Retail Ireland Monitor

Budget 2026 arrives at a time of heightened global uncertainty and a domestic political focus no longer framed by an imminent election. The Government has signalled a more restrained fiscal approach, with a scaling back of the household and consumer supports that have underpinned spending in recent years. A commitment to maintain the VAT reduction for hospitality will absorb a significant portion of the available fiscal space, while income tax bands will not be indexed. The consumer-focused measures capable of providing a meaningful boost to domestic demand in the run up to Christmas, which were such a feature last year, do not feature this year.