Budget

How we perceive our financial status relative to our friends and neighbours can cause us to spend and perceive losses in deeply irrational ways

Four experts – a builder, an architect, an economist and a policy expert – weigh in on measures contained in Budget 2026

Apartment construction, the income tax burden and questions of prudence are key issues that have emerged from Budget 2026

No ‘sunset clause’ on measure, meaning reduction is a permanent feature of tax code

Loss of one-off measures will hit lower income households more dramatically

In the News podcast

Sector pushes for lower rate to be bought in before scheduled start date of July next year

Failure to allow beneficiaries of inheritance from childless people access to €400,000 tax relief is not discriminatory

Highly profitable catering businesses are also among the beneficiaries from Government climbdown on VAT

Climate merited just two fleeting references in Finance Minister’s 45-minute speech

Darragh O’Brien says he does not believe Ireland will face fines of up to €26 billion

Access-to-care variations between regions ‘unacceptable and avoidable’, says Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Minister says he is assessing a report he has received which is believed to centre on the future of chief executive Kenny Jacobs

Expert advice on the latest budget measures, from tax and pensions, to inheritance, childcare and more

Better with Money with Aideen Finnegan

Party housing spokesman rails against budget VAT reduction on accommodation units under construction

Cut to exit tax for investors welcomed as small first step to reform of taxation on investments but little cheer on childcare

The Government announced an extensive package on Tuesday

Peter Burke says EU rules prevented the Coalition from excluding large fast food multinationals

Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan

Fianna Fáil backbenchers preparing to take the Taoiseach to task over the presidential campaign

Increase in minimum wage was 30 cent lower than it should have been, says Ictu

Paschal Donohoe is a steady-as-she-goes man, not given to dramatic lurches in spending or tax policy. That can be a tough sell

Opposition and everyone else are knocking great enjoyment out of the presidential drama, too

Fiscal measures and new building guidelines ‘probably worth €70,000 to €80,000 a flat’

Waiting lists for surgeries, scans and disability assessments remain scandalously long

Concerns remain about Foras na Gaeilge’s cross-Border funding model

‘No budget can do everything, nor should it attempt to’, says Paschal Donohoe

Changes in the rent tax credit, increase in minimum wage and VAT rate reduction for hospitality among highlights

Department of Finance’s outlook report points to rapid deterioration in budget deficit if windfall taxes are excluded

Minister says building more homes is ‘absolute priority’, but first-time buyers see little change regarding affordability

Budget 2026 leaves workers from a range of professions feeling disheartened

Lack of help with cost of living and failure to increase rent tax credit gives tenants little to cheer

Budget 2026: Minister will be hoping children in poverty and disabled people will feel the greatest uplift – but will they?

Funding to be allocated for bypass around Adare village, which will host golf competition in 2027

Budget 2026: Most if not all of the gains will be wiped out by the enduring cost-of-living crisis

Raising benefit rates, upping thresholds and removing barriers to work among measures

Public transport receives the lion’s share of transport budget

Budget 2026: Hospitality companies will go out of business before the cut to VAT rate is applied

Over 1,000 new places in medicine, nursing and other healthcare courses will be provided under €5bn allocation to education