Executive Summary image

BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE

PART 3. BUDGET 2025 EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS

Supporting workers, families and communities

Pearse canvass
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INTRODUCTION
COST OF LIVING PACKAGE
HOUSING
PROTECTING WORKERS AND FAMILIES
SUPPORTING FAMILIES
HEALTH SERVICES
COMMUNITIES
CLIMATE AND BIODIVERSITY
DISABILITY AND CARE
IRISH UNITY
EXPENDITURE
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FINANCE PROPOSALS

BUDGET 2025 EXPENDITURE PROPOSALS

The allocations that follow are for new measures over and above pre-committed expenditure (except where stated otherwise). This includes €2.5 billion of funding provided to maintain Existing Levels of Service (e.g. carry over, demographics, the existing public sector pay agreement and non- pay inflation). Sinn Féin has also provided for an unallocated reserve of €145 million.

The allocations that follow are also over and above pre-committed NDP capital of 14.5 billion for 2025 (except where stated otherwise).

All Figures are 1st year costs for 2025. Full year costs in some instances are greater.

* all figures may not sum due to rounding effects.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE MARINE

Current Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Deliver a suckler payment of up to €300 per cow/calf pair 50
Increase Sheep Improvement Scheme by €5 per ewe11
Invest in areas of natural constraint15
Invest in tillage farming8.3
Invest in Horticulture sector10
Funding package for the Macra na Feirme ‘Make the Moove’ initiative0.2
Land Mobility Service0.1
Establish an agricultural student hardship fund0.3
Establish Commission on the Future of the Family Farm0.5
Equip Agri-Food Regulator with powers to investigate cartel-like behaviour and anti-competitive practices0.5
Increased investment for animal welfare2
Establish an independent oversight and complaints body for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority
(SFPA)		1
Total98.9

Capital Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Forestry Programme in 2025 (including Ash Dieback)25
LESS (Low Emission Slurry Spreading) Grant5
Compensate “Forgotten Farmers” - 50% restoration in 202512.5
Increased investment in the fisheries sector17
Total59.5

DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN, EQUALITY, DISABILITY, INTEGRATION AND YOUTH

Current Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Reduce childcare fees to €10 a day34.7
€1.50 increase in hourly wages of childcare workers17.9
IME Naíonra Incentive Fund1.9
Improve aftercare supports and services5
Family Resource Centres3.5
Invest in Community Integration Funds5
Increase funding for youth investment15
Therapy services for children and adults with disabilities10
Increase the availability of appropriate residential care47.3
Increase provision for day services19.9
650,000 additional Personal Assistance, Home Support and Home Care Hours10.2
Increased funding for respite services10
100 additional intensive homecare packages5.2
Disables Person’s Organisation (DPO) Training and Development Fund1
Total186.6

Capital Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Increase childcare capacity (infrastructure, equipment, extensions, etc.)10
Increase TUSLA bed capacity14
Family Resource Centres1
Increase the availability of appropriate residential care41.5
Increased funding for Respite Services2.5
Total69

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

Current Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Rebuilding Defence Forces numbers25.9
Transitional Supports and Guidance Officers0.3
Defence Forces Healthcare & Medical Support1.4
Increased funding to the Veterans Associations0.2
Increased funding for the Red Cross0.5
Total28.3

Capital Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Defence Forces equipment and infrastructure45
Total45

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Current Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Expand hot school meal scheme to all primary schools47.2
Commence roll-out of hot school meals to secondary schools10
Increase free school book grant for primary school children17
Extend school book grant for senior cycle in secondary schools46.4
20% increase in capitation grants for primary schools6.6
20% increase in capitation grants for secondary schools7.6
More than 1,500 additional SETs and over 1,850 SNAs65.1*
Increase capacity on school transport5.9
Increase in guidance counselling funding0.3
Restoring the school libraries fund by €109.5
Phased abolition of private school subsidy(8.7)
Expansion of the Summer Programme5
Increase ICT grant for primary and secondary schools2
Tackling overcrowding in classrooms15
Increase funding for Irish Medium Education7.1
Total236
Total (*less €38.4m provided by ELS)197.6

Capital Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Increase minor works grant ceiling6
Tackle overcrowding in classrooms30
Irish Medium Education5.6
Total41.6

DEPARTMENT OF ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND EMPLOYMENT

Current Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs)1.2
InterTrade Ireland0.3
Establish new Irish Enterprise Agency2.5
Increase funding to National Cyber Security Centre0.4
Funding for community wealth building and employee-owned business models0.9
Workplace Relations Commission1
Health and Safety Authority1
Career supports for young people with disabilities5.5
Wage subsidy scheme for workers with disabilities10
PRSI Rebate Scheme255.4
Total278.2

