Enda Kenny, Michael Noonan defend plan to spend €12bn

Fine Gael is scrambling to explain projected spending powers for the next government after its economic blueprint for the country was overshadowed with questions about holes in future budget plans.

Finance Minister Michael Noonan was yesterday caught up in questions about the party’s promise to spend €12bn over the next five years, a massive jump beyond what the country’s spending watchdog predicts will be available for the next administration.

Fine Gael ministers were forced to explain the contradiction between the party’s spending predictions and those of the Fiscal Advisory Council, which says only €3.2bn will be available for the next government.