Funding for Naas Hospital ED and Minor Injury unit a boost
Minister Martin Heydon, Fine Gael TD for Kildare South has said that Budget 2025 puts more money back in people’s pockets at a time when they need it.
“This budget will deliver more housing, open more hospital beds, and build more schools. It is a budget that will deliver more infrastructure in Kildare and ensures we put money aside to protect us all into the future,” Heydon said.
“Naas Hospital Emergency Department is one of five hospitals to share in a fund of €6m which will fund staff for the new 11 bed acute medical assessment unit opened in Naas earlier this year. In addition, the minor injury unit at Naas will now be funded on a permanent basis.
“We have increased the point at which people pay the higher rate of tax from €42,000 to €44,000. We are cutting the USC by 1pc on incomes between €25,000 to €70,000. Consequently, a single person on an income over €50,000 per year will pay €859 less this year in tax compared to last year.
“Housing is the biggest issue facing us and ensuring everyone has an opportunity to own their own home is Fine Gael’s priority. The housing budget is being boosted by €3bn from the sale of AIB shares which will go to the Land Development Agency, upgrading water and energy infrastructure. This combined funding will lead to 6,400 new affordable and cost rental homes including 2,000 homes under the First Home scheme. We’re extending Help to Buy until 2029 – offering €30,000 in support to first-time buyers. Two schemes Sinn Fein would scrap.
“We are also increasing the renters’ tax credit, which has been extended to €1,000. Fine Gael are changing the threshold at which people pay inheritance tax – a significant win for middle income families. This will increase to €400,000 from €335,000 for inheritances from parents to children,” Heydon said.
“Under the guidance of Taoiseach Simon Harris, this is a Budget that strongly delivers and Fine Gael are cutting the cost of raising a family by; providing two double child benefit payments to every parent in the country before Christmas, providing free schoolbooks for senior cycle students, cutting college fees by €1,000, increasing maternity, paternity and parental benefit by €15 a week and extending hot school meals to all primary school children.
“We are also giving two energy credits to help with the cost of heating your home this winter. We are investing in special needs education with 1,600 SNAs and over 700 special needs teachers, along with a significant capital investment to help build more special needs places,” Heydon said.
“Fine Gael is ensuring that those who need the most help get it. Every pensioner will receive an increase of €12 in their pension. There will be an extension to the fuel allowance to help more people qualify and an automatic companion pass for people aged over 70. Our carers will receive a significant package including an increase in the carer support grant and we are changing the rules to ensure more carers will qualify. Carer’s allowance will be extended to the self-employed and carers will now be for eligible to apply for fuel allowance. There will be a €12 increase for weekly payments for carers and people with disabilities too.
“The Defence budget is being increased to €1.35bn which is a record amount to continue to build on our important defence forces from the army to navy and air corp.
“This is the biggest budget ever secured by a Justice Minister. My party colleagues Minister McEntee has an increase to recruit up 1,000 extra garda members and 1,100 new prison places. We will invest more in our courts system to make it more efficient and work faster for victims. The health budget will allow for free hormonal replacement therapy and expand funding and eligibility for IVF. The mental health budget will significantly increase to €1.4 billion,” Heydon said.
“On the agriculture side our focus in Budget 2025 has been to support farmers who have faced challenges around input cost volatility and changeable weather conditions. This Budget will deliver additional support to beef, suckler, sheep and tillage farmers in Kildare along with significant supports around agri taxation”, concluded Minister Heydon.