Message from the Editor: How The Irish Times is covering Budget 2027

One of the big set-piece events of the Irish political calendar will take place on Tuesday, when the Government publishes its budget for 2027. The news for weeks has been filled with leaks and speculation on how Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers will decide to spend the public money at his disposal (it will emphatically be a spending budget) and what Minister for Finance Simon Harris might do on tax.

The tightly choreographed event is easily dismissed as theatre. Yes, the format can feel jaded. We know, based on the evidence of recent years, that the budget itself is more of an opening position; as Cliff Taylor points out in his column, the Government will in all likelihood make decisions next year which change the spending and tax plans outlined next Tuesday. We know the budget Ministers will solemnly over-claim and that the opposition will fall back on its own pre-baked cliches about missed opportunities. We know, too, that if journalists such as ourselves are doing our job, you will have a good sense of the key measures in the budget before it is announced (our latest insights can be read here).

For all that, however, the budget remains one of those rare moments when politics attracts a mass audience. From political anoraks to those who ordinarily feel disengaged, everyone’s attention will be on Leinster House on Tuesday. That’s partly because the budget will give us the clearest sense of the Government’s priorities and its vision for the period ahead – one that will be profoundly shaped by economic, technological, military and ecological crises. It is also because, at a time when many people are feeling real uncertainty and stress in their lives, the effects of the decisions set out by Chamber and Harris on Tuesday will be felt in every household in the country.

For everything you need to know in advance of Tuesday, visit our Budget 2027 site, where you will find the latest news, analysis and commentary from our own reporters and guest contributors.

Income tax change is coming in Budget 2027. Here’s what it means for you

Budget Q&A: Submit your questions to our expert panel on budget day

Prospect of a €250 cut to student contribution fees unlikely ahead of Budget 2027

We will have comprehensive coverage over the coming days, as set out below by my colleague Siún Lennon.

Monday

We will tell the stories of a range of people across Ireland, each hoping for different things in Budget 2027. Once the budget is published we will return to these people to see how it has affected them.

Tuesday morning

Join The Irish Times for our live Budget 2027 coverage from 8am on our website and app. Our Business and Politics teams will bring you news and analysis as it happens in our live blog, while our live main points synopsis will give you the highlights.

You can also stay up to date by following us on our social media platforms.

Lunchtime

We will provide live coverage of the budget as it is announced along with snap analysis and explanations of notable measures.

You can track the main points and watch a live stream of the speeches.

Afternoon

Once the budget speeches are finished, we will provide analysis from our Politics, Business and News teams; including columnist Cliff Taylor and Political Editor Pat Leahy.

We will also explain what the changes mean for you.

Our budget calculator, in association with PwC, will let you work out how it affects you.

Budget 2027 newsletter

Look out for a special Budget 2027 newsletter on Tuesday evening. You can sign up to our daily newsletters here. Subscribers to our daily Business newsletter will also receive a special Budget Day edition on Tuesday afternoon.

V ideo

Along with our live stream from the Dáil chamber, we’ll have video analysis from Consumer Affairs Correspondent Conor Pope with his take on the budget.

Podcasts

Business Editor Ciarán Hancock will host a special edition of the Inside Business podcast, available for download on Tuesday afternoon.

Wednesday

Ask the Experts Q&A

Deputy Business Editor Dominic Coyle and experts from PwC will answer your Budget 2027 questions from 7am on Wednesday. You can submit questions via a form on irishtimes.com from Tuesday afternoon.

Inside Politics Podcast

Hugh Linehan and our politics team will assess how Chambers and Harris performed, in a special Inside Politics podcast that will be available on Wednesday morning.

Special Budget 2027 print supplement

Published on Wednesday – and available via the ePaper – The Irish Times’s Budget 2027 print supplement will spell out exactly what the budget means for you with the latest news, analysis and comment as well as reaction from individuals and businesses around the country.

We like to hear from you. Feel free to send comments, feedback or suggestions for topics you would like to see covered to feedback@irishtimes.com.

Ruadhán Mac Cormaic