The new Public Expenditure Minister has said that the Programme for Government is costed and he will only agree to proposals that make sense for the country.

Paschal Donohoe denied it was a populist document that promised a lot that could not be delivered.

Opposition parties have criticised the programme saying many of the measures are aspirational rather than practical.

However, Minister Paschal Donohoe says the cost of measures introduced by new Ministers will be examined closely before the budget:

“We have an estimate overall that this plan will cost the Exchequer €6.7bn to €6.8bn,” he said.

“Every line Minister will have to come to me with the individual cost for a particular proposal if they want it included in their Budget, and I and the Government will only agree to proposals if they make sense for the taxpayer and if they deliver good things for our society and our country.”