Why we can expect a 'bummer of a budget' and what is likely to be in it

"With no election looming, expect to see one-offs pared back amid calls for financial restraint"

"Last year's budget was a bumper one, coming as it did months before a general election. There were giveaways galore as the government tried to curry favour with the electorate."

"But this year is different."

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Last year's budget was unusually large and appeared months before a general election. The government included numerous one-off measures and giveaways to curry favour with the electorate. With no general election looming this year, political incentives for big pre-election spending are absent. Calls for financial restraint are increasing among policymakers and commentators. Expect fewer one-off expenditures, tighter budget discipline, and prioritization of sustainable public finances over short-term electoral measures. News channels and newsletters, such as the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel, offer continual updates on budget developments.

Read at Independent