Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

The way we approached budget 2026 was to look at the demand drivers in terms of expenditure. From a social protection perspective, for example, we looked at additional recipients. Trying to provide adequacy and headroom has been critical. It is similar to the growth in health expenditure, which is continuing. We have accounted for the demographic changes that are happening in the overall budgetary context that we agreed.

Part of what we set out this year in the Supplementary Estimates involved additional demands from a disability perspective. There is a 20% increase in disability funding for next year. We have tried to use the look-back exercise to inform the trade-offs and choices we have made. Many of the budgetary decisions we made for next year were about stabilising the base position of Departments where demand has been clear. That will inform the broader budgetary planning in the medium-term fiscal framework, which has to see more moderation of overall expenditure and expenditure much closer to what is budgeted for. That was the priority in the discussions we had prior to budget 2026.