A Dubliner used his friend’s identity to steal from the State in social welfare fraud after his friend moved to Thailand, a court has heard

Ms Gilligan alleged she was being treated differently because of her familial connections.

The biggest budget in the history of the State has been unveiled, the last before an upcoming General Election.

The budget will take place on Tuesday.

Coalition leaders and senior Ministers were engaged in high-level negotiations on Sunday night, ahead of the Budget on Tuesday.

Mr Killoran said that making the system “equally bad” for everybody in such circumstances was not the answer.

She has issued High Court proceedings over the refusals, saying she is not involved in any criminal activity and is “at a loss” as to why she is being treated as though she is.

The Department of Social Protection said the proposals are not finalised

Budget 2024 will total €6.4 billion, made up of €5.3 billion in core expenditure and €1.1 billion in tax measures.

Tuesday's budget marks the first for Fianna Fáil's Michael McGrath as Minister for Finance.