BIGSALTYDOG BUDGET 2027 SPECIAL

BIGSALTYDOG BUDGET 2027 SPECIAL

Ireland Gets €8.5 Billion. Salty Wants to Know Where His Share Is.

By BigSaltyDog.

It is that wonderful time of year again.

The nights are getting darker.

The heating is being switched on.

The price of absolutely everything appears to be going in one direction.

And politicians are beginning to use words such as “fiscal space”, “cost of living”, “targeted measures” and “responsible spending”.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen.

Budget Day is coming.

On 6 October 2026, Ireland will once again gather around televisions, phones, radios and social media to discover what the Government has planned for our wallets.

Budget 2027 is expected to involve a package worth around €8.5 billion, made up of approximately €7 billion in additional spending and €1.5 billion in tax measures.

Eight point five billion euro.

That is an absolutely enormous amount of money.

So naturally, Stg. Salty has one very simple question.

“Where's mine?”

Nobody answered.

So Salty decided to investigate.

And, unfortunately for Ireland, he brought the Misfits with him.

---

THE GREAT BUDGET MEETING

The entire Misfits crew gathered around the table.

There was Stg. Salty.

McFinleyyy.

Govna.

Senior Miguel.

Whizz.

Ye Old Large Lad.

Winky.

Whizzair.

Sarah.

Susan.

Amy.

Anne.

And the newest member of the gang, Finholio.

Salty stood at the head of the table wearing a suit.

Nobody knew why.

He had even polished his shoes.

McFinleyyy looked suspicious.

“What's with the suit?”

Salty straightened his tie.

“It's Budget season.”

Sarah laughed.

“You're not delivering the Budget.”

Salty looked offended.

“I'm delivering the BigSaltyDog Budget.”

Susan raised an eyebrow.

“What's the difference?”

Salty smiled.

“Mine has chicken wings.”

---

💰 €8.5 BILLION.

McFinleyyy had prepared a presentation.

He turned on the television.

“The Government's Budget package is expected to be €8.5 billion.”

Everyone looked impressed.

Except Salty.

He was doing mental arithmetic.

Eventually he spoke.

“So how much is that each?”

McFinleyyy explained that the money would not simply be divided between everyone in Ireland.

Salty frowned.

“That's disappointing.”

“Why?”

“I thought I'd be getting a cheque.”

Govna nodded.

“So did I.”

Sarah looked around the table.

“Does anybody here actually understand how the Budget works?”

Silence.

Finholio slowly raised his hand.

“I know that money goes in and money goes out.”

McFinleyyy nodded.

“Technically, that's a start.”

Salty pointed at him.

“See. Finholio understands economics.”

McFinleyyy sighed.

“I have a feeling we're going to have a long day.”

---

📈 THE TAX TALK

One of the major areas being watched is personal income tax.

The Government has said it wants workers to keep more of their pay, and increasing the point at which people move into the higher 40 per cent income-tax rate has been under consideration.

The current threshold for a single person is €44,000.

A move to €46,000 has been discussed as one possible approach. If that happened, somebody earning above the new threshold could potentially gain around €400 a year.

But, as always, the final details are for Budget Day.

Salty immediately reached for his calculator.

“€400.”

He smiled.

“That'll do nicely.”

McFinleyyy asked what he planned to do with it.

“Diesel.”

“Anything else?”

“Chicken wings.”

“Anything else?”

“More diesel.”

McFinleyyy shook his head.

“You could save it.”

Salty looked horrified.

“Save it?”

“Yes.”

“For what?”

“Something important.”

Salty thought about it.

Then he nodded.

“Emergency chicken wings.”

---

⛽ THE DIESEL DEBATE

Now we come to the subject that really gets Salty's attention.

Fuel.

Ireland has already seen temporary reductions in fuel excise, with the Government pausing some planned increases because of elevated fuel prices.

The Government's current fuel policy has been changing in response to international oil prices, and the issue is expected to remain one of the big Budget talking points.

