Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

I will not be announcing the budget today. It is a matter for the Minister for Finance on a date to be determined. As the Taoiseach indicated yesterday, the full layout of the Estimates, reform agenda and budget will be determined by the Cabinet on Tuesday. The Taoiseach will give the House the full information on the process and sequencing of announcements after the Cabinet meets on Tuesday.

As the Deputy knows, the Government established the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council to give independent advice and that is what it has done. Its advice will be listened to, together with all the other factors the Government has to take into account, in determining the scale of adjustment required. The commitment both parties in government have repeatedly given is that we will reduce the deficit to 8.6% of GDP next year. The exact quantum of the adjustment to reach that target is currently being determined. We needed to have a firm determination of the growth rates and the final accounts, in terms of taxation and revenue to the State, before we make a final determination on that.

The Deputy mentioned adjustments in social welfare. He had responsibility in that area when the national recovery plan was signed off on. The former Government left us with a legacy because in the programme it signed off on it left a hole to be filled by social welfare reductions of €1.91 billion.

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