Budget 2017 is all about protecting our economy and making people’s lives better, particularly hard-pressed working families. 

It’s thanks to the careful economic management over recent years that we now have the resources to target investments in key public services that will make a real difference to people’s lives. 

Here’s an overview:

• Putting in place measures to help build more houses and ensure everyone has a place they can call home;
• Reducing the USC for the third Budget in a row putting money back into people’s pockets;
• Investing in our public services and hiring more doctors, nurses, teachers, and Gardaí; 
• Increasing the State pension;
• Putting in place more supports for the self-employed; 
• Making changes to our social welfare system that will mean everyone who is in receipt of it will see an increase in their payments; 
• Making quality childcare more affordable for all families across the country.