02/03/2023

The three coalition party leaders will meet today to finalise the details of the Budget.

The three coalition party leaders will meet today to finalise the details of the Budget.
The package, due to be announced tomorrow, will be dominated by the fallout from the pandemic with many measures targeted at sectors of the economy hit the hardest.
Much of the Budget’s firepower will be directed at businesses and the self-employed whose livelihoods have been wiped out, with a compensation fund expected to be brought in for businesses forced to close.
Several measures will also be directed at taxi drivers and the live music industry.
The hospitality and tourism sectors will benefit from a VAT cut.
On health, extra spending of €4bn has been agreed, with further increases to capital investment and the housing budget.
There will also be a recovery fund of several billion euro.
Carbon tax will go up by €7.50 per tonne and there will be a hike to VRT to incentivise the purchase of fuel efficient cars.
Later in the day the three party leaders will meet to sign off on the package.