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What's the latest on the Apple Tax? All (or most) will be revealed next week

On Tuesday, the government is expected to publish its review of infrastructural spending for the coming years.

EARLIER THIS WEEK, the Department of Finance published financial statements for the escrow account that was being used to hold the Apple Tax money.

The account was closed in May of this year, with a total sum of almost €14.25b transferred to the exchequer.

Apple had originally transferred €14.3b to the account in 2018 ahead of its appeal against the European Commission decision, which found that the company owed Ireland €13.1b plus interest of €1.2b.

So what happens now?

You may be thinking, ‘We haven’t heard about this money in a while, what’s the government’s plan for it?’

A lot will be revealed next week when the Department of Public Expenditure publishes its review of the National Development Plan for 2026-2035.

This plan sets out the government’s scheme to build infrastructure over the coming years, including things like rail, roads, electricity connections and sewage schemes.

Next week, the publication of the review will set out how some of the €14b in Apple Tax will be spent.

It will also set out spending plans for the proceeds from the sale of AIB shares, and money from other State funds, including the Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund.

The government has previously said that Apple money will be used to invest in our stock of critical infrastructure — housing, energy, water and transport – instead of paying for day-to-day spending.

But other than that, we haven’t been told much more about what exactly the money will be used for. 

Ahead of last year’s general election, all parties outlined their ideas for how the money should be spent, with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael differing slightly in how they would split it. 

Fianna Fáil pledged to focus on five key infrastructure areas – housing, the electricity grid, water infrastructure, transport and health digitalisation, while Fine Gael promised to allocate €10b for housing and €4b on energy, water and transport.

Given that it’s Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin who holds the Taoiseach’s office at the moment, we can expect to see the actual spending skew towards his party’s priorities. 

Specifically, Fianna Fáil wanted to see €4b of the money allocated to the Land Development Agency (LDA) to build housing. 

Fine Gael wanted to use the money they had ringfenced for housing to extend the first-time buyer supports, including increasing the Help to Buy grant from €30,000 to €40,000 — something we already know has not made its way into the Programme for Government. 

A Fine Gael source pushed back on the notion that it will be Fianna Fáil in the driving seat, insisting that final decisions on spending have not yet been agreed.

It’s understood that government leaders are set to meet with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Public Expenditure Minister Jack Chambers over the weekend to flesh out the final plan on how the NDP cookie will crumble. 

So for now, we wait. 

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    Mute ecrowley ecrowley
    Favourite ecrowley ecrowley
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    Jul 19th 2025, 7:48 AM

    Please FFG, do not make a colossal hames of this one-off windfall. One or two major things could be fixed for the next 50 years if it’s used wisely.

    85
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    Mute Nigel Hayden
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    Jul 19th 2025, 8:34 AM

    @ecrowley ecrowley: wouldn’t hold my breath

    66
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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 19th 2025, 8:51 AM

    @ecrowley ecrowley: They haven’t considered the next 50 year yet. Occupied Territories bill, etc. etc. Too busy.

    28
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    Mute Thomas Meaney
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    Jul 19th 2025, 9:02 AM

    @ecrowley ecrowley: FFG are only interested in the here and the now. Making themselves look good, buying the next election. They can’t see past their noses as history has shown. That’s why we don’t have the infrastructure, we don’t have the housing, the HSE is an efficient monster. Ireland is run off greed. How many of this governments friends are waiting in the wings ready to bleed the windfall money account dry.

    32
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    Mute D Farrell
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    Jul 19th 2025, 10:08 AM

    @ecrowley ecrowley: A soverign wealth fund (rainy day fund) has been set up by Pascal Donoghue, and about €26 Billion is in it. So, any windfall taxes and surpluses are set aside for the 2030′s and beyond.

    3
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    Mute Dave McFitz
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    Jul 19th 2025, 10:17 AM

    @ecrowley ecrowley: are you off your meds. Fffg get something right, that will be a first.

