The Budget is set to take place on Tuesday 6 October, Tánaiste Simon Harris and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers will inform the Cabinet.
In a joint memo to Government, they will stress the need for fiscal discipline given the current geopolitical uncertainty caused by the conflict in the Middle East.
Amid the turbulence prevailing internationally, the Government is taking the first steps to nailing down its financial plan for next year.
To that end, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance will tell his colleagues that he intends to publish the updated Spring macro-economic forecasts on 14 April.
He will point to the fact that despite the global volatility the Government is running budget surpluses and that Ireland is rated 'AA' or above by all the major ratings agencies.
Minister Chambers will tell Cabinet that financial prudence is essential if the Government is to deliver on its commitments in areas like health, housing and disability services.
The Minister for Public Expenditure is also aiming to have the critical infrastructure bill enacted before the summer.
It is seeking to speed up the building of homes, water services, and energy supply structures.
Growth of Cork
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Micheál Martin will seek sign off on a new dedicated task force on the future growth of Cork.
It will review the City Centre Development and Operations Action Plan 2025-2030 and report back to Government on progress, and any barriers to progress.
It will look at how Cork city can fully realise its potential for foreign direct investment and domestic business.
It will also examine how Cork's arts and culture could be strengthened.
The independent chair of the new group will be Brendan Tuohy and it is set to report to Government by summer.
Modular homes
Following a meeting of Government party leaders this morning, it was agreed that a proposal to allow planning exemptions for habitable dwellings in back gardens of up to 45sq/m in floor area will not go to Government this week.
The initiative would allow the dwellings to be rented under licence and they could avail of tax relief under the Rent a Room Scheme.
It is understood there are different views in Government about how strict the rules around these homes should be.
The current proposals will require fire safety standards to be met, and the structures must have an exit along with one metre of space around the outside of the unit.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan will seek Government approval to further strengthen how the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) can seize crypto-assets.
The minister is proposing amendments to the Proceeds of Crime and Related Matters Bill 2025 that will provide for new payment-freezing measures tailored specifically to the technological and operational characteristics of crypto-assets.
They will ensure CAB can effectively seize this contemporary form of criminal property through enhanced powers of search, seizure, and detention.
