Taoiseach Enda Kenny has sharply rebuked former Fine Gael taoiseach John Bruton in the Dáil for his claim that Ireland faced 10 more years of austerity budgets.

“I was here when John Bruton was here and I think he made two attempts at a budget, neither of which was passed,’’ said Mr Kenny. “I do not agree with his assertion.’’

Mr Kenny was replying to Sinn Féin deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald, who said the programme for government should be reviewed.

“Has the Taoiseach listened to what the people have told him or is he listening instead to his predecessor as taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, John Bruton, who believes we face another 10 or 15 years of cutbacks and brutal austerity budgets?,’’ she added.

Mr Kenny said the Government would not change political direction. “We have set out targets and objectives and they must be achieved,’’ he added.

He said the scale of the adjustment required in the October budget for 2015 could not be determined now. The Government had yet to review the scale and state of the national accounts later this year, he added.

“I have already said it is a priority for the Government that where flexibility can be shown in the budget, it will be shown to hard pressed taxpayers,’’ he added.

Mr Bruton’s stance was also criticised by the Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald who accused him of presenting a “depressing message for people” and that he was being unduly pessimistic.

She said the key to economic growth will be the faster creation of jobs.

“I would say that, as jobs continue to be created, people will begin to feel the difference,” she said. “The focus on job creation has to be central to everything that we do.”

Mrs Fitzgerald put the poor showing by the Government parties down to the worries that people have over making ends meet.

While people understood on principle that tough decisions had to be made, she said it was understandable that they were worried on an individual level about the bills they will now face.