Budget to introduce free Junior Cycle school books and cuts to college and childcare fees

Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman has secured a 25% reduction in childcare fees, but it is expected that parents will not see the reduction applied until around September of next year.

The budget is set to feature a 50% reduction in undergraduate fees to €1,500 for students whose families have an income of €100,000 or less.

Families on incomes of less than €100,000 will see third-level fees halved to €1,500 under budget measures aimed at parents of toddlers, teenagers, and young adults.

Higher Education Minister Simon Harris has secured a multimillion-euro budget package for students and their families which will ease the financial burden of going to college this year and over the coming years.