On October 6, the Irish government unveiled Budget 2027, which includes a range of measures such as changes in tax credits and an increase in the minimum wage. After LGBTQ+ organisations teamed up to submit a coordinated proposal for Budget 2027 earlier this year, we take a look at what the government delivered and what more needs to be done.

Minister for Finance Simon Harris and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers unveiled the €8.5 billion package for Budget 2027 today, with €1.65 billion going to tax reductions.

Among the main points included in the recently unveiled Budget are an income tax package of €1.3 billion, which will allow personal tax credit, PAYE and earned income credit to all increase by €125. Moreover, the 3% band of USC will be increased by €1,600 to €30,300. These changes, according to Harris, will allow workers who earn €50,000 a year to pay over €700 less in income tax and USC.

The minimum wage is also set to rise 79 cent, going from €14.15 per hour to €14.94. This has been a major point among worker advocates, who have long demanded relief from the high cost of living.

The Budget is also expected to include an increase in the rent tax credit, which currently amounts to €1,000 per year. Moreover, under the Help-to-Buy scheme, first-time buyers will be able to access up to €35,000 towards the deposit on their home, increasing the limit by €5,000.

People will be able to save up to €12,000 a year, with no tax on funds up to €50,000, in new personal investment accounts. Anything after that will be taxed at 1% regardless of whether the account makes a profit or loss.

More changes on childcare, student fees, Irish language spending and others are included in Budget 2027. Find more details on the government’s official website.

As for the changes targeting LGBTQ+ people specifically, Minister Chambers announced that 33,000 extra hours of free counselling will be made available to members of the community. He added that Budget 2027 provides a “record level” of investment in mental health, including new pathways for people with ADHD.

 

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Earlier this year, 24 Irish LGBTQ+ organisations had put forward a coordinated and detailed Pre-Budget 2027 proposal titled ‘Funding Inclusive Futures’. In the document, they set forth a series of financial interventions aimed at creating a more inclusive Ireland. The framework sought to boost funding for regional services, education, healthcare and more.

Among the specific asks of the pre-budget proposal were: investing in training and pathways, including for intersex people, to improve health outcomes; ensuring funding for effective gender-affirming healthcare services; funding LGBTQ+ specific mental health services, to reverse worsening health outcomes; investing in an equitable, accessible, and inclusive sexual health system; and supporting access to safe, regulated, and affordable pathways to parenthood for all LGBTQ+ people.

As Budget 2027 appears to fall short of several of the proposed financial interventions to address the specific needs of the community, LGBTQ+ groups have also analysed the alternative budgeting options proposed by opposition parties. The Social Democrats would have included “dedicated, multi-annual funding for the development of an Action Plan to Combat Hate”, while Labour had “Access to gender affirming healthcare services” in their proposal.

Find out more details at this link.

 

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