Dublin: Finance Minister Simon Harris has confirmed that the government will present Budget 2027 on October 6, with a strong focus on personal income tax reform and measures aimed at supporting working families. He also announced that the Summer Economic Statement will be published, outlining the government’s fiscal priorities ahead of the budget.
The minister said the government plans to allocate €7 billion for additional public spending, alongside a new tax package that will be finalised in the coming weeks.
Harris said changes to the personal income tax system would be one of the government’s key priorities, stressing that the objective is to ensure workers receive a fairer share of their earnings.
He said the government’s priority is to reward work while maintaining a fair balance between taxation and social welfare supports.
Support for carers and vulnerable groups
The Finance Minister acknowledged that some groups continue to receive limited financial support despite making significant contributions to society.
He specifically highlighted carers, saying they work tirelessly but often do not receive adequate recognition or financial support. Harris said the government intends to introduce measures that better reflect their contribution as part of broader economic reforms.
He also emphasised that, as a small and highly open economy, Ireland must continue to maintain prudent public finances and preserve a budget surplus to safeguard against future economic uncertainty.
Trade union SIPTU criticised the government’s approach, accusing it of moving away from the principles of social partnership.
The union argued that taxation policy is no longer being developed in tandem with social dialogue and claimed the government has prioritised business interests over achieving a fairer balance for workers.
The debate also comes as hybrid working continues to reshape Ireland’s labour market.
According to recent figures, 35.4% of the state’s workforce—around one million employees across the public and private sectors—now work in hybrid arrangements.
Despite the widespread adoption of flexible working since the pandemic, unions point out that no national pay agreement has specifically addressed hybrid working over the past four years.
Labour representatives argue that the rapid digital transformation has permanently changed working patterns and that future pay agreements should reflect the evolving nature of remote and hybrid work.