A new Energy Poverty Action Plan is going before Cabinet this morning.

It is part of a packed pre-Christmas agenda for ministers with just days before the office of Taoiseach is handed to Fine Gael.

Cabinet will discuss the overhaul of the planning system, a new employment report, international surrogacy guidelines and the new energy fund.

Energy

The energy poverty plan includes a further 10 million euro for the energy hardship fund, which is used to help people who can't pay their bills.

People can apply for the fund through MABS, St Vincent De Paul, or Alone with energy suppliers providing advice and help.

People will also be directed to their local social welfare office for things like the Additional Needs Payment.

The €10m will also be used to help people on pay-as-you-go meters who are at risk of energy debt.

International surrogacy

Ministers will also consider amendments to laws around international surrogacy this morning.

A joint memo from Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, Justice Minister Heather Humphreys and Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman will approve the drafting of several amendments.

It's expected the legislation will allow commercial surrogacy abroad and allow people to be registered as the child's parents in Ireland.

It is also likely the law will allow parents of existing children born under current rules to be recognised as the child's parents.

Employment

Meanwhile, the Social Protection Minister will tell her colleagues that more people are in employment in Ireland than ever before.

Heather Humphreys will bring a memo noting that 2.55 million people are working in Ireland.

That means the unemployment rate is now lower than pre-pandemic levels at 4.4% per cent.

The figures are contained in the first progress report on Pathways to Work, the Government employment strategy.

The report comes with a warning that employment supports need to be kept ready in case of a downturn caused by inflation, the war in Ukraine and an uncertain global economy

Reshuffle

Ministers are meeting with just days to go before Leo Varadkar is expected to take over the role of Taoiseach.

Currently, it looks as if Micheál Martin will become Minister for Foreign Affairs as well as Tánaiste, while Simon Coveney moves to the Enterprise portfolio.

In the Dáil tonight meanwhile, Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien faces a motion of no confidence.