Back-to-school payments to be extended to children in foster care
Back-to-school payments are set to be extended to benefit the 2,300 children currently in foster care.
Minister for social protection Dara Calleary will seek Cabinet approval today, Tuesday, to extend the back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance to those who are in receipt of Foster Care Allowance.
The once-off payment for 2025 is €160 for children aged between four and 11 on or before September 30, while those aged 12-22 years will receive €285.
Social protection minister Dara Calleary is seeking Cabinet approval to extend the clothing and footwear allowance to those in receipt of Foster Care Allowance. File picture: Brian Lawless/PA
Occupied Territories Bill
The Occupied Territories Bill had been expected to be brought to Cabinet today, Tuesday, but has been delayed by a week.
Local Property Tax Bill
Finance minister Paschal Donohoe will seek approval for amendments to the Local Property Tax (LPT) Bill including one that will change how the tax is calculated on homes adapted for use by people with disabilities.
Cabinet will hear that it will provide a reduction of €105,000 in the chargeable value of a property that has been adapted. This is an increase of €50,000 on the previous act and would come into effect on November 1.
As a result, people with disabilities and living in an adapted home will assess the value of their property at one valuation band lower when calculating their LPT charge.
National Training Fund
Higher education minister James Lawless will seek to unlock the National Training Fund package of almost €1.5bn when he brings the heads of the bill to Cabinet.
The package would provide €650m in core funding for higher education; €150m to provide training facilities for veterinary, medicine, nursing, pharmacy and dentistry students; €150m capital funding for the further education and training sector; and more.
The amendment will allow Mr Lawless to bring the legislation before the Dáil and commence spending from the fund in 2025, if approved.
North-South Ministerial Council
Ahead of a meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council in Armagh this Friday, Mr Martin and Mr Harris will brief Cabinet on the agenda which will include trade and AI.
The meeting, which will be attended by most ministers, will also discuss infrastructure investments and tackling gender-based violence.
Well-Being Framework Analysis
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Micheál Martin will bring a memo on Ireland's Well-Being Framework Analysis for 2025, which is due to help outline Government's priorities for the upcoming budget.
The report itself highlights a number of groups who are faring worse than others in society, including renters paying market rates, unemployed people, younger workers, people in poor health as well as lower-income households.
However, the report does show progress in other areas, including on income, work and job quality and community participation.
Presidency of EU
Ahead of Ireland's presidency of the European Union next year, Mr Harris will outline the significant preparations already underway.
Over the course of the presidency, 23 informal ministerial meetings will be held in Ireland with a quarter of them to take place outside of Dublin.
The European Political Community summit will mark the largest meeting Ireland has ever hosted involving leaders of 47 states as well as heads of EU institutions and international organisations.
Mr Harris will tell Cabinet that delivering a successful presidency is essential to Ireland's position, influence and reputation in the EU.
Work to decide Ireland's policy priorities for the presidency will intensify in the autumn but there are plans for a programme of community, youth and schools engagement around the presidency, which will have a particular focus on children and young people.
National Digital Research Centre
Minister for enterprise Peter Burke will bring a memo to Cabinet indicating that the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) is to extend its current contract with current provider DogPatch Labs until 2026.
The decision to extend was taken to provide certainty to companies supported by the NDRC ensure there is no break in coverage while Mr Burke works with his department and Enterprise Ireland on the successor programme which will take over in 2027.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘There might be some issues' – Championship club could be forced to leave beloved 27,111-seater stadium for third time
CHARLTON ATHLETIC managing director Jim Rodwell has not ruled out the club leaving The Valley. The Addicks are back in the Championship for the first time since 2020 next season. Advertisement 2 Nathan Jones led Charlton back to the Championship last season Credit: PA 2 The club remain uncertain on the future of their home at The Valley Credit: PA But Charlton continue to be dogged by questions The Valley is under the control of the club's former owner Roland Duchatelet. He sold the club six years ago but retained ownership of the 27,111-seat stadium and the club's training ground. Advertisement READ MORE ON FOOTBALL A 15-year lease was signed by the club in 2021, with 11 years remaining before it expires. The EFL require clubs to have at least ten years left on a stadium lease. Charlton director Rodwell admits talks are ongoing with Duchatelet over an extension. But he did not rule out the possibility that the club could eventually have to leave the site - home to the club for most of their 106-year existence. Advertisement Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK He told "We've made no secret of the fact we would like to buy the stadium or enter into a longer term lease on the right terms. EFL club release 'gorgeous work of art' kit and even rival fans want to buy it "Those conversations are ongoing. We have a considerable period of time left. I know fans like certainty and so do businessmen. Advertisement 'It's always a possibility [we will have to move]. I think the desire would be to stay at The Valley. "It's a brilliant ground and great atmosphere. It's fit for purpose." He added: "Our [lease] is getting down to [ten years], so there might be some issues there." Charlton left The Valley between 1923 and 1924 for nearby Catford. Advertisement They played at the now-demolished Mount Stadium, before a proposed merger with Catford Southend FC fell through. Charlton left the Valley again in 1985 after the ground fell into disrepair and the club's debts spiralled. They ground-shared with Rodwell continued: "What is The Valley actually worth? It's worth a lot to Charlton but probably not a lot to a developer. Advertisement "What else could you stick on there? "I'm always a great believer that commercial reality would hit home. "There's always a deal to be done there. Talks are ongoing. They have been conducted in the right spirit."
