Families who leave the welfare system to go back to work could be rewarded in next month's budget.
Tanaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton says she's 'very confident' about a proposal that would see them keep some benefits.
The reports are emerging as the Labour and Fianna Fail parliamentary parties gather for their annual think-ins.
The proposed 'back to work' scheme would allow a parent take up a low-paid job and keep a welfare payment worth up to 30 euro per child a week.
Joan Burton has told the Irish Times it's still being worked on, but has the support of their coalition partners Fine Gael.
The wider budget will be up for discussion when party delegates gather in Wexford over the next two days, but a weekend opinion poll will also be on their minds.
It showed that support for Labour is up just one point to 8 per cent, despite the party's change of leadership.
Meanwhile Fianna Fáil heads to Roscommon and the poll will be on their minds too, with Sinn Féin still well ahead of them as the country's second most popular party.
They have to work on a strategy for the Dáil term and deal with criticism from former minister Mary Hanafin who described many of the front bench as "anonymous".
