Cowen to reveal Book of Estimates

Health, education, community employment and the disability sector are set to be the main winners when the Government publishes its Book of Estimates this afternoon.

The book contains the spending plans for each department next year.

The Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, who is introducing his first Budget, has already let it be known that there will be no cutbacks in Government spending in the coming year.

Cowen has intimated that spending on health, education, the disability sector and community employment will increase in real terms, because the strength of the economy has delivered a better-than-expected tax take.

This is allowing the Government to try to deliver on the commitments made after its poor showing in the local and European elections to increase spending to help the less well-off in Irish society.