Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 15 October 2025
120. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation regarding Table2: 2026 Current Expenditure Breakdown to confirm whether the € 0.3 billion provided for 'To be allocated' is for new measures or for ELS costs; and to provide the breakdown. [55665/25]
View answer121. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation regarding Table2: 2026 Current Expenditure Breakdown to confirm whether the €1.4 billion provided for 'Other' is for new measures or for ELS costs; and to provide the breakdown. [55666/25]
View answer122. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation regarding Table2: 2026 Current Expenditure Breakdown the portion of the €2.2 billion provided for 'Key Policy Adjustments and Expansion of Services' is for Budget 2026 new measures that will commence in 2026. [55667/25]
View answer123. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation regarding Table2: 2026 Current Expenditure Breakdown, to provide details of the €0.3 billion provided for 'to be allocated'; and the way in which it differs from the 1 billion contingency reserve which is also held centrally. [55668/25]
View answer124. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the amount of funding determined as required for ELS (public sector pay, carryover, demographics, and so on) costs in Budget 2026 which in the case of Budget 2025 the Expenditure Report 2025 on pages 24 and 25 set at €3.4 billion. [55671/25]
View answer125. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the amount of current funding provided for New Measure in Budget 2026 which in the case of Budget 2025 the Expenditure Report 2025 on page 24 set at €1.9 billion. [55672/25]
View answer126. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation regarding Table 2: 2026 Current Expenditure Breakdown to confirm whether the €0.9 billion for 'Increase in recipients' relates to increases in recipient numbers as a result of changes to the size and demographic composition of the population; and if so the portion of the €0.9 billion which is to cover that or if this allocation is to cover the cost of Budget 2026 new measures that are scheduled to commence in 2026. [55675/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 120, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125 and 126 together.
Budget 2026 takes a whole of budget approach, considering the totality of expenditure, where this funding is being invested and what is being delivered for our growing population. This year a different approach to the Estimates process was undertaken which placed a greater emphasis on reform, efficiency and placing value for money at the centre of Government decision making.
Budget 2026 will increase the total gross voted expenditure ceiling to €117.8 billion. This represents an increase of €6.1 billion in current expenditure to cater for increased demand in service delivery for a growing population and to progress key policies in line with Government priorities across a range of sectors and €2 billion additional capital expenditure in line with NDP ceilings. The overall ceiling also has a €1 billion unallocated Contingency Reserve which will be used to fund once off costs relating to Ireland’s hosting of the EU Presidency in 2026 and an additional pay day in 2026 in the Revised Estimates. €0.3 billion of current funding remains to be allocated under the expenditure ceiling, separate to the €1bn reserve.
Detailed information on where the additional current funding is being allocated in 2026 is set out by Department in Part II of the Budget 2026 Expenditure Report. The vote chapters detail the overall level of resources available next year (including staff resources); the programmes and policy outputs to be delivered with this funding; and a list of reforms to be undertaken in order to enhance efficiency.
Each vote chapter includes a reconciliation table demonstrating the key components of the 2026 ceiling. The amounts reflected in the Vote Group reconciliation tables at the time of the Budget are collated in the aggregate Table 2 on page 12 of the Expenditure Report. This reflects:
• €1.1 billion is included for the 2026 cost of decisions taken in 2025 and carryover of Budget 2025 decisions. Some examples include the additional costs of running public transport services through the Public Service Obligation payments, costs associated with rollout of Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit and introduction of auto-enrolment, Bovine TB Action Plan, and costs of the 2025 childcare measures.
• €1.2 billion for public sector pay agreement costs arising in 2026 for all sectors, including the pension impact of this agreement.
• €0.9 billion for increased recipients of public services particularly in the area of social protection, housing and childcare and disability. This includes an additional c.30,000 recipients in pensions, illness, disability and carers schemes in 2026.
• €2.2 billion for key policy adjustments and expansion of services reflects expenditure for broadening the availability of supports, expansion of eligibility for schemes, extension of policies or introduction of new supports to deliver enhanced services for citizens, particularly through social protection, education & youth and further & higher education.
• The “Other” category reflects costs associated with the running of particular schemes and recruitment of additional staff, this includes the World Food Programme, Mother and Baby Institution Payment Scheme and additional funding in the justice sector.
Further detail in respect of each of the Vote Groups is contained in the relevant chapter in Part II of the Expenditure Report.
