state exams
- a once-off reduction of the student contribution fee by €1,000 for free fees’ students
- an extension of Parents Benefit to 9 weeks from August 2024
- an extension of the Child Benefit payment to 18-year-olds in full time education
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