Updated 11.25

The Finance Minister says Budget 2016 will create jobs and boost the economy.

Michael Noonan says the Government has more resources than anticipated at the same time last year.

The coalition has aimed to increase the take-home pay of every household in the country, with the Universal Social Charge expected to be cut; the minimum wage to be hiked and old age pensions to be increased by €3 per week.

Arriving at Government Buildings this morning, Michael Noonan says the Budget will also secure the economy and boost services:

Earlier, the Taoiseach said the Budget will bring relief to middle income earners because it has been designed to increase the take-home pay of households across the country:

Meanwhile, the Environment Minister has downplayed a rift with Michael Noonan over the failure to include rent certainty in Budget 2016.

Alan Kelly has long promised the measure to tackle rising rents and the homeless crisis.

It is widely reported that he could not reach agreement with the Finance Minister and "lost" the argument.

Alan Kelly says "he wouldn't" agree with that assessment - and rent measures will be introduced in the weeks ahead:

The details

In what is one of the most leaked budgets in recent times we already know most of what will be announced this afternoon.

Smokers look set to be the only ones who will suffer as 50 cent is slapped on a pack of cigarettes.

The centrepiece of the budget will be cuts to the Universal Social Charge could result in an extra €1,000 a year for someone earning €70,000 - a more modest euro a day for someone on the average industrial wage of just over €36,000.

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.

Housing remains a sticking point and will be the subject of negotiations again this morning, though NAMA is to commence building 20,000 homes.

All of the measures will be signed off by Ministers at the meeting which gets underway at 10 o’clock ahead of Ministers Noonan and Howlin’s speeches this afternoon.

Newstalk.com spoke to these people on the streets of Dublin about their hopes for today's Budget announcement: 

The government news service has produced two promotional interviews with Ministers Noonan and Howlin ahead of today's announcements.