The week that was

MONDAY

AN investigation is under way after three friends died in a boating tragedy off the south-west coast.

Two of the men were aged in their 30s, while the third was aged in his 50s. All three were originally from eastern Europe.

TUESDAY

DIESEL, petrol, coal and cigarettes are set to go up in Budget 2019 as Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe looks for money to fund social welfare hikes and income tax reductions.

A series of stealth taxes on workers and businesses is being planned in order to satisfy spending demands from ministers and Fianna Fáil.

WEDNESDAY

A GRANT for an elderly person to convert their home into two separate housing units is now a key demand of Shane Ross’s (pictured) Independent Alliance as Budget talks intensify.

The Independent group in Government with Fine Gael is firmly focused on the grey vote, having previously demanded a ‘granny grant’ for family members who provide childcare.

THURSDAY

A SPECIAL savings scheme to help first-time buyers is being considered as part of Budget 2019, the Irish

Independent can reveal. Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe is examining how such a scheme might work on foot of demands from Fianna Fáil.

The initiative would see house hunters entitled to open a savings account for their deposit which the Government would top up with a generous donation when they go to buy a house.

Sources in both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil confirmed the idea is a real prospect with just five days until the Budget.

FRIDAY

HOLDING bankers to account for the tracker mortgage scandal would risk scaring them off to other countries, the watchdog has claimed.

Central Bank governor Philip Lane (pictured) defended the fact that plans for rules to hold bankers to account are only now swinging into play.