    9
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    Mute Shaun Gallagher
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    Jul 19th 2025, 11:38 AM

    @ecrowley ecrowley: It’s already gone with climate fines

    6
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    Mute giles wolohan
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    Jul 19th 2025, 3:45 PM

    @ecrowley ecrowley: please god

    1
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    Mute Jack
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    Jul 19th 2025, 3:57 PM

    @Thomas Meaney: they’re not doing very well and making themselves look good part. They are an absolute hames and a disgrace to the people of this country.

    4
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    Mute Mags G
    Favourite Mags G
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    Jul 19th 2025, 9:44 PM

    @ecrowley ecrowley: of course they are going to make a hames of it.

    1
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    Mute BL Music
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    Sun 11:14 AM

    @ecrowley ecrowley: this would barely pay the interest on our €260 billion debt . Put it in perspective.. it is pittance

    1
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    Mute PhiBo
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    Jul 19th 2025, 8:12 AM

    That’s the final figure from BAM for the Children’s Hospital.

    62
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    Mute Mags G
    Favourite Mags G
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    Jul 19th 2025, 9:45 PM

    @PhiBo: you are not wrong.

    1
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    Mute Lei tatt
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    Sun 10:29 AM

    @PhiBo: dont forget TD’s wage increase and seat number increase for super junior TD’s

    4
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    Mute 087 bed
    Favourite 087 bed
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    Jul 19th 2025, 7:50 AM

    Lots of plans to do things but no real action, that’s FFG/EU record in government always a report away from taking action.

    54
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    Mute Lewis Armstrong
    Favourite Lewis Armstrong
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    Jul 19th 2025, 8:18 AM

    How much have they spent on consultants and legal advisors to try to craft a policy which gives the money back to Apple via grants, rebates etc?

    47
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    Mute Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
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    Jul 19th 2025, 6:18 PM

    @Lewis Armstrong: it will sort TFI and Irish Water salaries and bonuses for the next decade.

    10
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    Mute Peeta Griffin
    Favourite Peeta Griffin
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    Jul 19th 2025, 11:49 AM

    It’s time to scrap the USC “Temporary tax” that has deducted €450million per year for 17 years from tax payers.
    Insultingly it was to rescue banks and bond holders!
    Government has removed pay cap of €500k per annum and said banks are saved now and making Billions again.
    So what’s the delay in scrapping this unethical tax???
    Simon Harris?
    Paschal Donohue?
    Micheal Martin?
    Anyone????

    30
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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Jul 19th 2025, 12:34 PM

    @Peeta Griffin: It’s like the M50, motorists will be paying for it for eternity.

    23
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    Mute John Purcell
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    Jul 19th 2025, 10:02 PM

    @Peeta Griffin: this is now part of the normal tax take and can’t be replaced. U want services u need tax

    1
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    Mute Michael Heelan
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    Jul 19th 2025, 8:17 AM

    Could it not be used towards paying off the national debt

    28
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    Mute Lewis Armstrong
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    Jul 19th 2025, 8:19 AM

    @Michael Heelan: the debt we owe to ourselves? It is not a “debt” in the sense of you and I having a debt; it is a mirage of debt and to pay it off is to essentially light your cash on fire such is the waste of the endeavour.

    25
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    Mute Niall O'Connell
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    Jul 19th 2025, 9:10 AM

    @Tarquin Donovan: I think you are the one that is clueless. The national debt is fairly high but it is quite manageable as alot of it was able to be refinanced with low borrowing costs and long term maturity profiles. Infrastructure on the other hand is way more urgent, especially with the growing population and the fact that Ireland’s infrastucture lags behind the rest of Europe. Also investing in things like public transport and housing will actually generate economic returns, whereas paying using the money to pay off the debt will just result in a slightly lower debt figure with no real benefit to the citizens.

    13
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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 19th 2025, 8:53 AM

    I know this will come across as madness to a politician, but perhaps build something useful in infrastructure for the people that live here.

    28
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    Mute thomas molloy
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    Jul 19th 2025, 10:16 AM

    @Thesaltyurchin: Reestablish industries like the sugar production company in Ireland and low cost industrial facilities so that employment can be brought back to Ireland which will create thousands of jobs. Increase employment not welfare dependency as more money to spend on imports solves nothing.

