Kathleen Reilly and four of her husband’s family members in Athlone had a total of €366,000 in “undeclared” earnings and a €30,000 collection of designer clothes.

Tánaiste Simon Harris said that he was not convinced there was a need for a ‘significant rise in the dole’.

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