The Government is to hold a special Cabinet meeting this weekend to discuss preparations for the forthcoming Budget, it emerged today.
The Taoiseach and his 15 ministers are expected to attend the function at Government Buildings on Sunday morning.
A Government spokesman said Finance Minister Brian Cowen is currently holding talks with each minister about Budget allocations for their departments.
Mr Cowen is due to present his fourth Budget to the Dail on December 5th. Organisations are currently publishing pre-Budget submissions to lobby for new measures and funding increases.
A tough Budget is expected as Mr Cowen has already revised downwards his forecast growth rate for 2008 to 3 per cent.
