Budget 2025: Here's what's expected as talks set to go down to the wire

Finance Minister Jack Chambers, who will deliver the Budget on Tuesday. Picture: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

Across-the-board social welfare increases of at least €10, two double child benefit payments before Christmas, and an extension of the help-to-buy scheme will form part of a bumper pre-election Budget on Tuesday.

However, negotiations on a cost-of-living package of almost €2bn as well as several social protection measures will go down to the wire today.

The three Government leaders met on Sunday night and will talk again on Monday evening to iron out the final details.

A universal increase of a minimum of €10 on all social welfare payments is now expected to be agreed when Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys meets with Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe.

Ms Humphreys had been calling for a €15 hike in the state pension and a lower level of increase for the long-term unemployed, however, this idea came up against strong push-back from both Fianna Fáil and the Green Party.

Finance Minister Jack Chambers is also expected to announce an extension of the help-to-buy scheme out to the end of 2029 to give certainty to those looking to get onto the property ladder.

Among the measures understood to be already signed off on are:

• A reduction in the 4% rate of USC to 3%
• A €2,000 increase in the threshold for the higher rate of income tax, bringing it to €44,000 
• A €250 energy credit before Christmas 
• An increase in the rent tax credit, bringing it to €1,000 
• Minister for Children Roderic O'Gorman has secured an increase in childcare funding bringing it to €1.34bn to fund additional hours and places through the National Childcare Scheme.
• Stamp duty on bulk buying of homes is to increase from 10% to 15% 

Targeted measures for disadvantaged families are expected to include an expansion of family resource centres, enhancements to Equal Start - a programme to support babies and young children - and a pilot programme to tackle holiday hunger for children.

In Justice, spending to tackle domestic, sexual and gender-based violence for 2024 is set to reach just under €70m with a "significant increase" anticipated for next year. The funding will see the number of refuge spaces doubled.

Money will also be allocated to expanding prison capacity and speeding up the processing of international protection cases.

Free public transport will be extended to all children under the age of nine and the 20% reduction in transport fares for adults, and 50% for young people ages between 18 and 25, will remain in place.

Minister for Climate Eamon Ryan is also understood to have increased the funding available for the Better Energy Warmer Homes scheme which supports low-income families to retrofit their homes.