Increased weekly payments for pensioners and welfare recipients in the budget will feel like “the end of the recession” for many people, Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar has declared.

Institute of Technology Tralee chairman, Flan Garvey, who had a plagiarism finding against him overturned on appeal, is to quit almost three years before his term ends.

The expert group appointed by the State to examine the taxation system specifically recommended against taxing maternity benefit.

Household water charges will not be brought in for at least three years, the Government has signalled today.