Huge spending planned in budget 2021

The government is looking to spend its way out of the recession, confirming there's set to be a 17 billion euro budget deficit next year.

The largest budget in the history of the state will be funded by borrowing heavily. 4 billion euro added to the Department of Health budget to deal with COVID and increase hospital bed and ICU capacity. A 3.4 billion euro COVID and Brexit recovery fund. Targeted money for businesses that have had to close and the live entertainment industry. Almost a thousand additional SNAs have been promised along with a commitment to reduce student teacher rations to 25:1 at primary level. 620 new gardaí promised and a new fleet of cars for them. 500m from Housing for 9,500 further social homes, and an extension of the help to buy scheme. Taxation measures are the other side. A 7.50 rise in the carbon tax that will hit fuel prices from midnight and a promise to do the same every year this decade. 50c added to the cost of a pack of cigarettes, but alcohol has been left alone as the VAT rate for hospitality has been cut back to 9 per cent. Lots of measures among an almost 18 billion euro spending package in what's the largest budget in the history of the state.