The Government has agreed that the Budget speech will be delivered on Tuesday, 6 October.
In a joint memo to Government, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers stressed the need for fiscal discipline given the geopolitical uncertainty caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
Amid the turbulence prevailing internationally, the Government is taking the first steps to nailing down its financial plan for next year.
Mr Harris told colleagues that he intends to publish updated macro-economic forecasts on 14 April.
He pointed to the fact that despite the global volatility, the Government is running budget surpluses and that Ireland is rated 'AA' or above by the major ratings agencies.
Mr Chambers said that financial prudence is essential if the coalition to deliver on its commitments in areas such as health, housing and disability services.
He is also aiming to have the Critical Infrastructure Bill enacted before the summer.
Its aim is to speed up the building of homes, water services and energy supply structures.
Growth of Cork
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Micheál Martin signed off on a new dedicated task force on the future growth of Cork.
It will review the City Centre Development and Operations Action Plan 2025-2030 and report back to Government on progress and any barriers to its development.
The task force will look at how Cork can fully realise its potential for foreign direct investment and domestic business.
It will also examine how the city's arts and culture can be strengthened.
The independent chair of the group will be Brendan Tuohy and it is set to report to Government by summer.
Modular homes
Following a meeting of Government party leaders this morning, it was agreed that a proposal to allow planning exemptions for habitable dwellings in back gardens of up to 45sq/m in floor area would not go to Cabinet this week.
The initiative would allow the dwellings to be rented under licence and they could avail of tax relief under the Rent a Room Scheme.
It is understood there are differing views in Government about how strict the rules around these homes should be.
The proposals would require fire safety standards to be met, with the structures having an exit and one metre of space around the outside of them.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan sought Government approval to strengthen how the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) can seize crypto-assets.
He proposed amendments to the Proceeds of Crime and Related Matters Bill 2025 that would provide for new payment-freezing measures tailored specifically to the technological and operational characteristics of the assets.
They would ensure that CAB could effectively seize this contemporary form of criminal property through enhanced powers of search, seizure and detention.
