BUDGET 2016: Package of ‘sensible, affordable steps’

Budget 2016 was drawn up to keep the economic recovery going, Finance Minister Michael Noonan has claimed.

Cuts to the deeply unpopular universal social charge (USC); more nurses, teachers, and gardaí; more affordable and quality childcare; and an end to the unfair tax treatment of the self-employed were among the reforms announced.

“The priority of this budget is to keep the recovery going, while providing relief and better services for the Irish people,” Mr Noonan said.