?Paschal Donohoe’s €6bn-a-year piggy banks can’t hide splurge in public spending
Minister shrugs off concerns that expenditure targets could he breached again this year
Michael McGrath and Paschal Donohoe
The annual increase in expenditure by government departments in the first quarter was up 14.9pc, “well above the anticipated growth rates based on the budgetary parameters”, according to a note buried at the bottom of page 25 of the Stability Programme Update published yesterday.
Current expenditure is up almost 13pc, while capital expenditure is up 45.5pc, year on year. These figures reflect increased investment in public services, the report prepared by the Department of Finance says.
