The public expenditure minister has warned that the Budget will have to be "prudent" - with only limited room for any increaes in spending.
Brendan Howlin has told his cabinet colleagues that there's only limited money to go around - and ministers cannot expect much more money than they already have.
Meanwhile a group represnting hundreds of charities is urging the government to restore some of the public spending that's been cut over the last six years.
Our political correspondent Gavan Reilly filed this report for the National Lunchtime News:
