Oireachtas committee to scrutinise upcoming budget 2027 plans

The Committee on Budgetary Oversight will convene this evening, 23 September, to conduct a rigorous pre-budget examination with Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris, alongside Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation Jack Chambers. The session is scheduled to commence at 6.30 pm in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House, serving as a critical step in the lead-up to the formal unveiling of Budget 2027 on 6 October.

This meeting represents the third major engagement for the committee, following earlier consultations with key economic bodies such as the ESRI, the Nevin Economic Research Institute, and the Central Bank of Ireland. These discussions are instrumental in shaping the committee's forthcoming report, which will offer detailed analysis and recommendations regarding the government's fiscal strategy and the proposed eight-point-five billion euro budgetary package.

Cathaoirleach Deputy Richard O’Donoghue emphasised that the meeting provides an essential platform to test the assumptions behind the seven billion euro in public spending and one point five billion euro in taxation measures. The committee intends to probe various pressing concerns, including cost-of-living supports, long-term demographic shifts, and the maintenance of fiscal sustainability. Interested parties can follow the proceedings live via the official Oireachtas website or the dedicated mobile application.