#Budget 2026

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#Budget 2026

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The Exchequer receipts are down year on year without the Apple tax case money. File picture: PA</p>

news

Exchequer surplus to the end of July rises, but drops if Apple tax money excluded

Exchequer receipts up to the end of July, which were released on Wednesday, show that the €4.1bn surplus compares to a surplus of €3.4bn recorded in the same period last year

<p>The government’s budget plan risks overheating the economy, Central Bank governor Gabriel Makhlouf has warned. Picture: Paulo Nunes dos Santos/Bloomberg</p>

economy

Central Bank governor warns Budget plan risks overheating economy

<p>Pharmaceuticals are currently subject to a Section 232 inquiry in the US. Mr Harris said Brussels has advised that the process should conclude within two weeks, with pharmaceutical tariffs remaining at 0% until then. File picture</p>

politics

Ireland avoids ‘catastrophic’ US tariffs as pharma duties decision due within two weeks

O’Brien wants lower 9% VAT rate on electricity and gas extended to 2026

politics

O’Brien wants lower 9% VAT rate on electricity and gas extended to 2026

Alcohol Drinking - Stock

comment-analysis

Reducing Vat rate a blunt and costly policy instrument for hospitality

Ireland’s most regionally important industry is signalling distress — is Government listening?

columnists

Ireland’s most regionally important industry is signalling distress — is Government listening?

Excessive regulation delaying key infrastructure projects, Cabinet to hear

Excessive regulation delaying key infrastructure projects, Cabinet to hear

The department report will also outline areas of international best practice that are being examined as potential solutions in Ireland

Tue, 29 Jul, 2025

Call for Government to republish summer budget projections after US-EU trade deal

Call for Government to republish summer budget projections after US-EU trade deal

Finance minister Paschal Donohoe said that re-issuing the summer economic statement would not make sense as it is merely a statement of policy and not a prescriptive set of accounts

Mon, 28 Jul, 2025

Caucasian waitress stacking wine glasses in restaurant

Paul Hosford: Public patience has limits — especially when their tax cut is on the line

Budget choices reveal deeper values, but without clear public benefit, a VAT cut risks being seen as a giveaway for business

Sat, 26 Jul, 2025

Cozy restaurant for gathering with friends

Gym tax credit, vape levy, and VAT cuts among Budget 2026 options in new strategy papers

Government advisers warn splitting VAT for hospitality could risk tax fraud, while plans for gym credits and vape levies face scrutiny

Thu, 24 Jul, 2025

Government may delay hospitality Vat cut to mid-2026 amid budget tradeoffs

Government may delay hospitality Vat cut to mid-2026 amid budget tradeoffs

A potential delay to the VAT reduction from 13.5% to 9% could free up nearly €1bn for other measures

Thu, 24 Jul, 2025

Government press conference

ieExplains: What are the summer economic statement and the National Development Plan?

Budget 2026 will be unveiled on October 7 with an overall package worth €9.4bn

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

Taoiseach defends lack of detail in National Development Plan

Taoiseach defends lack of detail in National Development Plan

Details of how each department intends to spend its money will not be unveiled until October

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

Government press conference

Economic statement shows public finances 'not as healthy as the headline figures suggest'

Summer Economic Statement shows Government will have €7.9bn to spend and a total of €1.5bn with which to make tax cuts in Budget 2026

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

Tariff uncertainty means 'tighter' spending for Budget 2026

Tariff uncertainty means 'tighter' spending for Budget 2026

Budget is expected to focus on 'stability of the public finances'

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

Stressed unhappy young woman sitting on sofa.

Next budget gives State chance to prove young people are a genuine priority

Engaging with our generation is key to ensure October’s budget supports meaningful policy change that will improve the lives of young people across the country

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

Housing is ‘central focus’ of €30bn plan to boost investment and protect economy

Housing is ‘central focus’ of €30bn plan to boost investment and protect economy

Aims of the updated National Development Plan include enabling Irish Water provide connections for new housing developments

Sun, 20 Jul, 2025

Disability groups challenge Government to 'show me the money' in budget

Disability groups challenge Government to 'show me the money' in budget

Inclusion Ireland data shows social welfare supports do not match the needs of 66% of adults with an intellectual disability

Thu, 17 Jul, 2025

Calculating energy efficiency and energy bill papers

High utility prices means families cannot take 'shock' of cancelled energy credits, opposition says

Simon Harris took aim at Sinn Féin finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty for Dáil contributions by himself and other Sinn Féin TDs which suggested that SuperValu was owned by an American multinational

Thu, 17 Jul, 2025

Sad boy standing alone in the hallway

'Austerity' Budget would be 'unsustainable and dangerous' for charities

Budget 2026 is likely to be more restrained than previous years

Thu, 17 Jul, 2025

Housing and planning measures

Micheál Martin and Mary Lou McDonald clash over inflation pressures on families

McDonald accused the Government of preparing to throw families “under the bus” in the upcoming budget, while Mr Martin said the Sinn Féin leader was “oblivious” to the economic climate

Wed, 16 Jul, 2025

Cost of living crisis

'I hate asking parents for money': Primary schools struggle amid the cost-of-living crisis

