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Coimisiún na Meán has been established as the new media regulator for online safety, television broadcasting and video on-demand services.

If you have worked in the UK and have gaps in your National Insurance record, you can pay voluntary contributions to help you qualify for the UK state pension. You have until 31 July 2023 to pay voluntary contributions to make up for gaps between 2006 and 2016. After this date, you will only be able to pay contributions to cover the previous 6 years.

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The schedule for the Leaving Certificate 2023 has been published by the Department of Education. 

Renewals for the Student Grant Scheme in 2023-2024 are now open.  

Applications for the Primary school transport scheme are open and will close on 28 April 2023.  

The threshold for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme has changed from 50% to 30%. 

If you are a driver of a small public service vehicle (SPSV), you may be able to get a grant to buy a new electric vehicle

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Your rights when you travel by train  

Your rights when you travel by bus or coach 

Local Authority Home Loan  

Summer education programme  

Managing your money when you return to Ireland  

Rent tax credit 

Help to buy scheme  

Contract of employment 

Brexit and you 

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The Benefits and Taxes 2023 wallchart is now available

This large-format quick-reference wallchart summarises rates of payment in 2023 for social welfare payments and taxes.

It includes social welfare payments for jobseekers, carers and older people along with rates for child and family payments such as Child Benefit, Working Family Payment and the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance. It gives income limits for the medical card and GP visit card and financial information on tax bands, tax reliefs and tax credits including the Rent Tax Credit.

It is also available in a booklet format.

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New supports to help with the cost of living were announced on 21 February 2023:

The pause on disconnections for gas and electricity customers is extended to the end of March 2023.

From 15 March 2023, Coimisiún na Meán (or CnM or the Media Commission) will be the media regulator for online safety, television broadcasting and video on-demand services.

The Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act will be fully implemented on 26 April 2023. From this date, new decision support arrangements will be available. No new Wards of Court will be created after this date, and everyone who is currently a Ward of Court will have their capacity assessed and brought under the new legal framework within 3 years.  The Decision Support Service will oversee the new system.

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COVID-19 vaccinations are now available for everyone aged 6 months and over.

Temporary protection will be automatically extended for Ukrainians living in Ireland.

The Immigrant Investor Programme closed to new applicants on 15 February.

Exam dates and other updates for the 2023 Junior Cycle and Leaving Cert exams are now available.

You can also check the details of this year’s summer education programme.

A new Citizens’ Assembly on drug use will take place this year.

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Bringing my non-EEA partner to Ireland to get married

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From 1 February 2023, the extended expiration periods for collecting social welfare payments from the post office introduced during COVID-19 will no longer be available.

Third COVID-19 booster vaccines are now available if you are 65 or over, or if you are 12 or over in some cases.

The maximum fixed charges for parking offences has increased from €150 to €200.

Applicants without children for international protection are not currently being offered accommodation.

For gains made in December 2022, you must pay Capital Gains Tax by 31 January 2023 and file a return by 31 October 2023. 

The closing date for CAO applications is 1 February 2023. Late applications will be accepted until 5pm, 1 May 2023. If you are applying for HEAR or DARE, or want to be assessed as a mature student, you must submit your CAO application by 1 February 2023.

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The closing date for CAO 2023 applications is 1 February 2023. An application made before 1 February 2023 is free of charge. You can change your course choices online up to 5pm on 1 February 2023 free of charge. Changes made from 3 February 2023 to 5pm on 1 March 2023 cost €10.

If your child is aged 2-17, they can get a free flu vaccine at participating GPs and pharmacies until 23 January 2023. No appointment is needed.   

You can now claim a tax exemption of up to a limit of €3,000 under the Bike to Work Scheme for cargo and e-cargo bikes. From 1 August 2020 to 31 December 2022, the limit for cargo and e-cargo bikes was €1,250 and €1,500.

Non-EEA fishing crew members who had residence through the Atypical Working Scheme can now apply for a Stamp 4. They must have a current valid IRP card granted under the AWS that expires on or after 1 January 2023, or hold a letter of permission under the scheme.  

From 1 February 2023, the price of a standard domestic postage stamp will increase from €1.25 to €1.35. There will be no increase in the price of a standard international stamp (€2.20) or the Digital Stamp (€2.00). 

On 9 January 2023, a new subsidised one-year pilot programme for a part-time local hackney service was launched. The programme will be available across 21 locations in designated rural locations where no full-time service exists.

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The national minimum wage is now €11.30 per hour.

Statements of terms of conditions of employment must now have information about probation periods. This must be included in the statement of core terms and conditions that employees must receive within 5 days of starting their job.

Statutory sick pay is now available for up to 3 days per year.

All adults can now get their second COVID-19 booster.

Changes in mortgage lending limits are now in place.

The amount of money you can earn and still qualify for local authority housing increased by €5000 per year on 1 January 2023.

The price limits for the First Home Scheme increased from 1 January 2023.

The Low Emissions Vehicle Toll Inventive Scheme, which refunds tolls for some electric cars have been extended to June 2023.

New fixed charge penalties are now in place for:

  • €200 for the misuse of a disabled parking permit
  • €80 for illegally parking in an electric charging bay
  • €200 for breaching an HGV ban and entering a specified public road without a permit

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All social welfare and tax pages  have been updated with 2023 rates and rules.

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