New laws could ban landlords from charging large, upfront payments to secure homes.
They are part of a new bill which would also give students the option to pay for campus accommodation in monthly instalments rather than lump sums.
It is one of a number of housing proposals before Cabinet this morning
The rent protection bill will ban landlords from asking for more than a deposit and a maximum of two months' rent in advance when taking on tenants.
That will also mean those paying for student-specific accommodation will not have to pay large lump sums at the start of a semester but will be able to pay monthly instead.
The bill will also extend the emergency ban on evictions and rent increases for people experiencing COVID-19 related difficulties.
The protections are being extended until December for those who make a declaration that they are financially hit by COVID or in arrears as a result of virus-related problems.
A separate bill will allow city and county councils to extend the life of their existing development plans or granted planning permissions by 12 months.
It is also understood Tánaiste Leo Varadkar will seek Cabinet approval for legislation to give all workers the right to paid sick leave.
Around half of employers do not provide sick pay, and the minimum standard scheme is expected to be phased in over three or four years from 2022 onwards.
