Cuts to USC in Budget 2016

The Finance Minister says the country's economic recovery is strong but fragile. 

Budget 2016 sees a number of changes across the board including cuts to the controversial universal social charge and the postponement of the local property tax revaluation date to 2019.

The 9% VAT rate on the hospitality sector is set to be retained while the only tax increase contained in the Budget is 50 cent on a pack of 20 cigarettes.  

Minister Michael Noonan began his Budget speech by saying Ireland's economic recovery is strong but fragile. 

He admitted that the last number of budgets have been hard but they made it possible for the country to exit debt and enter a period of recovery. 

The Minister says that this Budget aims to help keep the recovery going with 1,100 jobs created every week and that Ireland is on course to be the fastest growing economy in Europe for the second consecutive year.

Unemployment is expected to fall to 8% by the end of 2016 and to 6.25% by 2021.

Michael Noonan says the future looks bright. 

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