Welfare cuts top agenda at Cabinet

Social welfare cuts were set to top the Cabinet’s agenda as ministers hammered out details of the budget.

Michael Noonan, the finance minister, along with Brendan Howlin, the public expenditure and reform minister, yesterday addressed the Cabinet — the first time the looming budget had been brought up in the weekly meeting.

A special session today will be devoted to the keynote financial statement, with unemployment benefit and children’s allowance set to figure prominently.