budget 2024

Lorcan Allen on Budget 2024: Coalition tries to balance politics and prudence

With corporate tax receipts down sharply over the last few months, a note of caution has crept into Michael McGrath’s rhetoric around the budget

Minister for Finance Michael McGrath: Coupled with concerns about the stability of corporate tax receipts, Tuesday’s budget will be delivered against a backdrop of growing concern about the wider economy. Picture: Barry Cronin

When Michael McGrath and Paschal Donohoe announced the Summer Economic Statement back in July, the outlook for public finances had never looked so strong.

The Department of Finance had predicted that the government’s surplus in 2023 would amount to €10 billion, and that between now and 2026 the cumulative surpluses would tot up to €65 billion.

Armed with those figures, McGrath and Donohoe intend to unveil a €10.4 billion budget package this week, which will ...