Government's €4.4bn budget surplus gives it scope for 'strong' cost-of-living  package

Sources said that the discussions from across the board would “go down to the wire” as the final specifics of the budget are signed off. Picture: Peter Byrne/PA Wire

The Government will run a surplus of €4.415bn heading into the budget, giving scope for a one-off cost-of-living package of between €2bn and €3bn.

The white paper on estimates of receipts and expenditure which was published at midnight outlines the Government’s broad financial position ahead of Tuesday’s budget.