Tánaiste Michael Martin said the bulk of the budget had been agreed ahead of the announcement on Tuesday afternoon, reports RTE.
Speaking in Cork this afternoon, the Fianna Fáil leader said meetings between the leaders of the three coalition parties, as well as ministers Michael McGrath and Paschal Donohoe, would continue over the weekend to sign off on outstanding issues.
Martin said ministers were meeting with Public Expenditure Minister Donohoe to agree on ministerial estimates while Finance Minister McGrath was “fine-tuning” his tax system.
Mr Martin said: “A significant amount has been agreed by now, but there will be meetings over the weekend by the three party leaders with the two key economic ministers. Minister McGrath will bring final proposals in respect of the Budget before the close of the weekend, so there are meetings scheduled for the weekend,” reports RTE.
Mr Martin also said that the budget will take into account the country’s very significant population growth over the past 20 years.
Elsewhere, the Nevin Economic Research Institute (NERI) said next week’s expansionary budget “makes little economic sense” at this time, reports RTE.
This is because the economy is considered to have reached or is close to full-employment productivity.
The union-backed adviser said the level of spending outlined in the government’s summer economic statement would “add moderately to overheating and inflation”, reports RTE.
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