Finance Minister Michael McGrath will present his first budget on Tuesday that bears all the hallmarks of an election giveaway budget.
There will be good news for everybody who likes to go out for a drink too because the excise duties on alcohol will not be touched this year, but it’s bad news for smokers, again, as it’s likely there will be another 50c added to the cost of a pack of cigarettes. Fianna Fail Finance Minister, Mr McGrath, will outline a € 14 billion package that it’s hoped will woo voters away from Sinn Fein who are enjoying a rollicking lead over all other parties in the polls.
The ‘ask’ from Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys is for €15 a week across the board, which has been costed at a massive €1.25 billion and will require the agreement of all three party leaders. The recent crisis in Garda recruitment will be addressed through an almost doubling of the weekly allowance for trainee gardai, going up from €184 a week to €305, which it is hoped will help recruitment and retention.