The Taoiseach has said any flexibility in the next Budget will be used to give a tax break to middle-income families.

But Enda Kenny says he cannot guarantee tax cuts in October until he is sure the economy is in full recovery.

He was responding to comments from Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte, who says the government needs to double-down on its plans to ease the tax burden on workers.

Canvassing in Sligo this afternoon, the Taoiseach told Ocean FM that the Minister for Finance would offer workers as much tax relief as possible.

Earlier this month, Minister Michael Noonan said he planned to cut taxes for middle-income earners in the next two budgets. Michael Noonan said he wants to do it by adjusting the tax bands.

He told Fine Gael local election candidates that the easing of the tax load on middle-income workers is a top priority.

This was a move that the Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore dismissed as being too early to tell.