A Budget balancing act between two Irelands

Paschal Donohoe has his work cut out as he tries to meet competing demands of taxes and spending

Paschal Donohoe has pledged to give the self-employed the equivalent of the €1,650 PAYE tax credit Picture: PA

There are two-and-a-half months to go until the budget, but the competing demands are not hard to find in Dublin’s Smithfield.

With its cobbled square and gas lighting masts, it has still yet to be transformed into the ‘Temple Bar of the Northside’ that planners once thought might be possible.

But once-vacant retail units have been filled and there were lots of young workers queueing up for lunchtime wraps, burgers and wok-fried Asian ...