Department of Finance spent estimated €16,500 on printing operation for Budget 2023

The Department of Finance estimates it spent over €16,500 on its printing operation for Budget 2023.

Budget 2023 was published on September 27, and both the Department of Finance and Department of Public Expenditure and Reform produced printed documents to prepare for it.

Figures obtained by Radio Kerry indicate the Department’s largest expenditure in relation to printing Budget 2023 documents was on overtime for staff who assisted with printing.

Radio Kerry asked the Department of Finance for figures on how much it spent printing Budget 2023 documents and how much it spent other costs, such as staffing and maintenance, in response.

The Department claims that the main source of printed material is its in-house printer, and the majority of documents are printed by Budget Day.

Printing of Budget 2023 documents itself comes in at over €3,100.

This includes 500 copies each of the Department’s tax policy changes, economic and fiscal outlook, and 500 copies of the Expenditure Report by the Department of Public Expenditure.

The Department of Finance printed 450 copies of Paschal Donohue’s speeches and Michael McGrath’s Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform speeches.

293 copies of the White Paper, 73 copies of An Páipéar Bán as Gaeilge, and 80 copies of the Department’s Extra Financial Resolutions, were also printed for the day.

Other costs incurred by the Department include over €2,500 to rent an extra printer, and over €4,300 for on-site technical and machine maintenance support.

This maintenance support continues from early morning on Budget Day until late afternoon, to ensure that the Budget documents are produced continuously.

According to the Department, some staff help with printing on Budget Day. However, this is often outside of business hours. Therefore, overtime must be paid.

This overtime also includes attendance by Print Room staff the preceding weekend, and in total cost the Department over €6,100 gross pay.

The Department said it cannot break down energy costs specifically for printing, but estimates them to be somewhere in the region of €27.

The Department of Finance said its estimated costs do not include the printing of the Budget 2023 folders, or the citizen’s guide to the budget, which are both the responsibility of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.