Covid spending to top €30 billion by end of year
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Michael McGrath will tell his Government colleagues this morning that Covid spending over a 22 month period to the end of this year will top €30 billion.
Minister McGrath will update the Cabinet on government spending ahead of the publication of the Mid-Year Expenditure Report.
It is understood that he will set out the scale of the total Covid-related spending since the beginning of the pandemic.
He is likely to focus on what he views as the importance of winding down temporary Covid expenditure as the economy re-opens.
The minister is also set to soon publish spending review papers in areas such as health, enterprise and education.
But there will be a spending request at Cabinet from Minister for Higher and Further Education Simon Harris, who will seek Government approval for a €100m financial package to ensure higher education can return to campus in the autumn.
This will include an extra €3m for student mental health, €10m for the Student Assistance Fund and €8m to support disadvantaged learners.
Additional reporting: Sandra Hurley
Article Source – Covid spending to top €30 billion by end of year – RTE – Mícheál Lehane