The Health Minister says austerity is not over despite a study from the ESRI which says the government could avoid new taxes or cuts in the next Budget.
James Reilly says the think-tank forecast of 3.5 percent growth this year is a sign of the progress in the economic recovery.
However, he has warned that the job is not done yet.
Minister Reilly says the recovery is taking hold, but there is still a long way to go before fiscal tightening can be brought to an end.
“This is as a result of the hard work of the Irish people who had to endure considerable difficulty over the last number of years – but there is light at the end of the tunnel” he said.
“It doesn't mean we can change our fiscal policy”.
“We still have a way to go, but it shows that the work that the people have done is bearing fruit” he added.
