Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 18 September 2025

Committee on Budgetary Oversight

Pre-Budget Engagement

2:00 am

Photo of Mairéad FarrellMairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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I am under a bit of time pressure because I have an interview at 12 noon. I thank the witnesses for coming to the committee. It is always interesting when the ESRI and IFAC are here. I would like to use my time to understand a few things. We have heard a lot in the media - it was mentioned in IFAC's opening statement and report - about the idea that the Government budgeted for a €3 billion increase in spending on budget day but this figure is likely to be €7.6 billion. IFAC outlined where some of that growth is. How much of that was due to new decisions made by the Cabinet? How much was overspend or miscalculation?