Capital Expenditure Measures

(€m)
IDA Ireland8
Enterprise Ireland8
Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs)4.5
InterTrade Ireland0.9
National Cyber Security Centre0.1
Funding for community wealth building and employee-owned business models1.3
Total22.8

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE, AND COMMUNICATIONS NETWORKS

Current Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Increase resourcing to CRU and establish a hedging monitoring unit2.9
Cancel subscription free to Energy Charter Treaty Secretariat(0.05)
Remunicipalisation of Waste Collection Services2.7
Total5.6

Capital Expenditure Measures

(€m)
Replace the Better Energy Warmer Homes Scheme with a new retrofit scheme for low and middle
income households (including heat pump provision)		100
Establish a retrofit scheme for solid fuel households on low and middle incomes50
Establish a tiered approach for higher income households(28)
Increase Funding for Sustainable Energy Communities6
Increase Funding for domestic Solar PV scheme (and introduce a tiered grant funding)50
Establish a Renewable Energy Investment Fund50
Smart Heater Control Grants (on fuel allowances)1.5
Establish a Just Transition Commission1
Establish a Biodiversity and Nature Restoration Fund50
Establish a fund for expanding nature and public spaces in urban areas5
Fund the Irish Environmental Network2
Total287.5
Total (less €89 from NDP reprofiling funding for retrofits in 2025)198.5

DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Current Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Increase Overseas Development Aid spending40
Open a Passport Office in the North2.5
Expand the state’s diplomatic footprint overseas3
Total45.5

Capital Expenditure Measures

(€m)
Open a Passport Office in the North1.1
Total1.1

DEPARTMENT OF FURTHER AND HIGHER EDUCATION, RESEARCH, INNOVATION AND SCIENCE

Current Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Phasing out Student Contribution Charge over three years with first cut of 150066
Increase to core funding40
Extend free fees initiative to Graduate Entry Medical students for new entrants in academic year
2024/25 (up to €10K) 		4.2
Fund 200 medicine places4.4
Abolish Craft Apprenticeship Fees11.5
Extend state support for allowances for craft apprentices by increasing rates by 50%6.5
Introduce allowance for instructors of apprentices to increase training capacity in the system4.4
Extend the ‘Fund for Students’ with a Disability (FSD) across all Further Education and Training FET
courses		2.2
Extend SUSI to Postgraduate Fees for qualifying students4.3
Free Irish language classes for adults0.8
Bursary to assist Traveller & Roma students and Care Leavers to enter further and higher education1.2
Increase SUSI maintenance by 15% (adjacent and non-adjacent)11.9
Double Irish-Medium Education (IME) funding at third level2.8
Total160.2

Capital Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Increase North-South Research Programme funding8
Increase Capital Investment in Student Accommodation100
Total108

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Current Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Reducing the cost of healthcare for workers and families157.1
Increasing hospital capacity158.1
Workforce planning28.3
Targeted improvement strategies104.6
Investing in primary and community care115.3
Caring for older people104.2
Mental health services22
Investing in the fight against addiction and recovery17.2
Climate action in the health sector15
Digital transformation50
Savings delivered through reduction of reliance on agency, management consultancy and out-
sourcing		(100)
Total671.8

Capital Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Increasing hospital capacity199
Investing in primary and community care35
Mental health services8.4
Investing addiction and recovery services18.5
Workforce planning1.4
Digital transformation50
Total312.3

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING, LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HERITAGE

Current Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Increase staff in An Bord Pleanála2
Increasing staff in LA housing, planning & building control10
Increase staffing for Environmental planning in Maritime Area Regulatory Authority1.3
Establish a new tenant empowerment and participation fund1
Disability inclusion fund for all local authorities7
Expand and restore our national parks2
Total23.3

Capital Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Social and Affordable Home Building Programme (Voted)1,423
Acquisitions517.9
100% increase in estate regeneration and refurbishment50
Increase funding for disability housing adaptation grants25
Social housing response maintenance50
Extension of the Temporary Development Contribution Waiver Scheme350
Increase capital for domestic violence shelters15
Investing an additional €200m to fund redress of defects200
Increased investment in water infrastructure100
Increase funding for the retrofit of social housing stock25
Expand and restore our national parks10
Total2,766
Total Plus €1,050m AHB expenditure which is classified as general government expenditure for the purposes of calculating the general government balance3,816

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Current Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Recruit 1,000 additional Gardaí in 2025 and increase the garda trainee allowance by 30%16.4
Provision for domestic violence shelters4.7
Increase funding to the Director of Public Prosecutions5.5
Increase funding to prison services10
Double youth justice interventions6.6
Increase funding to court services10
Increase funding to Legal Aid6
Double funding for restorative justice programmes1.1
Provide funding for domestic homicide reviews1
Additional funding for International Protection Office (IPO) and International Protection Appeals
Tribunal (IPAT)		34
Responding to violence against women with a range of measures15
Total110.3

