Cabinet told no need for €2bn in budget cuts

The Cabinet has been officially told that €2bn in cuts will not need to be taken out of the economy next year.

But Brendan Howlin, the public expenditure and reform minister, has advised his government colleagues that savings in departments are still expected to be prepared.

The briefing from the minister came as Labour leader and Tánaiste Joan Burton yesterday warned an Oireachtas committee against expectations of a “giveaway budget”.