VIDEO: Mary Regan looks ahead to this afternoon's budget

As the Government prepares to unveil the latest austerity budget, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has insisted the main focus of this year’s budget is to exit the bailout programme and provide incentives for job creation.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan will be first to speak when he unveils the taxation measures, followed by Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin who will set out the cuts in public expenditure.

With a combined €2.5bn readjustment needed, pensioners and those in receipt of social welfare payments are amongst those rumoured to be hit by the measures.