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<p>Finance minister Paschal Donohoe (right) and public expenditure minister Jack Chambers (left) outside Government Buildings, Dublin, ahead of the budget. </p>

spotlight

What Budget 2026 means for you — welfare boosts, new housing funds, and tax changes

Budget 2026 delivers major spending boosts for welfare, housing, and health, alongside new taxes on fuel, vapes, and cigarettes

<p>UCC medical student Lilian Tiina Gleave says she hopes the budget will prioritise investment in public transport and student accommodation. Picture: Chani Anderson</p>

news

'Some weeks I work 60 hours': Cork medical student forced to slog to pay for her studies

<p>Micheál Martin with Jim Gavin walking out of Leinster House. Picture: Eamonn Farrell/© RollingNews.ie</p>

politics

Micheál Martin put ‘extensive pressure’ on Fianna Fáil TDs to back Jim Gavin

Maggie & Jay

people

My Wedding Day with Maggie Molloy: 'We got married in our own barn, it was like a festival'

Locals want Cork Luas to extend out to Carrigaline, the city's northside, and airport

munster

Locals want Cork Luas to extend out to Carrigaline, the city's northside, and airport

Bad Sisters helps generate £23m revenue at Sharon Horgan's production firm

companies

Bad Sisters helps generate £23m revenue at Sharon Horgan's production firm

Dublin v Wexford - Leinster Junior Football Quarter-Final

gaa

'It just never stops': GAA games managers speak out on fatigue, overwork and family sacrifices

First aid, twisted leg.

parenting

Julie Jay: Parents, like doctors, should take blood in their stride

Israel-Hamas conflict

munster

Irish activists, including Cork comedian Tadhg Hickey, arrive home after Israeli detention

Fit Bit Offer

Regular Columnists

S Fergus Finlay: I have no sympathy for Jim Gavin — the whole thing was grubby

S Terry Prone: Sorry state of some sculptures a reminder in how not to memorialise people

Paul Hosford: Eamon Ó Cuív's defence over hiring of ex-prisoner speaks to his belief in rehabilitation

Michael Clifford

S Mick Clifford: Sinn Féin's rush for a border poll will do nothing for peace on this island

Insight: Must Reads

True blue: How Cashel Farmhouse's iconic Cashel Blue cheese has stood the test of time

S True blue: How Cashel Farmhouse's iconic Cashel Blue cheese has stood the test of time

Freshly crowned Best Artisan Producers at the Blas na hÉireann 2025 food awards, the story of Cashel Blue is decades in the making, writes Joe McNamee

Tony Blair set for political comeback in Trump’s Gaza peace plan — but ghosts of Iraq still linger

S Tony Blair set for political comeback in Trump’s Gaza peace plan — but ghosts of Iraq still linger

Patch perfect: Ireland's farmers carve a niche with American-style pumpkin experiences

Patch perfect: Ireland's farmers carve a niche with American-style pumpkin experiences

This could end up being the most radical of all our national parks...

S This could end up being the most radical of all our national parks...

News

Seven men plead not guilty to a combined 103 charges involving rape and sexual assault

Seven men plead not guilty to a combined 103 charges involving rape and sexual assault

The allegations pertaining to the main complainant span a time period from 1996 to 2013

Five of the more unusual things you may have missed from Budget 2026

Five of the more unusual things you may have missed from Budget 2026

Man taken to hospital with serious injuries following alleged assault in Cork City

Man taken to hospital with serious injuries following alleged assault in Cork City

Directions expected within two weeks in alleged €31m West Cork drug smuggling case

Directions expected within two weeks in alleged €31m West Cork drug smuggling case

sport

Ol Man Dingle makes winning start to life over fences

Ol Man Dingle makes winning start to life over fences

Gavin Cromwell and Keith Donoghue had earlier struck with 1-4 shot Welonlyhavedone, who coasted to a 12-length success over Survivors Sister in the opening maiden hurdle

UCC Demons players dejected 18/1/2025

National Cup: Champions Liffey Celtics and Killester receive first round byes

A view of the match balls ahead of the game 24/2/2018

Ireland amongst unions to warn players joining R360 'would make them ineligible for internationals'

Tyrone v Derry - Allianz Hurling League Division 2

Government funding for growing hurling expected to be 'recurring'

Lifestyle

Father and daughter fight, generation gap concept

Joanna Fortune: My children have been caught up in family row with grandparents

My mum usually picks up my two children from school once a week, but says she won't do so until I apologise for my behaviour. I'm hurt that she has taken sides and is using childcare as a form of leverage.

