Opinion: We have an idea what to expect in tomorrow’s budget [Video]

WHILE THE GOVERNMENT budget for 2025 will be announced tomorrow, the dance started weeks ago.

Thoughts have been aired, submissions sent and reports published by the usual grandees and interest groups. Some of those ideas have been sensible, and some will never happen.

Many changes that will be announced have already been leaked. It is difficult to discern an overall strategy in budget briefings so far – but that could still change if the government is racing to the polls this side of Christmas.

There is certainly lots of money to go round. Tax receipts this year are up a whopping 12.6% on last year, and interest rates are falling. So everyone will likely see a bit of upside in the announcements.

But – with one exception, as we’ll see – there is little obvious appetite in the government for real financial reform of the hard problems in Irish society …