€58bn spent delivering public services last year

€58bn was spent on delivering public services last year, up from €51.8bn in 2016.

The figures are contained in the second-ever report on the performance of the public service, which details what was delivered, in terms of outcomes, across a range of government departments and public bodies.

In 2017, there were 317,500 public servants, delivering a range of services across hundreds of organisations. Public service numbers had fallen consistently up to 2013. However, since 2014, numbers have been increasing.