State looks to pay down debt in budget

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the Government will not spend all of the €3.2bn available to it in October’s budget, but will instead pay down the national debt.

He said the Government is seeking to avoid the mistakes of the past, and to cut debt.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe will today bring a summer economic statement to Cabinet for approval which will set out the main parameters of the budget.