The Taoiseach has confirmed there will be cuts in social welfare in next week's Budget.
He said the Budget will have to be debated and that there would also have to be a social welfare bill to bring the decisions into operation.
The Budget will be delivered next Wednesday, 9 December.
Meanwhile, the Tánaiste has told the Dáil that significant employment growth is not expected next year.
Mary Coughlan said the Department of Finance pre-Budget outlook forecast unemployment in 2010 to average 13.75%.