The Journal
4 hours ago
- The Journal
Irish diplomats are to be evacuated from Iran
THE GOVERNMENT IS to temporarily bring its diplomats home to Ireland from its embassy in Tehran as bombing continues between Iran and Israel. Tánaiste and Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Harris said he has made the decision due to the 'deteriorating situation' in Iran, which was first attacked by Israel one week ago. High level meetings have been taking place between Ireland and other EU and British officials to discuss how to deal with the rescue of citizens trapped in Tehran. It is understood that a European nation will carry the Irish diplomats out of their base in Tehran and transport them to safety by road. The most likely destination is Azerbaijan. The journey out for the embassy diplomats and staff is thought to be at least 11 hours by road. In a statement this evening, Harris said the Department of Foreign Affairs has been closely engaged on the situation in Iran and the continuing conflict between Israel and Iran, holding discussions with European and regional counterparts in recent days. A 'small number' of Irish citizens remain in Iran and would continue to have contact with the embassy from its new base in Dublin, Harris continued. 'Due to the deteriorating situation in Iran, I've decided to temporarily bring our diplomats home from Tehran. The safety of our Embassy staff is paramount,' Harris said in the statement. Advertisement Due to the deteriorating situation in Iran, I've decided to temporarily bring our diplomats home from Tehran. The safety of our Embassy staff is paramount. Operations will continue from Dublin. Grateful to Ambassador Laoise Moore and team for their service. — Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) June 20, 2025 'I have become increasingly concerned about the operational environment for our Embassy in Tehran, and the ability of our diplomatic staff to perform their functions safely. 'In light of the deteriorating situation, following consultation with my officials and in close consultation and coordination with EU partners, I have decided to temporarily relocate our personnel from Tehran.' Harris added: 'This is not a decision that I have taken lightly. Arrangements have been made for the Embassy to continue its operations from Dublin. Staff at my Department's headquarters have assumed the Embassy's consular functions and remain in contact with the small number of Irish citizens remaining in Iran.' The Fine Gael leader said that his department's travel advice remains that Irish citizens should not undertake travel to Iran. 'Citizens who live there and who wish to leave might consider departing through one of the land borders that is open, as long as it remains safe to do so,' Harris said. The department statement added that those who may be concerned about the well-being of friends or family located in Iran can contact our consular team at +353 (0)1 408 2527 (or +353 (0)1 408 2000 out of hours). 'My hope is that a diplomatic solution can be found to resolve this conflict, without further escalation or further loss of life in Iran or in Israel,' Harris said. 'I continue to call for restraint and de-escalation by both Israel and Iran. I will discuss latest developments with my EU counterparts in Brussels on Monday.' Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
Irish Times
5 hours ago
- Irish Times
Delays to housing plan could push it back to September
The Government is discussing a delay to publishing its new housing plan until after the summer. The plan, which is to replace the last coalition's Housing for All approach, was due to be published during July, but it looks as though it could slip into September before it is made publicly available. Senior Government figures said the new plan could not be completed until the publication of a review of how the State is going to fund its multi-year infrastructure delivery programme, which is now expected in late July. That review – of the National Development Plan (NDP) – is expected to add many billions in allocations for roads, public transport, the electricity grid and water infrastructure, among other things. But it needs to be completed before Minister for Housing James Browne publishes the coalition's roadmap for how it will hit its housing targets. READ MORE The potential to push back publication of the housing plan until September is said to have been discussed at a meeting of the Cabinet housing subcommittee. [ No 'special exemptions' for students under latest Rent Pressure Zone system, James Browne says Opens in new window ] While some Government sources believe there is concern about pushing back its publication, others say a delay would have support around the Cabinet table. A final decision on what to do regarding the publication date will have to be made in the coming weeks. It is unlikely that the plan can be unveiled in August, when much of the political system shuts down for the summer break, many civil servants are on leave, and the Dáil is not sitting. A spokeswoman for Mr Browne would not be drawn on a specific date for publication of the report, beyond saying it would be as soon as possible after the publication of the NDP review, which in turn will cover all public capital investment to 2035 and allocate funds from the Apple tax case and AIB share sales, among other sources of capital. Mr Browne's spokeswoman said work on the plan is 'at an advanced stage'. [ The Government is finally showing some political courage in tackling the housing crisis Opens in new window ] 'The next housing plan is due to be published after the publication of the National Development Plan as a matter of priority,' she said. 'This sequencing is necessary, as the housing plan must have certainty around the investment plans and capital programmes for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage before the next plan can be finalised and published.' She said Mr Browne was not waiting for publication of the new plan before pushing forward with measures, including on Rent Pressure Zones reform, planning extensions and exemptions. The previous government also encountered delays when it was seeking to bring forward Housing for All under the former minister for housing, Darragh O'Brien. That document was due to be launched in July 2021, but was ultimately pushed back to September of that year, which drew criticism from the opposition.
