Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 October 2025
212. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation the total amount of additional current spending above the ‘Revised Starting Point’ specified in the Budget 2026 expenditure report that is expenditure on ‘existing levels of services’ (demographics, carryover, public sector pay, etc); and the amount available for new measures. [56164/25]
View answer213. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide a breakdown of the ELS allocation by demographics, carryover, public sector pay, etc. [56182/25]
View answer214. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to clarify the make-up of ‘temporary and one-off spending items’ used to determine the ‘Revised Starting Point’ specified in the Budget 2026 expenditure report; to provide details of the items and if they will continue to be funded; the level to which they will be funded in Budget 2026; and if this is classified as new measure or contained in ELS. [56200/25]
View answer215. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation to provide a breakdown of the allocation for new measures in Budget 2026, by heading (a,b,c etc). [56218/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 212, 213, 214 and 215 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.
The starting point for Budget 2026 is based on inclusion of additional 2025 funding set out in the Summer Economic Statement, less temporary funding from the 2025 contingency reserve. This primarily relates to funding for supporting arrivals from Ukraine.
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.
