€1.5bn ‘will not be used to buy votes’

Finance Minister Michael Noonan insisted the Government was not trying to “buy” the next election as he revealed the October budget would showcase a €1.5bn tax cut and spending boost.

Opposition parties accused the Coalition of using today’s spring economic statement as a launch pad for the general election campaign.

Mr Noonan said the €1.5bn “wriggle room” money would be split evenly between easing the burden of the universal social charge (USC) and other tax rates and improving spending on public services.