The Minister for Finance, Michael McGrath, has stated that holding the Budget early is not feasible due to the extensive preparation required. He is planning for the Budget to proceed as usual in October, with no discussions within the Government about shifting the date. A memo will be presented to Cabinet in the coming weeks confirming an October Budget.
Speculation has been rife about the Budget potentially being moved forward to accommodate a general election in October, but Minister McGrath emphasized the necessity of enacting the Finance and Social Welfare Bills post-Budget for full implementation. This process could take several weeks as the legislation navigates through various Oireachtas committees, Dáil, and Seanad.
Minister McGrath aims to spread the benefits of a robust economy and thriving job market to more individuals but indicated that an election may not occur until November at the earliest. Additionally, he is rumored to be in contention for the upcoming European Commissioner role, expected to be announced shortly.
