€2bn rise for health service set to be announced in budget

The crisis-hit health service’s budget is set to surge €2bn to an unprecedented €17.2bn next year in a bid to overcome the system’s out-of-control spending without the need for further emergency payments.

Government sources confirmed the €2bn budget bump as ministers agreed to a major review of local property tax and as Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe was forced to back down on carbon tax changes after a Fine Gael backbench revolt.