Minister downplays prospect of large cost-of-living package in Budget 2025

Jack Chambers said: 'It’s going to be a tighter budget than what we’ve had through covid and through very high levels of inflation.'

Ministers Jack Chambers said inflation had now moderated to around 2% and that the State was in a different position compared to the covid-19 pandemic and early in the cost-of-living crisis. Photo: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

Jack Chambers has downplayed the prospect of a large cost-of-living package in October’s budget, saying that Government must return to a “regular budgetary environment”.

The new Finance Minister said Budget 2025 would likely be “tighter” than previous years, with the parameters on tax and spending due to be set out next week in the Summer Economic Statement.