What the papers say: Wednesday's front pages

The housing crisis and Rachael Blackmore's emotional win at Cheltenham make the front pages on Wednesday.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin has insisted the State has “turned a corner” on housing as the Government prepares to face a Sinn Féin motion calling for the eviction ban to be extended into next year, The Irish Times reports.

However, Mr Martin also told the Irish Daily Mail that “the jury is out” on whether the State will build more houses this year.

The Irish Examiner reports that builders have rounded on the Government's failure to tackle the housing crisis, saying inertia and flaws in the planning system have stunted the supply of new homes ahead of the lifting of the eviction ban.

The Irish Independent claims the State will reap millions of euro from the move to phase out the reduced excise rate on petrol and diesel.

The Irish Daily Mirror and Irish Daily Star cover Rachael Blackmore's emotional win on the opening day of the Cheltenham Festival.

A triple All-Ireland football legend has been accused of sex attacks on four women, the Belfast Telegraph reports.

The British papers focus on the UK finance minister’s budget package which is set to include a major expansion of childcare support.

The Daily Telegraph, the Financial Times, the i and the Daily Express all report on Jeremy Hunt’s £4 billion (€4.5 billion) childcare bid to get parents back to work.

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:

'Hunt faces revolt over tax rise in Budget'#TomorrowsPapersToday

Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/7wDbk8Zqsn

— The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 14, 2023

Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Wednesday 15 March https://t.co/Oo2mKIK5MB pic.twitter.com/G7klloToy5

— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) March 14, 2023

Wednesday's front page: Free childcare boost in Budget with 30 hours a week extra for toddlers #TomorrowsPapersToday

Latest by @singharj: https://t.co/vAsAwWuihQ pic.twitter.com/rurkiXqPzn

— i newspaper (@theipaper) March 14, 2023

Wednesday's front page: Hunt's carrot and stick to get Britain growinghttps://t.co/9MoKTRZkPF #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/pxDlm5mygz

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— Daily Express (@Daily_Express) March 14, 2023

The story is also carried by The Times, the Daily Mail and The Guardian.

THE TIMES: More free childcare to get parents back in jobs #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/vBZwGuedkk

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 14, 2023

MAIL: Free pre-school childcare in back to work budget #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/sjLansD76M

— Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) March 14, 2023

Guardian front page, Wednesday 15 March 2023: Hunt’s £4bn childcare bid to get parents back to work pic.twitter.com/0OylDGnM9r

— The Guardian (@guardian) March 14, 2023

Also covering the budget, the Daily Mirror uses its splash to call on the Mr Hunt to tackle inequality and child hunger and reward key workers.

Wednesday's front page: Crying out for helphttps://t.co/3KFY2Q2f5K #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/hVtU6Eud6O

— The Mirror (@DailyMirror) March 14, 2023

Elsewhere, Metro says a Russian fighter jet has brought down a US spy drone.

Tomorrow's Paper Today 📰

RUSSIAN JET DOWNS U.S DRONE #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/0FXsGK8ejE

— Metro (@MetroUK) March 14, 2023

Gary Lineker appears to be taunting the BBC with a new Twitter profile picture promoting free speech just days after his extraordinary row with bosses over impartiality, according to The Independent.