The Minister for Finance has said that "no decisions" have been made on changes to the carers allowance in this year's budget.
Minister Paschal Donohoe said however that "it is a matter that is important to the Government and we are working collectively with regard to that".
He said how the Government supports carers "has always been a key focus of budgets".
According to today's Irish Independent, Budget 2026 will see the income thresholds for carers allowance raised.
It reports that the thresholds will increase by €200 for a single person and €400 for a couple.
Minister Paschal Donohoe said Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers is engaged in negotiations with all ministers.
Minister Donohoe, who was attending a Fine Gael conference on small business in Carlow today, also said "no decision" had been made on any individual tax measure.
The conference is also being attended by Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke and Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeil.
Minister Carroll MacNeil said she met Family Carer's Ireland this week and "it really is important that the Government supports carers.
"We're always trying to support people in their homes" she said.
Separately, the Minister for Enterprise has welcomed confirmation from the White House that new US tariffs targeting pharmaceuticals do not apply to countries that have already negotiated trades deals with the Trump administration.
Yesterday, US President Donald Trump announced a suite of new tariff measures, including 100% duties on pharmaceuticals set to take effect on 1 October, casting uncertainty over a previous framework agreement between the EU and the US.
However the EU stressed that its trade deal with the US, reached in July, shields such exports from tariffs higher than 15%.
"It's important that we now have a very substantial deal with the EU and US," said Peter Burke.
"It's the biggest, largest, most important trading relationship on the globe," he added.
"It was good to see from the US administration last night, the confirmation that the European deal still stands, and that will be the case.
"That gives certainty for so many industries," he said.
