The Finance Minister Michael Noonan says the next budget will be economically smart and socially just.

Mr Noonan has again warned against a pre-election giveaway.

He is insisting he will stick to the rules so that spending increases and tax cuts will amount to somewhere between €1.2bn and €1.5bn.

Closing the National Economic Dialogue in Dublin this afternoon, he again promised income tax cuts in the budget.

But he says they will be part of building a just society.

The coalition brought in opposition, business and society groups to discuss priorities for Budget 2016.

They have insisted the dialogue was not a return to social partnership, which the Taoiseach Enda Kenny described as a "closed shop".

Representatives of the Diaspora and academics have also been attending the conference.