The Department of Finance has been analysing how politicians can implement promises made in the programme for Government.
According to The Irish Times it's found that planned cuts – costing €1.7 billion over the course of three budgets – will mean money will need to be raised elsewhere.
It's expected that the main rate of 5.5 per cent will be cut in the budget for 2017 with the Government promising to phase out USC totally over a number of years.
