The Gathering has cost taxpayer €13m so far

The Gathering has cost the taxpayer €13m over the past two years and there are no figures as to how much revenue the event has generated.

Transport and Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar insists the return will be “a multiple” of the €13m.

As the event enters its final months, Mr Varadkar described the Gathering as a success and said the Government was on course to meeting its target of attracting 325,000 extra visitors to Ireland.