Live Updated 19 September 2026, 8pm
Budget 2027 will be read in the Dáil on Tuesday 6 October 2026. Nothing on pensions, welfare or grants has been decided yet. Here is every credible report so far, marked by how solid it is.
| Topic | Where it stands | Status |
|---|---|---|
| The package | €8.5 billion: €7 billion of extra spending and €1.5 billion of tax measures. Read in the Dáil on Tuesday 6 October.gov.ie, Summer Economic Statement, 22 July 2026 and 1 more | Confirmed |
| State Pension (€299.30 a week now) | The papers disagree on whether it rises by less than last year's €10.Irish Times, 16 September 2026 and 1 more | Reported |
| Living Alone Increase (€22 a week now) | The Social Protection Minister says pensioners living alone are his focus. No figure yet.Irish Examiner, 8 September 2026 | Hinted |
| Fuel Allowance (€38 a week now) | The Tánaiste is looking at an increase that would reach a quarter of households.Irish Times, 19 September 2026 | Hinted |
| Home heating oil | A tax cut is seen as inevitable by Government sources.Irish Times, 19 September 2026 | Reported |
| Energy credit | Ruled out for everybody on 7 September. A one-off credit in some form is now back in favour with several ministers. Not decided.Irish Times, 19 September 2026 | Reported |
| Cost of disability payment | The Taoiseach is pushing hard for it, but says it will be challenging. No amount given.TheJournal.ie, 14 September 2026 and 1 more | Hinted |
| Carer's Allowance | No signal yet on the next step. Family Carers Ireland wants the means test abolished.Family Carers Ireland, 8 July 2026 | Asked for |
| Council home grants | No 2027 news. Five councils have paused or limited applications for 2026.Kildare County Council and 4 more | Confirmed |
| Drugs Payment Scheme | No cut to the monthly threshold expected. A shingles vaccine is expected.Irish Examiner, 11 September 2026 | Reported |
| Child Benefit | An increase is all but ruled out.Irish Examiner, 8 September 2026 | Reported |
| Christmas Bonus | Nothing reported yet. | Nothing yet |
Budget increases to weekly payments go to people already getting them. Waiting for the Budget before you claim only costs you weeks of money.
On Tuesday 6 October we will post every confirmed change here as the Budget is announced, starting with pensions, the Fuel Allowance, carers and home grants. Each one will say who it affects and when it starts.
Government sources accept a cut in tax on home heating oil as inevitable, the Irish Times reports. Officials warn that in the worst case a tank could cost €1,900 this winter, against €900 last year.
Source: Irish Times, 19 September 2026
A return of one-off energy credits, in some form, is now favoured by a number of Cabinet ministers, the Irish Times reports. No decision has been made. On 7 September the Taoiseach said he could not see the capacity for credits for everybody.
Source: Irish Times, 19 September 2026
Tánaiste Simon Harris is looking at increases to the Fuel Allowance that would reach a quarter of households, the Irish Times reports. It is €38 a week now. Budget increases are paid to people already getting it, so there is no reason to wait.
Source: Irish Times, 19 September 2026
The Irish Times finds it hard to see the main weekly rates rising by less than last year's €10. The Irish Examiner reported on 8 September that the Social Protection Minister had dampened expectations of another €10 rise. The State Pension (Contributory) is €299.30 a week now.
Source: Irish Times, 16 September 2026; Irish Examiner, 8 September 2026
The point where the 40% rate of income tax starts is set to rise from €44,000 to at least €46,000, the Irish Examiner reports. A move to €46,000 is worth €400 a year to people paying the higher rate.
The Taoiseach says the Government is pushing very strongly to include a first cost of disability payment in this Budget. No amount has been given, and on 19 September he said it will be challenging to bring in.
Source: TheJournal.ie, 14 September 2026; Irish Times, 19 September 2026
Our guide: Disability Allowance rates and rules
People with big monthly medicine bills are unlikely to see the Drugs Payment Scheme threshold come down, the Irish Examiner reports. A shingles vaccine programme is expected to be funded.
Source: Irish Examiner, 11 September 2026
Our guide: who can get a medical card
Social Protection Minister Dara Calleary says pensioners living on their own will be his focus in this Budget. That points to the Living Alone Increase, which is €22 a week now. No figure has been given.
Source: Irish Examiner, 8 September 2026
An increase to Child Benefit is all but ruled out for this Budget, the Irish Examiner reports.
Source: Irish Examiner, 8 September 2026
Micheál Martin said he cannot see the capacity for energy credits for every household in this Budget.
Source: RTÉ, 7 September 2026
ALONE wants at least €15 a week more on the Living Alone Increase and €15 a week more on the State Pension, at least €10 a week more on the Fuel Allowance with the season back to 32 weeks, and €15 a month more on the Household Benefits Package. Age Action wants the pension up €20 a week.
The Government has set a package of €8.5 billion: €7 billion of extra spending and €1.5 billion of tax measures. The Budget will be read on Tuesday 6 October.
Source: gov.ie, Summer Economic Statement, 22 July 2026; RTÉ, 1 April 2026
Family Carers Ireland is asking for the Carer's Allowance means test to be abolished in full, and for a new Family Carer Payment.
All grant news, not just the Budget, is on the GrantHub news feed. We check every item against the page it comes from. Spot something wrong? Email hello@thegranthub.ie.