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AND REFORM

Current Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Creation of Public Procurement Ombudsman0.3
Develop IGEES to reduce reliance on private consultants0.4
Reduce salary top up of politicians including An Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Ministers and Ministers of
State by 50%		(1.2)
Establish a Citizens’ Assembly to plan for Irish unity3
Increase funding for the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO)0.5
Increase resourcing for the Comptroller and Auditor General1
Total4

Capital Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Progressively reduce the OPW’s reliance on leasing contracts50
Increase funding for the OPW's flood defences & coastal erosion20
Total70

DEPARTMENT OF RURAL COMMUNITY AND DEVELOPMENT

Current Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Increase funding for public participation networks1
Increase funding to the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP)10
Funding to allow Community Services programmes to pay the living wage13.8
Total24.8

Capital Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Increase LEADER funding8
Allocate €1m to Men’s and Women’s Sheds1
Allocation for community centre investment including delivery of youth services20
Total29

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL PROTECTION

Current Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Increase One Parent Family Payment and Supplementary Welfare Allowance by €1236.4
Increase Carer’s Allowance by €12 and relax the means-test166.04
Increase Domiciliary Care Allowance by €107.9
Increase annual Carer’s Support Grant to €200030
Pay-related Carer’s Benefit8.5
Increase disability payments by €20293.2
Increase Jobseeker’s Allowance by €1069.8
Increase State Pension by €12447.1
Increase other Social Welfare rates by €1262.1
Proportionate weekly increases for Qualified Adults59
Increase Qualified Child Payment for over and under 12s by €579.9
Establish social welfare adequacy commission0.5
Increase Child Benefit by €10152.6
Increase age limit of One-Parent Family Payment to 12 years and Jobseeker’s Transitional Payment
to 15 years		11.9
Extension of fuel allowance eligibility to Working Family Payment recipients25.7
Increase fuel allowance by €560
Reintroduce the State Pension for 65-year-olds120.7
Extend Parental leave and Benefit by 4 weeks53
Introduce Parental Bereavement Leave and Benefit0.1
Total1.684bn

DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM, CULTURE, ARTS, GAELTACHT, SPORT AND MEDIA

Current Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Abolish the TV licence, fund public service media properly and support An Post183.1
Increase funding for TG412.4
Increase funding for Tourism Ireland5
Increase funding for Screen Ireland0.8
Roll out new Leisure Card Scheme worth €130 to all children in junior and senior infants, as well as
all students in special classes and schools to make a wide range of activities more affordable		17.4
Increase baseline funding for Údarás na Gaeltachta4.3
Restore & expand the Irish Speakers' Scheme2.1
Rescue Package for Coláistí Samhraidh agus na Mná Tí2.9
Increase funding for Foras na Gaeilge5
Establish a Unit in CSO for Sociolinguistic & Cultural Analysis0.3
Annual commemorations programme to replace Decade of Centenaries1.5
Increase funding for Arts Council20
Ringfenced new funding for traveller culture & identity0.7
Increase funding for Heritage Council1
Funding for Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs) and National Governing Bodies (NGBs)1.5
Grassroots soccer10
A free Irish language book for every child and teenager1.4
Increase funding for culture Ireland2
Employ a County or City Archaeologist for each local authority1.3
Making Irish-medium early years education for Gaeltacht families1.6
Total274.3

Capital Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Increase funding for Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund25
Establish a EURO 2028 Advance Legacy Fund10
Increase funding for Údarás na Gaeltachta10
Irish language Capital Programme5
Increase capital funding for Screen Ireland6.5
Protect Moore Street Culture Quarter10
Ringfenced new funding for traveller culture & identity1
Total 67.5

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT

Current Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Accelerate the Connecting Ireland rural bus scheme10
Deferral toll charges due in 20258
50 additional driving testers2.8
Total20.8

Capital Expenditure Measures

Measure(€m)
Progress the Navan rail line and the Western Rail Corridor (including an engineering and track sur-
vey of the rail line from Claremorris to Collooney)		6.3
Accelerate the Connecting Ireland rural bus scheme7
Make public transport more accessible25
Progress the A5 / N2 upgrade3
Local Improvement Scheme & Community Involvement Scheme15
Maintenance & Improvement of roads65
Safe routes to school4
Investment in cyber security2
Total127.3

Building a Better Future - Sinn Féin's Alternative Budget 2025

Every year Sinn Féin publishes a comprehensive, fully costed set of budget proposals. No other opposition party provide the level of detail for voters. We do this to show how from day one in government we will deliver real change for you, for your family and for your community.

VIEW A PDF OF OUR BUDGET HERE