The Government is expected to come under fire from the opposition in the Dáil later today after the measure announced in yesterday's Budget.

Opposition parties are coming down hard on Minister McCreevy this evening over what they term is his total neglect of Irish children.

The Irish Refugee Council have said it is a disgrace that the social welfare payments to asylum seekers will remain at €19.10 a week.

The Construction Industry Federation say that today's Budget will mean any additions in the increase in VAT will be noted in house prices.

The Irish Nurses Organisation say that the decision announced in today's budget, to reduce the number of public sector jobs, means that the Government's own Health Strategy will not be delivered by 2003.

Leader of the Fine Gael party Enda Kenny says that all the beneficial increases introduced in today's Budget will be wiped away when local charges are introduced next year.

The Irish Farmers Association has announced that it is not happy with the Government's Budget.

IBEC is saying that Mr McCreevy's Budget shows that he has recognised the slowdown in the economy.

The tobacco industry has criticised the tax increase on cigarettes announced this afternoon.

The Irish Road Haulage Association says that today's announcement to increase excise duty on diesel may put some of its members out of business.

The Institute of Certified Public Accountants has said that today's Budget has done no favours for the competitiveness of Irish business in a year when many businesses have been impacted by the global market slowdown.

Francis Byrne from the Community Platform says that she is outraged at the decisions taken by Charlie McCreevy in today's Budget.

Today's Budget will make people worse off rather than better off according to an economist with Price Water Coopers.

The Irish Home Builders' Association (IHBA) has reacted angrily to at the measures announced in today's Budget, complaining that home buyers cannot recover the VAT element on new housing.

Reacting to Mr McCreevy's Budget today, Tadgh O'Sullivan of the Vintners Association insists that Ireland has enough tax on alcohol at the moment.

Charlie McCreevy has announced that tax relief for student accommodation has been cut and will not exist by December 2004.

Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy made few changes in relation to the personal tax system.

Alf Smiddy, managing director of Beamish and Crawford, has reacted positively to the increases in spirit and 'alcopop' prices, welcoming the minister's decision not to increase the price of beer.

Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy has allocated an additional €209m to the National Development Plan's National Road Programme.

Opposition parties are criticising the budget announced by Charlie McCreevy this afternoon.

Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy in his Budget speech this afternoon has announced an increase in the lower VAT rate for 12.5% to 13.5% from January 1st next year.

Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy this afternoon stated that his Budget was "a prudent and planned response to the impact of the continued downturn on our public finances".

Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy has said that spending, pay and costs must be brought under control.

Charlie McCreevy has announced the increase in excise duties.

Child benefit is to increase by €8 increase for the first and second child and by €10 for a third and subsequent child.

The Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy has said that the growth in Ireland's finances has been well below expectations this year.

Charlie McCreevy has increased the old age pension by €10 per week, bringing the contributory pension to €157.30 per week and the non-contributory pension to €144 per week.

Student leaders have today accused the Government of lying to them.

Charlie McCreevy has taken to his feet in the Dáil to deliver his Budget speech.

Opposition parties have expressed their concerns ahead of Minister for Finance Charlie McCreevy's Budget today.

A protest over the book of estimates that Charlie McCreevy announced last month is due to take place outside the Dáil this afternoon.

The Conference of Religious of Ireland wants the Budget to help the poor and marginalised.

There are fears that the country's overseas aid will be hit in today's Budget.

The Retail, Grocery, Dairy & Allied Trades Association (RGDATA) says it does not want to see price hikes on every day food items in this Budget.

IBEC Chief Executive Brian Geoghan says this afternoon's Budget is an opportunity for the Government to build for the future.

The Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association is hoping for a prudent Budget that will encourage the growth of new businesses.

Minister for Finance, Charlie McCreevy, is getting ready to deliver his sixth Budget later today.

The President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions says he wants the Government to be generous on the issuing of medical cards in tomorrow's Budget.

A group representing people in Ireland with disabilities has warned that any cutback in the social welfare disability payment in the Budget will have disastrous effects.

The Justice and Finance Departments have refused to comment on weekend speculation that measures will be introduced in the Budget to cut welfare payments to asylum seekers.

Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy has defended cutbacks revealed in his Book of Estimates last week.

Thousands of people are expected to start pumping millions of euro into the special savings scheme before the Government's expected move to cap the amount savers can deposit in SSIA's.

The Small Firms Association is calling on Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy to use December's budget to foster competitiveness.

The promised recruitment of 2,000 extra Gardai is likely to be shelved until at least 2004.