Ireland has incurred €75.2 million in expenses for its six-month tenure holding the European Union Presidency, as reported to the Dáil. This figure accounts for costs up until the end of August, reflecting significant expenditures across various departments involved in the Presidency’s operations.

The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration led the spending with €26.3 million, primarily due to the heightened need for policing and security measures. Following closely, the Department of Foreign Affairs recorded expenditures of €20.3 million, while the Office of Public Works spent €19.6 million to facilitate the Presidency’s demands.

Initially, the Irish government had earmarked €300 million in the 2026 Estimates to cover the comprehensive expenses associated with hosting the EU Presidency. Furthermore, an extra €125 million was allocated to An Garda Síochána, the national police service, to address security and related responsibilities during this period.

The EU Presidency involves the organization of approximately 250 events, including major ministerial meetings and summits of European leaders. The complete financial impact of these activities will not be fully known until 2027, as the final costs will be determined after all events conclude and outstanding bills are settled.