As financial advisors, we spend our days helping clients make smart, intentional choices with their money. But when it comes to the State’s finances, that same discipline often seems absent. In 2024, the Irish government were set to spend over €96 billion—a staggering figure that touches every part of our lives, from housing and health to transport and pensions. Yet buried beneath the headlines and political spin are billion-euro line items, chronic cost overruns, and questionable priorities that deserve scrutiny. Are we truly getting value for money? Or is the national budget quietly bleeding cash through inefficiencies, delays, and oversights? This breakdown explores where taxpayer money is going—and where it might be going to waste.
The Irish government’s 2024 budget outlined substantial allocations across various sectors. Below is a detailed breakdown of key expenditures, highlighting specific initiatives and public concerns regarding potential mismanagement or inefficiencies.
Social Protection (€25.6 billion)
- Pensions and Supports: Funding for state pensions, disability allowances, and unemployment benefits.
- Child Benefit: Monthly payments to support families with children.
- Public Concerns: While these programs are essential, there have been discussions about the adequacy of payments relative to the cost of living, though specific instances of waste have not been prominently highlighted.
Health (€22.8 billion)
- Hospital Services: Investment in public hospitals, including staffing and equipment.
- Primary Care: Funding for general practitioners and community health services.
- Mental Health Services: Allocations for mental health support and facilities.
- Public Concerns: The National Children’s Hospital project has drawn criticism for its escalating costs, reaching approximately €2.5 billion, leading to debates about financial oversight in large-scale health projects.
Housing (€7.0 billion)
- Social Housing: Construction and maintenance of public housing units.
- Affordable Housing Schemes: Initiatives to assist first-time buyers and low-income families.
- Homelessness Services: Support for shelters and rehabilitation programs.
- Public Concerns: Despite significant investment, the housing crisis persists, with rising homelessness and unaffordable rents, leading to questions about the effectiveness of spending.
Education (€10.9 billion)
- Primary and Secondary Education: Teacher salaries, school infrastructure, and educational materials.
- Higher Education: Funding for universities and student support services.
- Special Education Needs: Resources for students requiring additional support.
- Public Concerns: While investments are substantial, there are ongoing debates about resource allocation, particularly regarding class sizes and support for special education, though specific wasteful expenditures are not prominently cited.
Transport (€3.6 billion)
- Public Transport Projects: Funding for BusConnects, MetroLink, and the Connecting Ireland programme.
- Infrastructure Maintenance: Upkeep of national, regional, and local roads.
- Sustainable Transport: Investment in cycling and walking infrastructure, including the expansion of greenways.
- Public Concerns: The construction of a bicycle shed outside Leinster House costing €336,000, including €45,000 on granite paving, has been criticized as an example of excessive spending.
Justice (€3.6 billion)
- An Garda Síochána: Recruitment of up to 1,000 new Gardaí and 250 additional staff.
- Community Safety Initiatives: Establishment of Community Safety Partnerships nationwide.
- Legal Aid: Funding to support the Legal Aid Board and criminal legal aid schemes.
- Public Concerns: While the focus is on enhancing public safety, there have been discussions about the efficiency of resource utilization within the justice system, though specific instances of waste are less prominently reported.
Debt Servicing and EU Payments (€12.6 billion)
- National Debt Interest: Payments on interest for the national debt.
- EU Contributions: Ireland’s financial commitments to the European Union.
- Public Concerns: The substantial amount allocated to debt servicing underscores the importance of prudent fiscal management to reduce long-term liabilities.
Additional Departments (€22.8 billion)
- Various Ministries: Funding for departments such as Agriculture, Tourism, and Foreign Affairs.
- Public Concerns: Specific instances of waste within these allocations are less documented, but overall transparency and accountability in spending remain areas of public interest.
While the 2024 budget reflected the government’s commitment to various sectors, public scrutiny has highlighted concerns about certain expenditures. Instances like the overruns in the National Children’s Hospital project and the costly bicycle shed at Leinster House serve as reminders of the need for diligent financial oversight to ensure efficient use of public funds.