Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
295. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform the full cost of the referendums held on 8 March 2024; and the breakdown of those costs. [12677/24]
View answerThe deadline for Returning Officers to submit all of their costs to my Department is six months after the referendums are held, so final figures for the cost of the referendums held on 8 March will not be available until then. However, it is estimated that the costs over which my Department has oversight will be approximately €21 million, broken down as follows:
• €17 million in payments to Returning Officers to facilitate the running of the referendums
• €3.5 million to An Post to cover the postal costs associated with the referendums
• €400,000 of smaller payments to the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage and the Office of Public Works.
Costs incurred by the Electoral Commission are a matter for the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
