Budget 2024 delivers a package of an additional €14bn.
It's made up of €5.3bn in core expenditure and a tax package of €1.1bn. This was pretty much in line with what the Government laid out in the Summer Economic Statement.
In addition, there’s a package of once-off cost-of-living measures worth €2.7bn.
And, there’s an allocation of €4.5bn in temporary spending related to resources and accommodation for people displaced from the war in Ukraine. Some of this will go to expenditure in relation to Covid-19 and Brexit.
This temporary spending is forecast to drop back €411 million in 2025.
Finally, there’s €250 million coming from what’s considered to be "windfall" corporation tax which will be added to the just over €13bn going into capital investment under the National Development Plan.
The detail of how all of this is spread runs to many, many pages in the documentation that accompanies the Budget.
The changes to tax bands, USC bands and tax credits will help workers keep pace with wage inflation.
Those on the minimum wage saw confirmation of the significant increase of 12% recommended by the Low Pay Commission in the summer.
Core social protection weekly rates will go up by €12 and there have been increases across a range of additional payments.
The Christmas Bonus social protection payment will be paid and there will be another double weekly payment in January.
Some of the once-off cost-of-living measures are universal, such as the three €150 energy credits.
Everyone will also benefit from the continued reduction in VAT on electricity and gas bills and the extension of the cut to excise duties on motor fuels.
Two other key measures: the establishment of two investment funds to set aside some of the so-called "windfall" corporation tax.
The balance of the surpluses in the public finances expected in the years ahead will be used to reduce the overall level of national debt.
The other small beginning but nonetheless a significant one, was the announcement that both employer and employee PRSI rates will go up by 0.1% from October next year.
It’s not a big increase, but it points to where PRSI will be headed as the population ages and the pension bill rises.
