Budget 2024: Expansion of free school books scheme and mortgage relief to come in

The price of a packet of cigarettes will also rise, likely to be either 20c or 50c, but there will be no increase to the price of alcohol

Free school books will be provided for first-year, second-year and Junior Cycle pupils, sources have said.

Free school books for pupils in secondary school up to Junior Cycle are set to be announced in Tuesday's budget.

The Irish Examiner understands the expansion of the free school book scheme will kick in for the next academic year and will impact 200,000 parents across the country.