Budget 2017: Public to be €5 better off per week

Most people should have an extra €5 in their pockets every week after a budget tempered by Brexit fears.

In its first spending plan since the UK voted to pull out of the EU, the Government revealed it is diverting hundreds of millions into future-proofing the country against the fallout.

The war-chest funding left Finance Minister Michael Noonan with less to give away in a €1.3bn package, with three times as much on spending as tax cuts.