Government urged to clarify 'virtually unprecedented' supplementary estimates 

Cabinet agreed to an additional €4.4bn to be spent across multiple departments

Overspend will include €722m for the Department of Social Protection for once-off cost-of-living measures. Picture: Larry Cummins

The Government has been urged to give "absolute clarity" on the additional €4.4bn being splashed out to pay for overspending across multiple departments this year.

The previous expenditure ceiling for 2022 was €87.6bn but will now increase to €90bn, under a proposal by Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath that was approved by Cabinet on Tuesday.