Recent reporting has highlighted the potential for substantial increases if the phased restoration of excise proceeds.

Salty watched the television very carefully.

The presenter mentioned petrol.

Salty nodded.

Diesel.

Salty leaned closer.

Excise.

Salty stopped breathing.

McFinleyyy noticed.

“Are you all right?”

Salty whispered.

“They're coming for the diesel.”

Amy looked confused.

“Who's coming?”

Salty pointed at the television.

“Them.”

Anne laughed.

“It's the Government.”

Salty nodded seriously.

“Exactly.”

---

🚜 THE LEOPARD 2 EMERGENCY

Within minutes, the Leopard 2 was being prepared.

Sarah walked into the garage.

“What are you doing?”

Salty was checking the vehicle.

“Budget preparations.”

Susan looked at the tank.

“Why do you need a Leopard 2?”

Salty replied:

“Have you seen the price of diesel?”

Ye Old Large Lad was already carrying equipment.

Winky was checking the maps.

Whizz was looking for the keys.

Whizzair was attempting to work out whether a tank could be booked into a service station.

Finholio was standing beside the Leopard 2 with a clipboard.

Amy asked him what he was doing.

“Fuel calculations.”

Anne looked at the clipboard.

There was nothing written on it.

“There's nothing on that.”

Finholio nodded.

“Exactly. I'm keeping the numbers confidential.”

---

🏠 THE RENTERS' TAX CREDIT

Housing will also be a major issue.

The Taoiseach has confirmed that the renters' tax credit will be increased in Budget 2027.

The current maximum is €1,000 a year for an individual and €2,000 for a jointly assessed couple, subject to the relevant conditions.

A €300 increase has been reported as a proposal, but the Government had not confirmed that figure before Budget Day.

Salty immediately announced that he was becoming a renter.

McFinleyyy looked at him.

“You own your house.”

“I know.”

“So you can't just become a renter.”

“Why not?”

“Because you own the house.”

Salty thought about this.

Then he smiled.

“I'll rent it to myself.”

Sarah stared at him.

“That isn't how it works.”

Salty shrugged.

“Worth a try.”

---

⚡ THE ELECTRICITY BILL

Then came the electricity bill.

The Misfits had gathered around the kitchen table.

Salty opened the envelope.

He looked at the bill.

He looked again.

Then he turned it upside down.

Susan asked what he was doing.

“Checking if it's a phone number.”

“It isn't.”

“A mortgage?”

“No.”

“A typo?”

“No.”

Salty sighed.

“Then we're in trouble.”

Energy is expected to remain a major issue in Budget discussions.

The Government has ruled out a universal energy credit for Budget 2027, with the Taoiseach saying the focus should instead be on more ongoing measures rather than another one-off payment.

Salty was disappointed.

“No energy credit?”

“No.”

“What about a Salty credit?”

“Definitely not.”

“What about a Misfits credit?”

“No.”

“What about a Leopard 2 diesel credit?”

McFinleyyy closed the laptop.

“Meeting over.”

---

🛒 THE SUPERMARKET TEST

The Misfits then decided to conduct their own economic experiment.

Amy and Anne were given €100.

Their instructions were simple.

“Buy enough food for everyone.”

They returned later.

Salty looked into the shopping bags.

Bread.

Milk.

Potatoes.

Chicken.

Vegetables.

Snacks.

A few other bits.

He looked at the receipt.

Then at the bags.

Then back at the receipt.

“That's €100?”

Anne nodded.

“Yes.”

Salty shook his head.

“When I was younger, €100 meant you came home with a trolley.”

Amy replied:

“And now?”

Salty looked at the bags.

“Now you come home with three bags and a mild sense of betrayal.”

---

👶 FAMILIES AND CHILDCARE

The Budget will also have to deal with the pressures facing families.

Childcare remains an important issue, alongside housing, energy and the wider cost of living.

