The Taoiseach has rejected reports that the Government is considering reducing the 25 per cent top-up on Special Savings Incentive Accounts (SSIAs).
Reports this morning said ministers would discuss the move at a pre-Budget meeting on Wednesday, which is expected to see each of them battle for resources for their departments next year at a time when economic growth has slowed enormously.
However, speaking as he opened a new orthodontic centre in Dublin, Mr Ahern said the Minister for Finance had already ruled out speculation that the Government would renege on the SSIA scheme.
"The minister has made it absolutely clear...that he had no intention of capping, changing or restructuring" the scheme, Mr Ahern said.
The scheme was greeted with huge criticism from economists, who said it would cost the economy dearly in the long term. It is expected that SSIAs will cost the exchequer as much as €600 million a year over the five-year life of the scheme.
Many people rushed to top up their monthly contributions to the maximum prior to the last Budget after it was rumoured Mr McCreevy was considering putting a cap on contributions to reduce the cost of the scheme.
In the event, the minister did not make the rumoured changes.