As the Deputy is aware, they were the spring cost-of-living package, a Christmas bonus, Covid-19 related spending pressures, the cost of humanitarian supports to Ukrainian refugees and additional in-year commitments. These developments were partially offset by savings on both core expenditure within Votes and the use of unallocated contingency funding held back in the REV of 2023.

As outlined in the stability programme update, this year the Government is providing funding of €97 billion across the public service to protect living standards, improve public services and safeguard our future through enhanced capital investment. I continue to engage with all Departments and their Ministers to ensure that spending for the year is in line with what we expected and forecast on budget day.

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