Sarah and Susan decided to organise the Misfits' childcare budget.

They sat everyone down.

Sarah explained:

“We need to make sure every euro is properly accounted for.”

Salty nodded.

“Absolutely.”

Susan handed him the spreadsheet.

Salty studied it.

Then he wrote something at the bottom.

Susan looked.

“What have you written?”

“Chicken wings.”

“That's not a childcare expense.”

Salty thought for a moment.

“Team building.”

---

🧮 MCFINLEYYY VERSUS SALTY

McFinleyyy eventually decided that the only way to make the Budget understandable was to explain it to Salty using simple language.

He drew two boxes.

MONEY COMING IN.

MONEY GOING OUT.

Salty nodded.

“Got it.”

McFinleyyy continued.

“The Government has to balance spending, tax receipts, public services, investment and the wider economy.”

Salty nodded again.

“Got it.”

“It's complicated.”

“Got it.”

“International events can affect energy prices and Government finances.”

“Got it.”

“Corporation tax is important to the Irish Exchequer, but there are risks around relying heavily on a small number of large companies.”

Salty looked at him.

“I'm lost again.”

McFinleyyy sighed.

Salty pointed at the two boxes.

“Just tell me which one contains my money.”

---

💶 THE €1.5 BILLION TAX PACKAGE

The Government has set aside around €1.5 billion for tax measures.

A substantial portion is expected to relate to personal taxation.

The Government has indicated that changes should help workers retain more of their earnings.

Salty approved.

“Excellent.”

McFinleyyy asked:

“What are you going to do if your take-home pay increases?”

Salty didn't hesitate.

“Spend it.”

“On what?”

“Stuff.”

“What stuff?”

Salty smiled.

“That's why they call it disposable income.”

---

🏦 THE SALTY BUDGET

The Misfits decided that if the Government could produce a Budget, so could they.

Salty took charge.

THE BIGSALTYDOG BUDGET 2027.

Diesel: Keep it affordable.

Petrol: Keep that affordable too.

Electricity: Stop making the meter spin so fast.

Groceries: Make €50 feel like €50 again.

Rent: Nobody is allowed to say the word “increase”.

Chicken wings: National priority.

Tea: Fully protected.

Biscuits: Emergency reserves.

Pints: Subject to affordability.

Leopard 2 fuel: Classified expenditure.

McFinleyyy's spreadsheet: Funding approved.

Govna's ideas: Under review.

Senior Miguel's expenses: Missing.

Whizz's travel plans: Too complicated for the Department of Finance.

Ye Old Large Lad's gym budget: Apparently enormous.

Winky's map collection: Nobody knows why.

Whizzair's fuel calculations: Still being investigated.

Sarah and Susan: Put in charge of keeping everyone sensible.

Amy and Anne: Put in charge of stopping Salty spending everything.

Finholio: Appointed Minister for Completely Unnecessary Things.

Finholio accepted the position immediately.

---

🏛️ BUDGET DAY ARRIVES

Finally, the big day arrives.

6 October.

The television is on.

The Misfits are gathered around.

McFinleyyy has his spreadsheets.

Govna has a notebook.

Senior Miguel has snacks.

Whizz is checking the time.

Ye Old Large Lad is doing press-ups.

Winky is studying a map.

Whizzair is trying to calculate fuel consumption.

Sarah and Susan are keeping everyone under control.

Amy and Anne are sitting together.

Finholio is wearing a tie.

Salty is standing in front of the television.

“Right.”

Everyone goes quiet.

“This is important.”

McFinleyyy nods.

Salty continues.

“Nobody touch the chicken wings until we know what the Budget is doing.”

There is a stunned silence.

Sarah looks at him.

“Are you serious?”

Salty nods.

“For the good of the nation.”

---

📺 THE ANNOUNCEMENTS BEGIN

Tax changes.

Spending plans.

Housing.

Childcare.

Energy.

Infrastructure.

