Cowen to unveil first Budget

Christmas could come early today for tens of thousands of people forgotten by Ireland’s Celtic Tiger boom when Finance Minister Brian Cowen unveils his first Budget.

The former solicitor from Co Offaly has vowed to improve the quality of life for the vulnerable in today's society like carers, the disabled, pensioners, the unemployed and low-paid workers.

Mr Cowen’s €700m package is set to include reasonable welfare increases for dole, child benefit, carers’ respite allowances as well as greater tax credits.

Among the “old reliables”, Mr Cowen, 44 is not expected to tamper with the price of drink or petrol but could slap up to 50c extra on a pack of 20 cigarettes.

A source close to the minister said: “He wants to move away from the big business policies of his predecessor Charlie McCreevy to be more caring and sharing towards the less well-off.

“It will be a crowd-pleaser aimed at reinforcing Fianna Fáil’s new makeover as the left-of-centre coalition partner.”

Fianna Fáil also has a long term political goal of winning back popular support among working class voters who deserted the party in its worst local election results, in June.

Fr Sean Healy of the Cori Justice Commission was asked to address a parliamentary party meeting in Inchydoney, Co Cork in the immediate aftermath of the drubbing at the polls.

He said of today ’s Budget: “We will begin to see this afternoon whether the Government is genuine or not about its shift towards social inclusion.

“We have the resources to build a better society around us but it will take long term vision over the next three years of this Government .”

Fr Healy warned that better social provision was needed in critical areas like education, social welfare, healthcare and disabilities “before we can call ourselves a caring society”.