On October 15, the Irish government unveiled an austerity budget for 2014 with €2.5bn in spending cuts, as the country prepares to leave the troika bailout programme at the end of the year, writes The Irish Times
The budget involved little change to the tax or welfare system, although did include a €1 increase in medical prescription fees and a reduction in the level of maternity benefit.
The newspaper’s editorial writes –
There is something of a wing and a prayer about this budget as it attempts to rebuild public confidence and accelerate economic growth. Cuts are smaller than originally envisaged and planned expenditure greater.
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