Ministers, Fianna Fáil to hold intensive budget talks

Intensive rounds of discussions will begin this week as both government ministers and Fianna Fáil fight to eke out as much as possible from the budget.

Junior minister for housing Damien English yesterday said that “every minister this week is in negotiations to get more money to spend for their department”.

Although much of the changes due to be announced in the budget — including a childcare package, tax rebates for first-time buyers, and an increase in the State pension — have all been promised, the finer details have still to be decided upon.