The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has warned Cabinet colleagues that spending related to Covid-19 is temporary and must soon be wound down.
Michael McGrath is understood to have emphasised that this expenditure is one-off in nature and will not form part of the base figures in future budgets.
A memo from the minister went to Cabinet today that showed pandemic spending will top €30 billion over a 22-month period to the end of this year.
Mr McGrath made his comments after Cabinet approved an extra €105 million to provide for the safe return of students to places of higher education next autumn.
Minister for Further and Higher Education Simon Harris said this would include an extra €3m for student mental health, €10m for the Student Assistance Fund and €8m to support disadvantaged learners.
Mr McGrath is also set to soon publish spending review papers in areas such as health, enterprise and education.
