Irish Finance Minister to unveil personal tax cuts and spending plans

Ireland's Finance Minister Jack Chambers will announce personal tax cuts and cost-of-living supports in a budget expected to be generous ahead of a possible election before Christmas. The budget will include €1.4bn in tax measures and €6.9bn in new spending. Despite a €25bn budget surplus this year, Chambers stated that a recent tax windfall from Apple will not affect the budget, as those funds are earmarked for future investments. The government faces criticism for increasing public spending by 7%, exceeding its own 5% limit. The budget will also address housing issues, with measures including a tax on undeveloped land. While inflation has decreased, concerns remain about rising costs in certain sectors, and the government is under pressure to improve infrastructure and housing availability.