The Taoiseach has declared there will be a “conservative no-deal Budget” as he prepares to meet Boris Johnson next week.
Leo Varadkar has confirmed welfare hikes and tax cuts for all are out in Tuesday’s financial package.
This Budget bad news was first reported in the Irish Mirror today.
The Taoiseach said this year is “different” to past years where there was scope for generous increases in pensions and welfare.
And he added he won’t be able to put money back in people’s pockets through tax cuts either.
Mr Varadkar claimed this had been worth up to €1,500 each in recent years.
He was speaking ahead of the Fine Gael President’s dinner in the Ballsbridge Hotel on Saturday night.
The Taoiseach also confirmed plans are being made to meet Mr Johnson in person again this week to try and break the Brexit deadlock. It was expected there would be a phone call again, but a meeting indicates negotiations are moving up a notch.
Speaking about the Budget, Mr Varadkar said: “Aside from any electoral considerations, we have to do what's right for the country.
“In the past three budgets we’ve been able to reduce income tax, reduce the USC, increase pensions and increase welfare and that’s been worth €1,500 a year to the average family, but this Budget is different, it’s a no-deal Budget and has to be more conservative than previous budgets.
“And what that means is no across-the-board income tax cuts and no across-the-board welfare increases.
“But there will be a social welfare package, a modest one, targeted at the poorest and those most in need.
“And there will be a tax package, albeit a minimal one, correcting some anomalies and unfairnesses that need to be corrected.”
