No tax cuts in budget, charity pleads

Changes to the tax system could bring in almost €3bn extra for spending on housing, health, and welfare services next year, according to Social Justice Ireland (SJI).

The think-tank has recommended 25 separate taxation measures — a mix of reforms and straightforward increases — which it said would go much of the way towards a €6.50 rise in weekly social welfare payments, more than €1.2bn extra for social housing, more than €1bn extra for health and disability and additional funds for other key services.