Ireland’s Upcoming EU Presidency Set to Cost Over €400 Million Official Figures Released

Ireland’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026 is expected to cost the State in excess of €400 million, according to official figures. Budget 2026 has allocated €282 million to support the six month presidency, with a further €125 million earmarked for Garda security operations and €11.7 million set aside for Office of Public Works upgrades to key State venues. The significant expenditure reflects the scale of security, logistics and infrastructure required to host dozens of EU summits and high level diplomatic meetings, but has already prompted scrutiny over value for money and priorities amid ongoing pressures on public services.