Over €1.4 billion of social protection cost of living supports were introduced as part of last week’s budget.

Funding to support household retrofitting will ease the cost-of-living and benefit the environment, but the budget did not go far enough to tackle climate change, environmental groups have said.

In housing, considerable allocations were announced by Finance Minister Jack Chambers and Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohue, with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage set to receive €7.9bn.

The budget has not provided much comfort for small businesses, with many feeling their concerns have not been addressed

While most were unhappy with what was described as both a “crap” and “political stunt” announcement, some were pleased with the measures introduced to alleviate pressures for new parents and families.

Labour TD Seán Sherlock says full funding allocations for infrastructure projects in 2025 needed 'as a matter of urgency'. 

Paul Sheehan, communications manager with Cork Simon, said the budget’s cost-of-living and social welfare measures were welcome but were likely to have little impact for people on the very edge of homelessness.

However, the Irish Pharmacy Union president said that the budget had failed to provide clarity on what he described as the chronic underfunding of Ireland’s community pharmacy sector.

The Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland focused its response to the budget on the under-investment in schools and the extent of the “teacher recruitment-and-retention crisis”.

President-elect of the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) and owner of the Castle Inn in the city centre, Michael O’Donovan, said that it is now inevitable that more pubs will be forced to close their doors.

From a record budget allocation of €33.9bn across the justice sector, Budget 2025 includes a €500m increase in Garda funding — bringing the total Garda budget to €2.48bn.

Motorists will see a 60 litre fill of petrol and diesel rise by €1.28 and €1.48 respectively.

“There are a number of one-off payments again, while we’ve done research with families who’ve said they’d prefer more money be put into targeted investment in services rather than one-off payments, they do mean an immediate boost for parents."

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the funding, announced under Budget 2025, will help Cork to become a major hub of renewable offshore energy

Katie Halpin-Hill said the government had “failed” to address the key issue of the accommodation crisis.

The Government proposed a budget package of €8.3 billion in its Summer Economic statement.

Last week, the latest figures from the Department of Housing showed the number of people in emergency homeless accommodation had reached a new record high of 14,486 in Ireland.

Labour Cork South Central councillor Laura Harmon said that while it should be reinstated to 9% for all businesses, including hotels, “the priority” in tomorrow’s budget announcement should be small and medium enterprises, including cafes and restaurants.

SVP regional coordinator Gerry Garvey said: “A big thing is trying to remove the inequality in the system, and an easy way to do this is through targeted supports rather than blanket supports".

The hotel sector provides employment to thousands of Cork people, with the tourism industry being unique in that 70% of tourism jobs are outside of Dublin.

While the main focus of the concern is the overcrowding of emergency departments, the other issue that is contributing to this crisis is the perceived lack of GPs in towns and villages around the country.

Ahead of Budget 2025, The Echo spoke with TDs across all constituencies in Cork to find out what they would like to see implemented

“People are struggling to meet costs not just from week to week, but from day to day.”

In its pre-budget submission, Social Justice Ireland (SJI) talks about reducing class sizes to below 20 and says there should be a focus on primary level and DEIS schools

Health and education are two areas that will be to the forefront of consideration in Budget 2025.

William O’Brien, who owns Spar on MacCurtain St, said that the budget was an opportunity to provide “a fair, level playing field for independent retailers”.

The charity is calling for a €20m investment in a Rent Arrears Scheme to help private renters remain in their homes if they experience financial difficulties.

Among the motoring measures introduced in Budget 2024 was an extension of company car BIK reliefs.

The Programme for Government states that the Government would “consider the introduction of Bus Rapid Transit Services” and said it would be essential that if a BRT system were brought in for Cork, that a BRT line direct to Cork Airport should be included.

Anti-dereliction campaigners Frank O’Connor and Jude Sherry, who are the founders of Anois design agency, said that the upcoming budget presents a “brilliant opportunity” to transfer the responsibility of dereliction-levy collection from the local authorities to the Revenue and thus improve collection rates.

Catriona Twomey of Cork Penny Dinners said there was 'no point of bringing in a budget that falls short of long-term solutions'

However, Finance Minister and Taoiseach have denied the earlier budget date means that the general election will be brought forward.