The government's denied claims that it's going on a spending spree - after approving extra state spending of almost half a billion euro.

The money will be split across 13 different state agencies and departments - some of which need it after over-running their budgets.

Among the so-called 'supplementary estimates' being published today are €175 million extra for the Department of Education, and €100 million for the Department of Transport.

There are also big payments going to Agriculture, the Department of Jobs, and the Gardaí.

In total, the 13 payments today amount to 471 million euro - but Public Expenditure minister Brendan Howlin denies it's a sign of poor financial management:

Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed this report for Today FM's National Lunchtime News: