The Progressive Democrats will propose new sources of funding for health and infrastructure when the party publishes its election manifesto later today, indicating the Dáil will be dissolved within days.
The party's surprise decision to launch its platform this weekend is further evidence that the Dáil will be dissolved this week - on Wednesday or Thursday - with polling day likely to be May 17th. The Taoiseach and Tánaiste are understood to have agreed the election date.
By publishing its document early, the PDs hope to set the agenda for political debate in the run-up to the official start of the campaign.
A PD spokesman insisted that the party had always intended to publish its manifesto before the election campaign had begun officially. The move will give the party an opportunity to try to seize the election agenda back from the Opposition, who have been putting sustained pressure on the Government in the past week over crime and the Molloy affair.
In common with the other main parties, Ms Mary Harney will rule out borrowing for current spending, but not for capital spending. She will also rule out cutting the annual contribution to the long-term pension fund, as proposed by Labour.