This afternoon’s Budget is expected to be the first since December 2007 that has not been an emergency or austerity budget with cuts totalling billions of euro being imposed on the public purse.
Here is a reminder of the swingeing cuts that were made and other measures that were taken since October 2008.
October 2008
On his appointment earlier that year, new minister for finance Brian Lenihan said it was his misfortune to come into the job at the moment the economy had "come to a shuddering halt".
The government’s first major response was in October that year when it published an early budget, with severe cuts. Within months it became apparent that the economy was collapsing - and a supplementary emergency budget was required in April of 2009.
Between both, adjustments of over €10 billion were made in spending and taxes.
In October, the main controversy was the removal of medical cards for over-70s, which was quickly reversed. The Government also introduced:
A 1 per cent income levy.
10 per cent pay cuts for politicians.
An increase in registration fees.
April 2009
2 per cent income levy
Number of junior ministers cut from 20 to 15
Health levy doubled to nearly 5 per cent
Pension levy for public servants
No Christmas bonus in social welfare payments
Dirt tax increased from 23 per cent to 25 per cent
December 2009
Overall adjustment of €4.3 billion for 2010
€1 billion cut in public service pay
€760 million cut in social welfare
Child benefit cut by €16 per month, per child
50c increase on prescription charges
60c hike on a bottle of wine
Carbon tax of €15 per tonne introduced
December 2010
Overall adjustment of €6 billion announced for 2011
10 per cent reduction in tax credits and income tax bands
A new Universal Social Charge of 7 per cent introduced
Abolition of PRSI ceiling
Third-level registration fees increased to €2,000
Taoiseach’s salary cut by €14,000
Minimum wage cut by €1 to €7.65
Stamp duty reduced to 1 per cent to respond to collapse in housing market
December 2011
Overall adjustment of €3.8 billion announced for 2012
New fees for private treatment in public hospitals
Registration fees increased by €250
Reductions announced for Deis schools (later reversed)
Closure of 31 Garda stations
Child Benefit cut
Cut in school clothing allowance for younger children
Cuts in fuel allowance
Increase of €1 in minimum wage
December 2012
Adjustments of €3.5 billion announced for 2013
Child benefit cut by €10
Motor tax increased by €15
New tax on maternity benefit payments
New property tax announced from July 2013
Prescription charges increase by 50c
€1 hike on a bottle of wine
10c increase on 20 cigarettes
Third-level registration fees increase by €250
Dirt increased from 30 per cent to 33 per cent
Capital Gains Tax increased from 30 per cent to 33 per cent
October 2013
Adjustments of €2.5 billion announced for 2014
Tighter rules for medical card eligibility
€1 increase in prescription charges
Cut in maternity benefit
Cut in tax break for private health insurance affecting any premium costing over €1,000 per annum
Tax initiative for home improvement worth between €5,000 and €30,000
GP care announced for under-6s
Cuts in Jobseeker’s Allowance from €144 to 4100 to those between the ages of 22 and 24.