Public services.

Fuel.

The room goes quiet.

Then someone shouts:

“What does that mean?”

McFinleyyy starts explaining.

Someone else asks another question.

Govna wants a calculator.

Senior Miguel wants to know whether the Budget includes free tacos.

Sarah tells him no.

Susan asks about renters.

Amy asks about families.

Anne wants to know about the cost of living.

Finholio asks whether the Government has announced a Minister for Fun.

Nobody answers.

Salty is staring at his calculator.

Eventually he presses the final button.

Everyone waits.

“Well?”

Salty looks around the room.

“I've worked it out.”

McFinleyyy leans forward.

“How much better off are you?”

Salty looks at the calculator.

Then at his wallet.

Then back at the calculator.

“I need another calculator.”

---

🇮🇪 THE BIGSALTYDOG REALITY CHECK

The truth is that Budgets are complicated.

€8.5 billion sounds enormous.

But it covers a huge range of Government spending and taxation decisions.

Different measures affect different people.

A change to income tax might matter to a worker.

A renters' tax credit increase could matter to somebody renting.

Fuel measures matter enormously to motorists.

Energy measures matter to households.

Childcare measures matter to families.

And public spending decisions affect services and investment across the country.

The final details will only become clear when the Budget is announced.

Until then, Ireland will continue doing what Ireland does best.

Talking about it.

Everyone will have an opinion.

Everyone will have a calculator.

Everyone will have a cousin who knows somebody who knows somebody who has already seen the Budget.

And somebody in the pub will inevitably say:

“If I was Minister for Finance, I'd sort it out in five minutes.”

Salty has already volunteered.

His economic plan is simple.

“Give everyone enough money to pay the bills.”

McFinleyyy asked:

“Where would you get the money?”

Salty paused.

Then smiled.

“That's your department.”

---

😂 THE FINAL SALTY WORD

As Budget Day approaches, the Misfits are ready.

McFinleyyy has his spreadsheets.

Govna has his notebook.

Senior Miguel has his snacks.

Whizz has his travel plans.

Ye Old Large Lad has his muscles.

Winky has his maps.

Whizzair has his calculations.

Sarah and Susan have their sensible heads on.

Amy and Anne are keeping everyone organised.

Finholio is still trying to find out what his new Government department actually does.

And Salty?

Salty is sitting inside the Leopard 2.

He looks at the fuel gauge.

He looks at the Budget papers.

He looks at his bank account.

Then he looks at the Misfits.

“Lads.”

Everyone turns around.

“I've made a decision.”

McFinleyyy asks:

“What decision?”

Salty starts the engine.

“We're going shopping before the Budget.”

Sarah asks why.

Salty grins.

“Because after Budget Day, everything might be different.”

Anne shakes her head.

“That's not how it works.”

Salty puts the tank into gear.

“Maybe not.”

The Leopard 2 begins moving.

McFinleyyy shouts:

“Where are you going?”

Salty shouts back:

“TO FIND THAT €8.5 BILLION!”

The Misfits stare at one another.

Sarah sighs.

Susan laughs.

Amy grabs her coat.

Anne follows.

Govna jumps into the tank.

Senior Miguel brings the snacks.

Whizz checks the route.

Winky unfolds another map.

Ye Old Large Lad climbs aboard.

Whizzair checks the fuel.

Finholio grabs his clipboard.

And off they go.

Ireland's most financially confused tank crew is on a mission.

The destination?

Nobody knows.

The budget?

Nobody understands it completely yet.

The fuel?

Expensive.

The shopping list?

Far too long.

And Salty?

Still convinced the Government owes him €8.50 billion.

BigSaltyDog signing off.

🇮🇪💶 Happy Budget 2027, Ireland.

May your wallet be heavier, your bills be lighter, your diesel be cheaper and your supermarket receipt be considerably less frightening.

And if all else fails.

There is always one solution.

Chicken wings.

SPLATTTTT!