The Government will outline its spending plans for 2016 and beyond in the Dáil today, as Minister for Finance, Michael Noonan delivers Budget 2016.
A number of key budgetary measures have been leaked in the weeks and months leading up to today's announcements - Universal Social Charge (USC) cuts are expected to have the biggest impact on Irish household's take-home pay.
Those on the minimum wage will get a hike of 50 cent an hour, hundreds more teachers will be announced, as will more gardaí, the respite care grant will be restored and the Christmas welfare bonus - axed by the previous Government - will see a 75% payment in December.
Old age pensioners may also be in line for a €3 a week increase.
Childcare is also central to today's budget - a second free pre-school year, paid paternity leave will be among the measures.
Newstalk political correspondent Páraic Gallagher has the full run-down of what we are expecting.
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The Department of Finance has challenged economic analysts and commentators who have said that budget giveaways will be greater than the €1.5bn limit outlined by the Government.
In a note yesterday, Davy stockbrokers said that through supplementary estimates the Government has indicated that it is planning a further €1.5bn in spending increases.
A spokesperson from the Department of Finance said that supplementary estimates are a regular feature, what is different this year is that the government is accounting for them before the budget rather than passing them through the Oireachtas later in the year.
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Dell plans to acquire EMC, in what would be the biggest ever tech takeover deal, worth €59bn. It remains unclear what the implications will be for the two companies' Irish workers.
5,300 people are employed here between the two firms, Dell employs some 2,300 people between sites in Cork, Limerick and Dublin, while EMC employs a further 3,000, most of them are based in Cork.
Michael Dell, who founded the computer company said, "We're not actually going to move a whole lot of people around."
The deal will be completed during the third quarter of 2016.
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Aer Arann will continue its air service to the Aran Islands for another year.
The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht has confirmed its contract to provide the State-subsidised flights has been extended to the end of September 2016
The interim contract will cost €1.62 million, during which time a procurement process will take place for a new tender.
The announcement comes after a climbdown by the Department of the Gaeltacht, which had issued a now cancelled contract to a helicopter service - a move opposed by residents of the islands.
