Minister McGrath publishes the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2023

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, today (Wednesday) published the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2023 (REV).

The REV is a key milestone in the annual budgetary calendar and provides valuable information on the €91.1 billion worth of expenditure for 2023. It follows on from the 2023 Budget Estimates, set out in the Expenditure Report 2023 published on Budget Day, 26th September 2022. The Rev sets out any changes and a more detailed breakdown of expenditure across all the government departments.

The REV also includes key performance information, including financial and human resources, outputs and public service activities, as well as performance and impact indicators. This demonstrates what is being delivered with public funds. A number of departments also include indicators relating to equality objectives.

The total Government Expenditure Ceiling published on Budget Day was €90,415 million. The ceiling will increase by €685 million to €91,100 million, as part of REV 2023. This primarily relates to funding for the Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) – an important new temporary scheme to support businesses with increases in their electricity or natural gas (energy) costs.

There are a number of adjustments required including the reallocation of funding following policy developments and updated information:

funding was set aside at Budget time for the 2023 costs of the proposed extension to the Building Momentum public sector pay agreement. €1.3 billion is now allocated to departments, alongside other minor department adjustments, following ratification of the agreement in October
Budget 2023 set out non-core funding to support the government’s ongoing response to a series of external shocks including the ongoing impact of COVID-19 pandemic, Brexit and humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine. Based on the latest available information, €4 billion has been provided to individual departments to respond to these challenges
€20 million to be allocated to departments from the Shared Island Fund
€13 million to be allocated to departments from the National Development Programme (NDP) Priority Reserve
€56 million to be allocated to departments from the European Regional Development Funding

The REV was presented to the Dáil today and has been referred by the Dáil to the Select Committees for consideration.

Minister McGrath commented:

“The publication of the Revised Estimates provides over €91 Billion to support our public services and economy in 2023. This represents an increase of over €3.5 billion compared to 2022.

"This additional expenditure is investing in day-to-day public services and supporting our public service workforce in areas such as Education, Healthcare, Childcare and Social Protection. Capital investment levels continue to increase reflecting the government's commitments in Housing, Transport and Climate Action.

"The breadth of information set out in this document illustrates the outputs and outcomes delivered through this significant level of investment in public services. In particular, the Performance and Equality Budget metrics highlight the progress we are making in these key policy areas."