The financial burden of hosting the European Union Presidency has reached €75.2 million for the Irish government as of the end of August. This figure was disclosed to the Dáil, reflecting the expenses incurred over the six-month duration of the presidency.
The Department of Justice, Home Affairs, and Migration accounted for the largest share of the expenditure, spending €26.3 million. This was primarily due to increased policing and security measures. Following closely, the Department of Foreign Affairs incurred costs of €20.3 million, while the Office of Public Works reported spending €19.6 million.
In anticipation of the presidency, the government had earmarked €300 million in the 2026 Estimates to manage the overall hosting costs. Additionally, An Garda Síochána received an extra €125 million allocation for security and related duties during this period.
Throughout Ireland’s EU Presidency, approximately 250 events are scheduled, including ministerial meetings and gatherings of European leaders. These events contribute significantly to the overall expenses. The final tally of costs, however, is not expected until 2027, once all events have concluded and outstanding payments have been settled.