Austerity budgets expected to end after six years

This afternoon’s Budget is expected to be the first since December 2007 that has not been an emergency or austerity budget with cuts totalling billions of euro being imposed on the public purse.

Here is a reminder of the swingeing cuts that were made and other measures that were taken since October 2008.

October 2008

On his appointment earlier that year, new minister for finance Brian Lenihan said it was his misfortune to come into the job at the moment the economy had "come to a shuddering halt".

The government’s first major response was in October that year when it published an early budget, with severe cuts. Within months it became apparent that the economy was collapsing - and a supplementary emergency budget was required in April of 2009.

Between both, adjustments of over €10 billion were made in spending and taxes.

In October, the main controversy was the removal of medical cards for over-70s, which was quickly reversed. The Government also introduced:

A 1 per cent income levy.

10 per cent pay cuts for politicians.

An increase in registration fees.

April 2009

2 per cent income levy

Number of junior ministers cut from 20 to 15

Health levy doubled to nearly 5 per cent

Pension levy for public servants

No Christmas bonus in social welfare payments

Dirt tax increased from 23 per cent to 25 per cent

December 2009

Overall adjustment of €4.3 billion for 2010

€1 billion cut in public service pay

€760 million cut in social welfare

Child benefit cut by €16 per month, per child

50c increase on prescription charges

60c hike on a bottle of wine

Carbon tax of €15 per tonne introduced

December 2010

Overall adjustment of €6 billion announced for 2011

10 per cent reduction in tax credits and income tax bands

A new Universal Social Charge of 7 per cent introduced

Abolition of PRSI ceiling

Third-level registration fees increased to €2,000

Taoiseach’s salary cut by €14,000

Minimum wage cut by €1 to €7.65

Stamp duty reduced to 1 per cent to respond to collapse in housing market

December 2011

Overall adjustment of €3.8 billion announced for 2012

New fees for private treatment in public hospitals

Registration fees increased by €250

Reductions announced for Deis schools (later reversed)

Closure of 31 Garda stations

Child Benefit cut

Cut in school clothing allowance for younger children

Cuts in fuel allowance

Increase of €1 in minimum wage

December 2012

Adjustments of €3.5 billion announced for 2013

Child benefit cut by €10

Motor tax increased by €15

New tax on maternity benefit payments

New property tax announced from July 2013

Prescription charges increase by 50c

€1 hike on a bottle of wine

10c increase on 20 cigarettes

Third-level registration fees increase by €250

Dirt increased from 30 per cent to 33 per cent

Capital Gains Tax increased from 30 per cent to 33 per cent

October 2013

Adjustments of €2.5 billion announced for 2014

Tighter rules for medical card eligibility

€1 increase in prescription charges

Cut in maternity benefit

Cut in tax break for private health insurance affecting any premium costing over €1,000 per annum

Tax initiative for home improvement worth between €5,000 and €30,000

GP care announced for under-6s

Cuts in Jobseeker’s Allowance from €144 to 4100 to those between the ages of 22 and 24.