Budget figures set to become clearer with CSO data

The overall size of the next Budget may become clearer later this morning when we get vital figures on the performance of the economy.

The CSO is to publish data showing how the economy has performed in the second quarter of 2013.

If the economy is growing, the government will be able to record a larger deficit next year - and may have some space to ease off on the full €3.1bn of adjustments.

However if the economy shrinks for the fourth quarter in a row, the government may be forced to dig deeper to meet the Troika's deficit targets.