Two double child benefit payments before Christmas look set to be announced in the Budget following Government talks.
The Government is finalising a cost-of-living package of close to €2 billion that will be paid out before Christmas, possibly in November and December.
This is set to include a €250 energy credit and extra payments on fuel and living alone allowances.
Free public transport will be introduced for the under-9s, a move long advocated by the Green Party.
The free school book scheme will be extended to the senior cycle and funding is set to be provided for 1,500 more special needs assistants in schools.
The Help-to-Buy scheme is likely to be extended to 2029 following a proposal from Minister for Finance Jack Chambers to the Government party leaders.
The stamp duty rate on the bulk buying of homes is set to rise from 10% to 15% following a review requested by Taoiseach Simon Harris.
There are said to be ongoing discussions on the VAT rate for the hospitality sector.
The Green Party has secured free public transport fares for those under nine years old as part of the Budget talks, sources have indicated.
Only children under five years old currently qualify for free public transport.
Mr Harris had earlier indicated that the cost-of-living package in the Budget will be larger than expected.
Mr Harris said the package which will be paid before Christmas must meet the challenges people are facing.
Mr Harris said: "People are sitting on the couch watching this news bulletin tonight, and they're saying, hang on. I get up. I work really hard. I've done my best. I play by the rules, and I'm still struggling to make ends meet because of cost of living.
"We have to help those people in the here and now, and I want to really focus tonight with colleagues in government on how we can make sure that cost-of-living package is of sufficient scale to meet the challenges that people feel," he said.
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The Taoiseach said it would take "a good few weeks" for the Finance Bill and the Social Welfare to pass after the Budget is announced.
"And indeed, there may be legislation required for other elements of the Budget as well, potentially around the whole area of energy and the electricity credits and the likes." he added.
Minister for Finance Jack Chambers has said there will be a "substantial package to help people through the winter period" which will be discussed in Government Budget negotiations today.
He added he would be meeting with the three coalition party leaders later today along with Minister for Public Expenditure Paschal Donohoe.
He said there would be a "substantial income tax package for workers" to respond to the "cost of living challenges that so many people face".
He added there would be a focus on the Universal Social Charge, the standard rate of tax and tax credits.
Meanwhile, Government parties are at odds over plans to increase key social protection payments.
The Minister for Social Protection is openly reluctant to increase payments to job seekers to the same extent as other groups.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week programme, Heather Humphreys said that her priority is to provide greater support for carers, pensioners, people with disabilities and working families.
She asked why at a time of of full employment why would you give the same increase to job seekers?
The minister warned that if the increase is given to job seekers, then there will be less money to go around because her resources are limited.
However, Green Junior Minister Malcolm Noonan said his party believes the payment to job seekers must be increased to the same level as other groups.
Speaking on RTÉ's The Week in Politics, he said the payment is important to families and often there are children involved.
He played down any Government budget rows, saying that it was part of the normal process.
Mr Noonan said it was important to have a prudent and progressive budget and the Greens will fight its corner.
Asked about the differing views in Government on increases to Job Seekers' Allowance the Taoiseach said instinctively he shared Ms Humphrey's view on the matter.
"When the economy is at full employment, I do share her view in relation to this. But I also am aware that for the last four years, the Government did increase both social welfare rates by a standard rate," he said.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that her party wanted child benefit to be a universal payment and much more needed to be done for children living in poverty.
Speaking on the same programme, she said that her party would take an alternative and more holistic route on this, in a "very grassroots way" making big investments in communities, youthwork and community development.
"The communities in which these children live in and grow up have to be supported also," she said.
Ms McDonald said that the poorest of children are very reliant on youth clubs and youth workers and the community infrastructure is absolutely critical to their quality of life and development.
Aontú Leader Peadar Toibin criticised one off payments in the budget saying they are gone like snow off a ditch in the spring.
He said that "rip off Ireland" must be tackled given that this country has the highest electricity costs.
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