The government is to increase Child benefit in the Budget by five euro per child per month.

The details of the coalition's spending plans for next year will be revealed in around half an hour when the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan gets to his feet in the Dail.

Ahead of the announcement, some details of extra social welfare spending have emerged.

Alongside the increase in the children's allowance - the Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton is to reintroduce the 'Christmas bonus'.

People on Jobseeker's Allowance, and those receiving the state pension, will be given a 25 percent increase in their payments in the week before Christmas.

But FF's Timmy Dooley has warned the government against engaging in auction politics;