Minister Heather Humphreys throws her support behind comments made by Tánaiste Leo Varadkar recently, where he said a new middle rate tax band could help cushion the blow of inflation on the squeezed middle, reports Christina Finn

Increasing State supports and reducing the cost of services is understood to be the main focus for Budget 2023 this October.

Discussions underway to reduce childcare costs, public transport fares and hospital charges.