Book of Estimates to be published later today

Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy is due to publish this year’s Book of Estimates later today.

The document sets out the state of the public finances ahead of the annual budget in the first week of December.

It also gives some indication of the areas where spending will be increased or decreased next year.

Ireland’s finances are currently showing a deficit of around €500m.

With large sums of money needed to fund benchmarking pay awards next year, the estimates published today are expected to signal a raft of new stealth taxes and cutbacks.

The Government has already hinted that the Departments of Health and Education will be the only ones to receive increased funding allocations.