School principals in Limerick and Louth tell Jess Casey the forthcoming capitation grant rise will not be enough amid surging prices of everything from utilities to insurance

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

Child poverty

Charity calls for targeted measures to help financially insecure families with soaring cost of living

'Rising poverty and homelessness rates should not be happening in a wealthy country with a growing economy'

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

Close up spouses calculating family budget paying online using laptop

MABS sees 10% surge in families in debt due to soaring cost of living

Money Advice and Budgeting Service calls for targeted supports in Budget 2026 amid spiralling cost of housing and utilities

Mon, 14 Jul, 2025

Mother and son looking out of window

'There’s not much left for any pleasures in life. It’s grim and not getting any better'

Parents are borrowing money to buy food, cancelling medical insurance, and already 'dreading' next winter’s fuel bills

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025

US pauses plans for higher tariffs on EU as trade talks continue

US pauses plans for higher tariffs on EU as trade talks continue

Irish Government rules out one-off supports for businesses in Budget 2026 despite warnings about trade uncertainty

Mon, 07 Jul, 2025

US Ambassador to Ireland hosts 4th July celebrations

Elaine Loughlin: College fees could be the snag that will unravel an already fractious Coalition

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael had long been eyeing each other with growing distrust, long before Simon Harris and James Lawless blew up the discord over student fees

Sun, 06 Jul, 2025

Welfare row: Taoiseach moves to dismiss proposals for two-tier system

Welfare row: Taoiseach moves to dismiss proposals for two-tier system

It comes after Tánaiste Simon Harris said there is 'merit' in unemployment benefit not rising at the same rate as other social welfare payments, such as pensioners

Fri, 04 Jul, 2025

Cost of living crisis

Government rules out cost-of-living package despite another surge in corporation tax receipts

The Government has already warned the next budget will be more restrained than previous years

Fri, 04 Jul, 2025

Taoiseach urges fiscal caution as EU rules tighten and trade tensions grow

Taoiseach urges fiscal caution as EU rules tighten and trade tensions grow

Micheál Martin warns of unsustainable spending, prioritises housing and child poverty amid new EU and global pressures

Wed, 02 Jul, 2025

Every three minutes in Ireland someone is told they have cancer, says Irish Cancer Society

Every three minutes in Ireland someone is told they have cancer, says Irish Cancer Society

The society also called for free sunscreen dispensers in public spaces

Tue, 01 Jul, 2025

Tánaiste insists student fees will be reduced despite coalition tension

Tánaiste insists student fees will be reduced despite coalition tension

Simon Harris moved to stress that the coalition remains committed to lowering the cost of third-level education

Tue, 01 Jul, 2025

Middle East conflict

Tánaiste hits back at minister as college fees row heats up

Simon Harris takes a direct swipe at higher education minister James Lawless in a voice note to Fine Gael TDs and senators

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

Budget should focus on infrastructure and tax measures, says Central Bank governor

Budget should focus on infrastructure and tax measures, says Central Bank governor

It comes amid growing global economic uncertainty which could hurt Ireland

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

Back view of embraced senior couple on a hill in autumn day.

Rise in number of older people leaves Government facing major funding challenge

By 2040, one in five people in Ireland will be over the age of 65. The ESRI projects that the demand for long-stay beds could grow between 61% to 80% by 2040

Mon, 30 Jun, 2025

'He’s not the minister anymore': Fianna Fáil bristles over Harris student fee push

'He’s not the minister anymore': Fianna Fáil bristles over Harris student fee push

Coalition tensions escalate as Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael diverge on plans for student fees in upcoming budget

Fri, 27 Jun, 2025

British Irish Council summit

Vat reductions for small businesses and changes to carer's allowance to form part of the budget

Reductions in education, health, and childcare costs also planned

Wed, 25 Jun, 2025

School stock

Back-to-school payments to be extended to children in foster care

Cabinet to consider extending clothing and footwear allowance to families in receipt of Foster Care Allowance

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

Sad boy

Budget 2026: Second targeted child benefit payment 'not off the table'

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government was looking at a number of options to tackle child poverty

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

Tariffs represent 'most serious challenge to transatlantic economic relations in generations'

Tariffs represent 'most serious challenge to transatlantic economic relations in generations'

Tánaiste insists that the EU must remain steadfast in pursuing “substantive, calm, measured, and comprehensive dialogue” with the US

Mon, 16 Jun, 2025

Child poverty

Number of children in Ireland in consistent poverty rose 78% to 100,000 in just one year

More than 102,000 children are now in consistent poverty as experts warn Ireland faces a generational poverty crisis without intervention.

Tue, 10 Jun, 2025

US import tariffs

Calls for capital gains tax to be reduced to 20% in Budget 2026

PwC said in its pre-budget submission the rate of capital gains tax should be reduced from one of the highest in Europe to help private businesses

Tue, 10 Jun, 2025

Classic bar

Alcohol consumption falls again, dropping 4.5% last year

Industry demands a cut in excise rates to protect small pubs and restaurants

Mon, 09 Jun, 2025