A member of Fianna Fáil's negotiating team says the Minister for Children will remain as a cabinet position in the next government.
There are fears the post will be downgraded if Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens sign up to a coalition.
The parties are taking part in postal votes on the programme for government, with the count taking place tomorrow.
Fianna Fáil's spokesperson for children, Anne Rabbitte, is confident the Department of Children will not be demoted
