Leo Varadkar seeks Fianna Fáil deal before budget

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar is pushing to renew the confidence and supply deal with Fianna Fáil before the Budget to allow the Government to get a handle on future spending.

With deal due to end after October’s budget, he is eager to have a successor deal in place, as he said the Government “needs to know that it’s going to be around” in the coming months.

However, Mr Varadkar ruled out “throwing money” in the budget at issues such as the homeless crisis and hospital waiting lists.”