Six cracks that need a patch of Paschal’s Polyfilla in the Budget

If we can’t rip it up and start again, at least fix big flaws

The Budget on Tuesday will see Paschal Donohoe juggle with the €67.8bn bill for running the country. Making up nearly a third of all outgoings is social welfare spending at nearly €20bn. Our tax and welfare payments can be high, relative to other countries. But we also have cracks that many people fall through – especially those on low incomes.

The generosity of welfare in some ways militates against improvements, as the bill is already so huge that the system as it stands is almost in a state of lockdown with further payouts fiercely resisted.

It’s a bit like a big creaky old mansion, so dilapidated that it should be knocked down and rebuilt from scratch.

But we can’t do that as it’s in constant use and instead patch up the crumbling edifice as best we can.

Here are some of the gaps most in need of a dose of Polyfilla from Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe when he reveals Budget 2018 on Tuesday afternoon.