Ireland spends most on unemployment in eu

While Irish government spending is one of the lowest in the EU, Ireland spends double the EU average on unemployment, as a percentage of government expenditure, according to figures released by Eurostat today.

At 39%, Ireland had the fifth lowest government expenditure as a percentage of GDP out of 28 EU Member States, behind Lithuania and Romania (both 34.9%), Latvia (36.9%), Estonia (38.8%).

The EU average government expenditure as a percentage of GDP in 2014 was 48.1%. Finland (58.7%), France (57.2%) and Denmark (57.0%) recorded the highest government expenditure as a percentage of GDP in 2014.

Government expenditure on unemployment was highest in Ireland (7.6% of total general government expenditure) in 2014, and more than double the EU average spend (3.2%).

The next highest spend on unemployment was found in Spain (6.7%), Denmark (5.9%), Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands (all 4.3%).

Ireland’s spend on health as a percentage of government expenditure (17.4%) is above the EU average (14.8%) and is behind only the Netherlands (17.7%) in terms of government expenditure in this area.

Expenditure on old age in Ireland (10.2%) is less than half the EU average (21.4%) and is the lowest in the EU.

Elsewhere, government spending in Ireland was broadly in line with EU averages, apart from defence, where Ireland’s spend represented about one third of the EU average.

The other categories covered are: Economic affairs, Public order and safety, Environmental protection, housing and community amenities, culture, recreation and religion, and education.