    22
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    Mute Thesaltyurchin
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    Jul 19th 2025, 10:53 AM

    @thomas molloy: agreed, a terrible idea by ‘Greencore, facilitated by Irish government and EU’

    13
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    Mute j m m
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    Jul 19th 2025, 7:58 AM

    Simon: wait, am I teashock?
    Michael: no, I am currently, simon.
    Simon: michael, I let bam take the complete píśś over on scr, I flipping signed off on anything & everything!
    Michael: it’s grand Simon, we’ll let them at it, the apple will reimburse all that.
    Joe soap: when will this apple make an impact for me lads?
    Michael & Simon: …ermm.

    24
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    Mute kevin rock
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    Jul 19th 2025, 8:21 AM

    @Tarquin Donovan: childlike comment…no one understands.
    Jack knife , in your sweaty hands

    21
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    Mute Jack Moss
    Favourite Jack Moss
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    Jul 19th 2025, 8:25 AM

    It should be giving to the people as a cash lump sum to go spend as they want . The money is going to go into the economy anyway .

    15
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    Mute r k
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    Jul 19th 2025, 10:45 AM

    They can give it to the few lads that own the ipas buildings.

    14
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    Mute jn
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    Jul 19th 2025, 12:03 PM

    ipas centers and modular homes for non Irish in Ireland modular home cost 439000 plus expenses of running place ipss centers cost millions to run all for free for visitors

    14
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    Mute JSH 1973
    Favourite JSH 1973
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    Jul 19th 2025, 10:09 AM

    maybe they could spend something like 2.5 to 4% of it fixing the homeless problem

    10
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    Mute Gerry Kelly
    Favourite Gerry Kelly
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    Jul 19th 2025, 11:22 AM

    A pay rise for the civil service
    And the long term unemployed
    It’s all about priorities – and who shouts loudest

    7
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    Mute Ailbhe MacThomais
    Favourite Ailbhe MacThomais
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    Jul 19th 2025, 2:47 PM

    Look at bike & Security sheds,Children’s hospital to show the money

    6
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    Mute Ann Nugent
    Favourite Ann Nugent
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    Jul 19th 2025, 5:44 PM

    Why is property tax going up. so?

    5
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    Mute Paddy Ryan
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    Jul 19th 2025, 10:45 AM

    Give it to me.

    5
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    Mute Jimmy Kiely
    Favourite Jimmy Kiely
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    Jul 19th 2025, 2:39 PM

    I was thinking why not give to the OPW to build a few more bike sheds, Oh no don’t they would spend more than the €14.25 billion on them, and we as tax payers would have to pick up the over spend again.

    4
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    Mute Jp Cleary
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    Jul 19th 2025, 9:55 PM

    Please don’t ever forget how hard our erected representatives fought tooth and nail with taxpayers money to not take this windfall. And cheered on by their fanboys telling us we’d have to give it all away to other countries.

    3
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    Mute Mags G
    Favourite Mags G
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    Jul 19th 2025, 9:43 PM

    We will need a lot more than the Apple Tax billion to solve the problems this country has, in terms of housing, health, infrastructure, water etc. sure the Apple Tax alone will only be enough to fill a few brown envelopes.

    2
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    Mute Derek Poutch
    Favourite Derek Poutch
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    Jul 19th 2025, 8:10 PM

    I seem to remember that the government and the media telling us that this money was never going to be ours. In that case that’s 14 billion that they never would have budgeted for. They will never have a better chance to do something good for the IRISH people but I won’t be holding my breath.

    2
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    Mute Mick Cullen
    Favourite Mick Cullen
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    Jul 19th 2025, 3:33 PM

    Build IPA centers with it

    1
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    Mute BJ Próvaí formerly Child of Drague
    Favourite BJ Próvaí formerly Child of Drague
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    Jul 19th 2025, 12:52 PM

    Una Healy robbed again.

    1
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