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The Irish Times

  • Tough Budget on way as growth slows down

    A tough Budget in December is now virtually certain after Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Brian Cowen acknowledged that the economy has passed a "turning point" and conceded that the rate of economic growth will slow appreciably in the next three years.

  • Economic growth forecast lowered to 4.75%

    Economy:  Budget 2008 will be constrained by lower than anticipated levels of economic growth in 2007 and the next three years, the Government said yesterday. Laura Slattery reports.

  • 6% increase in spending planned

    Education: A 6 per cent increase for education spending is planned in the budget, bringing total spending in the sector close to €9 billion.

  • Cowen warns that 2008 finances will be 'tight'

    Press conference: Minister for Finance Brian Cowen yesterday warned that government finances for next year would be "tight" as he forecast an exchequer deficit of €1 billion for this year. Carl O'Brien reports.

  • Biffo tunes up his banjo pre-Budget

    "We can't shape the wind" declared Brian Cowen in a moment of profundity, between assuring a relieved nation that their fundamentals are sound, but might have to be squeezed a little with some economic belt tightening, writes Miriam Lord

  • FF accused of mismanagement

    Political reaction: Fianna Fáil was accused of gross economic mismanagement and spurious election promises by Opposition parties yesterday in response to the pre-Budget Outlook, published by Minister for Finance Brian Cowen.

  • Garda agency faces 30% cut

    Justice: The new Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission looks set to be worst affected in the Justice vote with the pre-Budget estimate published yesterday, revealing a cut in funding of one-third, in what will be its first full year in operation next year.

  • IDA budget for industry support remains at €95m

    Grant aid: IDA Ireland's budgets for allocating grant aid to industry and for building operations next year have been left unchanged on 2007 levels, according to estimates for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment included in the Pre-Budget Outlook.

  • Running State to cost 4.8% more

    Overview: The day-to-day cost of running the State will rise by 4.8 per cent next year to €50.98 billion before Brian Cowen, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance, introduces any new services in his Budget on December 5th, writes Arthur Beelsey , Senior Business Correspondent

  • Big rise in child benefit costs

    Social welfare: Government spending on child benefit and the childcare supplement is due to increase significantly next year due to a greater numbers of eligible children.

  • Funding for non-national roads cut by 39%

    Transport: Funding for non-national roads will be cut by 39 per cent next year, according to pre-Budget figures released yesterday.

  • HSE allocation reaches €14.7bn to cover capital and current costs

    Health: An extra €1.1 billion will be allocated to the HSE next year to cover day-to-day spending and capital developments, it was announced yesterday.

  • Demand-led schemes may mean underspend

    Agriculture: Minister for Agriculture and Food Mary Coughlan said she hoped there would not be an underspend in her department this year because of delays in applications for demand-led schemes.

  • Heritage groups lose out

    Environment: Cuts in funding for the Environmental Protection Agency, the Irish Heritage Trust, the Heritage Council and services to promote community and social inclusion were outlined in the pre-Budget Outlook for the Department of Environment yesterday.

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