The 'theme of the Budget' is said to benefit thousands of families

According to emerging reports, announcements which are due to be made by the Irish Government tomorrow afternoon will signal good news for many families across the country.

Plans to provide free pre-school education to every child over the age of three until they begin primary school is just one of the measures understood to comprise the Coalition's 'family-friendly' Budget.

As it stands, the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme offers children aged between three years and two months and four years and seven months one free year of early childhood care.

However, the new plan will see all children from the age of three avail of free pre-school education until they take their first step into primary school.

In addition to this and the promise to increase child benefit by €5, it is understood that Children's Minister, James Reilly, has been given €85 million in order to invest in a number of other educational and childcare initiatives.

According to the Sunday Independent, the Tanaiste, Joan Burton, has also put plans in place which will allow fathers to secure two weeks paid paternal leave - a reform which is due to come into effect in the summer of 2016.

It is understood that this reform has been touted as just the 'first step' in a plan to introduce one year of paid paternal leave which can be split between both parents.

Commenting on the €1.5 billion Budget, which will be announced tomorrow by Finance Minister, Michael Noonan, and Public Expenditure Minister, Brendan Howlin, a senior government source has confirmed that many of the measures revolve around reducing costs for families around the country.

"It's all about benefits for families - that's what the theme of the Budget will be," they explained ahead of tomorrow's highly-anticipated announcements.