American folk heroes announce outdoor gig in Cork next summer

American folk heroes announce outdoor gig in Cork next summer

Joe Wicks: 'These foods are damaging our health — we shouldn't accept this as the norm'

Joe Wicks: 'These foods are damaging our health — we shouldn't accept this as the norm'

Cork principal: 'People say everyone knows what it’s like going to school — they don’t'

Cork principal: 'People say everyone knows what it’s like going to school — they don’t'

Viewpoints

Mick Clifford: Some sections of society left shortchanged by 'Big Mac budget'

Mick Clifford: Some sections of society left shortchanged by 'Big Mac budget'

This was a budget more focused on business, and the need to ensure that the economy is equipped for any approaching storm rather than alleviating the worst ravages of poverty, writes Mick Clifford

Shoppers at supermarket Sainsbury's for their weekly shopping when special prices are on offer, dealing with the cost of living

Caitríona Redmond: Families go backwards as Paschal Donohoe peels an orange in his pocket

Irish Budget 2026

Paul Hosford: Little fanfare across the board for Budget 2026's offerings

First sign of 2008 crash was a drop in football shirt sales — the same appears to be happening

First sign of 2008 crash was a drop in football shirt sales — the same appears to be happening

Subscriber

Kieran Shannon: Jim Gavin a great football man not cut out for the senior hurling of politics

S Kieran Shannon: Jim Gavin a great football man not cut out for the senior hurling of politics

The scale of Jim Gavin’s fall and fallout means the private and public rehabilitation will take a long time.

The Gaelic Football Show: Jim Gavin's campaign exit, new rules, Casement Park

S The Gaelic Football Show: Jim Gavin's campaign exit, new rules, Casement Park

A view of the Camera crew as the game is live streamed 25/7/2020

S Fogarty Forum: GAA struggling to find right balance when it comes to streaming games

Fergus Finlay: I have no sympathy for Jim Gavin — the whole thing was grubby

S Fergus Finlay: I have no sympathy for Jim Gavin — the whole thing was grubby

LISTEN NOW

The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast: Budget 2026 — who wins, who loses, and what it means for you

The Deirdre O’Shaughnessy Podcast: Budget 2026 — who wins, who loses, and what it means for you

Budget 2026 brings major wage and welfare increases but higher fuel and cigarette prices — Louise Burne outlines what it means for you.

The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast: Jim Gavin drops out of Áras race

The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast: Jim Gavin drops out of Áras race

Dalo's Hurling Show: Epics in Cork, Ennis emotion, and all aboard Dalo's defending workshop caravan

S Dalo's Hurling Show: Epics in Cork, Ennis emotion, and all aboard Dalo's defending workshop caravan

The ieBusiness Podcast: UCC Finance lecturer John O'Brien calls out EU's 'weak' approach to US trade deal

The ieBusiness Podcast: UCC Finance lecturer John O'Brien calls out EU's 'weak' approach to US trade deal

Watch Now

Watch: People of Cork give their thoughts before Budget 2026

Watch: People of Cork give their thoughts before Budget 2026

With Budget 2026 set to be announced later today, the Irish Examiner has taken to the streets of Cork to ask what the thoughts and expectations are.

Watch: Young engineers launch solar-powered smart feeder to track cattle performance

Watch: Young engineers launch solar-powered smart feeder to track cattle performance

Donald Trump,Benjamin Netanyahu

Watch: Trump proposes 'Board of Peace' to help Gaza in a postwar scenario

farming

266ac farm on the Kerry Way seeking €550,000

266ac farm on the Kerry Way seeking €550,000

Holding in scenic location is of mixed use, with 115 acres of commercial timber and 151 acres of grazing land

Wexford tillage farmer becomes overall winner at this year's Environmental Sustainability Award

Wexford tillage farmer becomes overall winner at this year's Environmental Sustainability Award

Budget 2026: Key takeaways for Irish farmers

Budget 2026: Key takeaways for Irish farmers

Close up shot of raw meat hanging on hooks at a slaughterhouse

Processors under pressure as finished cattle numbers fall 25%

Property

How to nab a bargain second-hand or vintage buy

How to nab a bargain second-hand or vintage buy

Kya deLongchamps shares advice on filling your basket at a second-hand swap, boot sale or auction

Plans for 120 new Douglas homes approved following appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála

Plans for 120 new Douglas homes approved following appeal to An Coimisiún Pleanála

Overgrown fruit garden with red apples and old water pump

Garden Q&A: Is October a good month to plant apple trees?

City to Country: €650,000 for a mid-terrace in Dublin 8 or sea views in Castlegregory

City to Country: €650,000 for a mid-terrace in Dublin 8 or sea views in Castlegregory

World

Trump Carney

Canadian PM visits Trump as relations between long-time allies sit at low point

Mr Trump’s talk of making Canada the 51st state and his tariffs have Canadians feeling an undeniable sense of betrayal

Mideast Wars Two Years

Gaza peace talks enter their second day on war’s two-year anniversary

Germany Stabbing

German mayor fighting for life after being found in apartment with stab wounds

France Politics

Emmanuel Macron’s political isolation deepens as some call for his resignation

Sponsored Content

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Absolute Property – Over a quarter century of property expertise

Absolute Property – Over a quarter century of property expertise

Style within reach

Style within reach

Stay Radisson: Stay Sligo, Limerick, Athlone and Cork

Stay Radisson: Stay Sligo, Limerick, Athlone and Cork

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