Budget 2026 to be 'expansionary package' with most measures coming in January
Budget 2026 is set to be an 'expansionary package', with most measures poised to take effect from January next year.
Speaking at Wednesday's Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting, Tánaiste Simon Harris said that while no decisions have been made yet on Budget 2026, it will be an expansionary package.
He said one normal Budget will be announced in October, which will be responsible and responsive, with most of the measures taking effect from next January.
Although nothing is confirmed, the Government is signalling a focus on reducing education and healthcare costs, cutting childcare fees, and permanently lowering the VAT rate for small businesses.
The Fine Gael leader said he and his party colleagues remembered very well what it canvassed on at the last General Election.
He said the VAT rate for small businesses will be reduced permanently. Mr Harris said childcare fees for many families are like a second mortgage and these costs must be permanently reduced over the lifetime of this Government.
He said the cost of education, across all levels, must be reduced along with healthcare costs, and significant progress should be made in children's disability services and special education.
The Fine Gael leader also said he fully supported the calls by Deputies Michael Murphy and Micheál Carrigy that all the country post offices, which provide a vital service to communities everywhere, be supported to the tune of €15 million annually for the next five years. Current State Aid funding ceases at the end of this year.
The meeting also heard the revised National Development Plan will come before Cabinet next month.
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