Budget: Government to spend its way out of Covid crisis as deficit to be 'closer to €24bn' 

It is expected the budget deficit will be "closer to €24bn than €30bn". Picture shows Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath. Picture: Julien Behal

The Government is planning to spend its way out of the Covid crisis and has ruled out an austerity Budget next month.

The Department of Finance is also confident that the deficit will now be well below the €30bn indicated as income tax returns have been stronger than had been forecast at the beginning of the pandemic.