Spring economic statement ‘budget blueprint’

The Government’s much trumpeted spring economic statement will allow parties to prepare their election manifestos and be debated by the Dáil later this month.

Senior government sources have confirmed the statement — including growth projections ahead of the budget — will be announced on April 28 and debated the next day in the Dáil. It will be a blueprint of what the Coalition hopes to achieve with the October budget.

The Economic Management Council (EMC), made up of Enda Kenny, Joan Burton, Michael Noonan and Brendan Howlin, met on Monday and assessed a draft of the statement. It will include tax income projections and debt forecasts.