A Budget for its time - according to the Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath, which sought to help people with rising energy costs while not adding to inflation

A cost-of-living package worth €4.1bn will contain immediate one-off measures, including three separate energy credits of €200 each for all households.

There will be a double social welfare payment in October for pensioners, carers, people on disability payments and jobseekers.

This will be followed by the usual Christmas welfare bonus in December.

There will also be a double child benefit payment in November.

Separately, the Government announced a core Budget package of €6.9bn for next year which will see welfare rates increase by €12 per week.

There will be a €500 tax credit for renters, and increases of subsidies which would see childcare costs cut by up to €175 per month

There will be a dedicated women's health budget including the extension of free contraception to all 16-30 year olds and publicly funded IVF

In education, there will be free schoolbooks for all primary school children and third level fees will reduce by €500next year

The top rate of tax will only apply to income above 40,000, saving a single person around €800.

Many of the measures will be funded through the corporation tax take.

The Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe said €2bn of this will go into a rainy day fund this year and €4bn next year.

He said the Budget will meet the challenges of today, while keeping enough in reserve for whatever the future might bring.