Varadkar: No plans to increase tax or cut social welfare in budget
The Transport Minister has ruled out any Government plans to increase income tax or cut social welfare in December's budget.
Leo Varadkar has said that the Government made a commitment in its programme for Government not to touch these areas - and he hasn't heard of any plans to do otherwise.
Preparations are underway for December's budget - the Government has agreed with the Troika to find savings of over €3.5 billion.
Minister Varadkar said that the taxes will have to be introduced - but he is hopeful income tax will remain untouched:
"The commitment that is made in the programme for government is that we won't increase income tax and we won't cut basic rates of social welfare", he said.
"There will be other tax increases, and there will be other reductions in social welfare spending the exact details of that have yet to be worked out and yet to be discussed by government or by the Oireachtas"
