Minimum wage set to increase to €14.15 an hour in 2026
The Minister for Finance has announced that as of 1 January 2026, the national minimum wage will increase by €0.65 per hour to €14.15 per hour. Linked to that, the ceiling for the USC 2% rate band will be increased by €1,318 to €28,700. “This increase will ensure that full-time workers on the minimum wage […]
Budget 2026: LOI academies to receive €3m in funding
League of Ireland academies are set to receive €3m in funding from the Government. The details of Budget 2026 will be revealed later, but RTÉ Sport understands that the funding will fall short of the €4.45m requested by the FAI in their pre-budget submission. The administration of the multiannual funding is expected to come through […]
VAT for catering, hairdressing to be cut from 13.5% to 9%
The Government is reducing the VAT rate for food and catering businesses, and for hairdressing services from 13.5% down to 9%. The measure will come into effect from 1 July next year, and will cost €232m for 2026 and €681m in a full year. This VAT reduction is in line with a commitiment in the […]
Budget 2026 will ‘invest in our future’ and secure jobs, says Donohoe
Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe has said Budget 2026 will “invest in our future” while also securing current jobs, prosperity and stability. As he began his Budget Day speech in the Dail chamber, he said the first budget of this coalition Government’s term would deliver for citizens and “tackle the serious challenges of meeting our […]
Govt commits over €5bn investment for housing delivery next year
The Government has committed over €5bn in capital investment for housing delivery next year. This is in addition to investment by the Land Development Agency and Approved Housing Bodies. In his budget speech, Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe announced €200m of additional external funding for Home Building Finance Ireland, which provides finance to homebuilders across […]
Carbon tax is to be increased to €71 per tonne of CO2
Carbon tax is to be increased to €71 per tonne of CO2 emitted and will be applied to auto fuels with effect from tomorrow, and to all other fuels from 1 May 2026. The Government said the additional revenue arising from the carbon tax increase is estimated at €121m in 2026, and the full-year additional […]
50c increase on pack of cigarettes, alcohol duty unchanged
The duty on a pack of 20 cigarettes will be increased by 50c as part of Budget 2026. Excise duty on other tobacco products will be raised on a pro-rata basis, Minister for Finance Pascal Donohoe told the Dáil. Smokers’ group Forest noted that the latest tax hike will push the cost of a pack […]
Budget 2026: €10 rise in State pension and welfare rates expected
A €10 increase in the State pension and Social Protection rates is expected in today’s Budget. The Budget will also see mortgage interest relief, which has benefitted more than 60,000 householders, extended for another year before being gradually phased out in 2027. The income disregard for the Carer’s Allowance, a big issue for the Independents […]
Govt to unveil ‘pro-investment’ Budget, minimum wage rise
The Government is going to unveil a “pro-investment” Budget this afternoon with limited benefits for middle income workers. There will be a €10 increase in the State Pension and social welfare rates. There will be 860 additional special education teachers and 1,700 new special needs assistants. The Basic Income for artists of €325 per week […]
Bitcoin hits record high above $125,000
Bitcoin reached a new record high yesterday, rising above the $125,000 mark. The cryptocurrency reached $125,689, shooting above its previous August record of around $124,500. Bitcoin has enjoyed a strong upward momentum with investors cautious about the US government shutdown. Gains in US shares have also supported bitcoin’s rise, while investors have looked to safe […]
What does the tech sector want from Budget 2026?
The tech sector has been through a turbulent time is recent years with many companies alternating between hiring sprees and mass layoffs. The industry remains a massive employer in this country with the latest Central Statistics Office data showing that the information and communication sector accounts for almost 180,000 jobs. That figure did fall by […]
Local Property Tax likely to increase next year for most homeowners
Local Property Tax (LPT) is likely to increase next year for the majority of homeowners. Revenue have begun the process of writing to the 1.5 million homeowners in the country, asking them to re-evaluate their property’s value. This re-evaluation will be used to determine the amount of Local Property Tax homeowners will pay for the […]
Regional hospitality businesses say ‘almost impossible to make profit’
Hospitality businesses in the north west region have said it is becoming almost impossible to make a profit given rising costs in the sector. Garry and Mairead Anderson employ more than 30 people during the summer season in Killybegs at their seafood shack and restaurant overlooks the town’s harbour. “This year, our turnover is up […]
Elon Musk halfway to becoming world’s first trillionaire: report
Billionaire Elon Musk, the world’s richest person, is nearly halfway to becoming the planet’s first trillionaire, Forbes magazine has reported. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO became the first person to achieve a net worth of $500 billion, briefly, as the shares in his electric vehicle company rebound from his clumsy stint in politics, amid other […]
Electric car registrations soar 73% higher in September – SIMI
New figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) show a 73% jump in the registration of new electric cars in September. SIMI said a total of 1,737 new electric cars (battery electric cars) were registered – 73.2% higher than the 1,003 registrations the same month last year. So far this year, a […]
97% of exporters expect to expand into new markets – Enterprise Ireland
The survey also reveals that the euro zone remains the top target region for Enterprise Ireland companies, followed by the UK and the US. Enterprise Ireland said that 70% of Technology & Services companies expect exports to increase this year, compared with 60% of Industrial & Lifesciences firms. It also noted that 98% of companies […]
Increase in number of workers changing jobs – survey
Job turnover at Irish workplaces has surged to a record high, according to a new survey from Microsoft Ireland. The Work Trend Index shows that 38% of respondents said they have moved roles, up from 23% last year and 19% in 2023. The most prominent reasons cited for changing employers included work-life balance, well-being, issues […]
GDP in Ireland to rise by 9% this year due to strong exports
The domestic economy will grow by 3.2% this year and 2.6% in 2026, according to a forecast by consultancy EY. It estimated that Gross Domestic Product, which includes impact from multinationals, will rise by 9% this year. The GDP figure has partly been driven by exceptionally strong exports as multinationals raced to beat the imposition […]