Irish government, eye on re-election, reverses cuts in budget

Ireland's Minister for Finance Michael Noonan waits by the steps of Government Buildings in Dublin, October 13, 2015. REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton

DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland's finance minister effectively kicked off the government's re-election campaign on Tuesday by using the spoils of a newly booming economy to reduce taxes and reverse unpopular cuts in an all-encompassing budget.

A year after bringing an end to seven years of austerity, Dublin will pump an additional 1.5 billion euros (1 billion pounds) into an economy set to grow by over 6 percent this year. It will come from bringing down personal taxes, offering relief on child care and unwinding cuts imposed during a three-year international bailout.