Two year anniversary of my arrival to Dublin, Budget Day 2023

It’s been two years since I arrived to Dublin — on 1st October 2020, I took up residence at Sprangers Yard in the apartment where I still live and wrote the first post for this blog. My once daily posts have become much more infrequent as life has become more routine. Life has settled into a new normal. The COVID-19 pandemic is seemingly over; just the other day I finally relegated my collection of face masks from a prominent position on the built-in desk of the 2nd bedroom to storage. It’s been six months since starting a new job, which is going well and covers my expenses. I have a handful of consistent friends. At the same time, there is much uncertainty and gloom in the world, and in particular, Europe. The Euro has dropped to less than $1.00 US dollar. Inflation in Ireland has topped 9% this year. The war in Ukraine wages on with no end in sight, and the conflict will likely escalate now that Russia has declared its annexation of four regions in the Donbass and a partial mobilisation of military reservists. Nevertheless, my sense of belonging here in Ireland persists. This morning as I was having coffee and waiting for my weekly SuperValu grocery delivery, I heard a knocking on my door. When I went to open it, no one was in sight, but a small shopping bag had been left there with a postcard and an “I have been vaccinated” tshirt (a bit behind the times but still generic enough that it may come in handy in the future) — gifts from my neighbour Irene in celebration of my two year anniversary.

My social life has been going OK. Yesterday evening (Friday), I had another date with A. whom I met in late August and have met up with several times now for drinks or meals. We went to a screening of shorts that is part of the annual GAZE LGBTQ+ film festival in Dublin. The screening took place at the Light House cinema in Smithfield, and afterwards we had dinner not far away at a ramen place called Soup 2 where I’d been before but A, hadn’t — it did not disappoint. So far we have had lovely times together, and we’re both are on the same page about taking things slow. Then today I met up my friend CJ for lunch at Jay Kay’s Cafe on Bloom Lane in the Millennium Way / Little Italy area just north of the Liffey from me. Afterwards we strolled down to Pennylane for a couple of pints in honour of my two years in Dublin so far. I don’t have much else planned for the weekend, but the weather has cleared up after some rain earlier in the week and it’s still relatively warm — good conditions for a spontaneous adventure.

The big news in Ireland this past week was Budget Day 2023. Budget Day is the day the Minister for Finance presents proposed spending programmes to the Dáil Éireann (the Irish parliament), and this year it had been brought forward by two weeks to assuage the populace’s fears over the “cost of living crisis” caused by inflation. The proposed budget sets out an overall package of €11 billion, including €4.1 billion in one-time measures and increases of €6.9 billion to Ireland’s overall annual budget of €85.6 billion. The increased levels of funding are to come from a windfall in corporation tax receipts, upon which some say Ireland is becoming too heavily dependent. A few highlights:

• Social welfare: a variety of supports and payments made under Ireland’s social welfare programmes are being increased.
  
• Taxes: the threshold for the 40% income tax rate bracket has been increased from €36,800 to €40,000 (a savings of roughly €800 a year while main tax credits rise by €75.
  
• Energy assistance: All households will receive €600 in electricity credits to defray the huge spikes in consumer electricity and gas bills expected over the winter.
  
• Housing: Renters will receive a new tax credit valued at €500 per year, and more funding for affordable housing programmes,
  
• Childcare: Funding to support a reduction of up to 25% in the weekly fee for those using the National Childcare Scheme – this should result in up to €175 a month savings for parents.
  
• Health: all inpatient hospital charges will be abolished, an additional 340,000 people will be eligible for GP cards that entitle them to free doctor visits, and free contraception will be available for all women aged between 16 and 30.
  
• Other: Free text books for primary school children, more Garda/police officers, a continuation of reduced public transportation fares, a support scheme for businesses facing huge utility bill increases (up to €4,000 per month), and increased taxes on cigarettes.
  

Until next time….