Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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269. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide a breakdown of the additional expenditure incurred by the State for 2020, 2021, 2022, and to date in 2023 due to the occurrence of the Covid-19 pandemic, including that on employment and business supports and reliefs, testing and vaccine provision, PPE, and any other substantial expenditure during this period, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11211/23]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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Substantial resources have been allocated since the beginning of the pandemic to mitigate the impacts of Covid-19 pandemic on our citizens and our economy with an estimated €34.7 billion spent by Departments on direct expenditure supports over the period 2020 to 2022. An overview of approximate allocations to Departments is outlined in the table below. For 2023 €1.5 billion has been allocated to Departments, as part of Revised Estimates 2023, for this continued response. This expenditure will be monitored over the course of the year.

This funding has been critical in supporting citizens and businesses impacted by the pandemic and providing the necessary funding to allow our key public services respond effectively to the crisis. Supports provided include:

- income and employment support schemes through the Department of Social Protection, such as the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), that supported business and workers;

- additional funding to the Department of Health to enable the health service respond to the pandemic, including our vaccination programme, test and trace, and the purchase of necessary personal protective equipment;

- funding for the Education sector, including to allow for the safe reopening of schools, colleges and universities and for additional training places;

- transport measures including supporting the operation of our public transport system given reduced usage and Covid-19 related aviation measures;

- supports for businesses including liquidity supports and restart grants and the commercial rates waivers to businesses;

- a range of supports for sectors such as arts, tourism and sports.