Tánaiste Micheál Martin has admitted that “challenging discussions” will continue over the weekend in relation to where resources will be allocated to in what is set to be a ‘future oriented budget’.
Mr Martin has said that meetings will continue over the weekend between the coalition party leaders, as well as Ministers Michael McGrath and Paschal Donohoe to sign off on issues which are still outstanding. However, he stressed that a “significant amount” has been agreed in relation to the Budget.
Speaking in Macroom, Co Cork, Mr Martin said Minister for Finance Michael McGrath is “fine tuning” his tax measures whilst Ministers were meeting “as we speak” to agree on their Departmental estimates.
He said that he hopes to see measures on the expenditure side “wrapped up” by the end of Friday.
“There will be meetings over the weekend of the three party leaders and the two key economic Ministers and Minister McGrath will bring final proposals in respect of the Budget before the close of the weekend.
"Clearly, on the expenditure side, we would like to have a significant, if not all of that wrapped up, before the weekend.
"There are challenging discussions in some areas, without question. Because the background of this is a very significant increase in population over the last twenty years. You are looking at a one and a half million population increase which stretches public services.
"When you look at increased activity in health that is a reflection of a growing population. I do think we need to factor that in to our planning for the future.
"The population has been growing at a significant level for over two decades and that is something we have to reflect in to our spending and taxation plans and also protecting the future and making sure we have room and resources to spare for future challenges."
Mr Martin said that Mr McGrath is “very focused’ on building for the future as well as on the dimension of ‘fairness’ across the board.
“(This) is at a time when cost of living is significantly impacting on people and has been over the last 18 months for a variety of reasons. The bounce back from Covid, the war on Ukraine in terms of energy prices.
"We understand that and the Budget will reflect a response to the cost of living issue and, of course housing will also feature.
"You are looking at a Budget in terms of core measures and a cost of living package which has been well flagged, and you are looking at a taxation package and also building for the future.
"Mr McGrath is concerned about that issue (mortgage holders) and I have no doubt that he will be bringing proposals forward. We had further discussions over the weekend and he will be bringing proposals in that regard.
"In designing approaches to that issue ….it is not a simple, straightforward issue. But, across the broadness of our measures if you include the Budget, the cost of living package and some specific measures, I think we will generally seek to enable people to cope with what has been a difficult period in terms of price increases.”
Mr Martin added that his hope would be that young people would be able to see that mechanisms will be in place in the budget to protect their quality of life in to the future.
“In terms of infrastructure, in terms of climate and in terms of having resources for pensions that they will expect in later times. It is a future oriented budget.”
