[rsynnott]

> All of that money was thrown into the welfare pit.

Largely bailing out the banks, actually. Debt fell to practically nothing prior to the financial crisis, then leapt up, and has been kinda flat ever since. So, I mean, arguably welfare for the rich? We were arguably over-generous with the banks.

> What does Ireland has to show for such a large government employees. Health service is in tatters, so is housing.

Again, that is because we _don't actually spend very much on it_, to a large extent. As I said, I think we should be spending more, particularly on building housing.

I'm a bit confused; what sort of changes do you want to see? Cuts to the dole? That wouldn't make any significant difference to the state's finances. Cuts to pensions (the bulk of social welfare)? I mean, good luck with that; no politician is going to run on a policy of annoying old people.

[negamax]

Please visit https://whereyourmoneygoes.gov.ie/en/

Welfare dependency in Ireland is of another level. 4% figure is cooked by engaging people into government skill programs

[rsynnott]

So, the biggest items under social protection:

* Pension (10.69bn) - Can't touch this

* Illness, disability, and carers (5.6bn) - This is also largely old people; a lot of it should arguably come out of the health budget

* Working age income supports (4.11bn) - This is programmes for low-income working people.

Way down the bottom: "Working age employment supports", at 655mn. That's the dole. It is comparatively nothing.

Again, what specific changes do you think should be made? How would they be beneficial?

[SamoyedFurFluff]

Isn’t the debt then also cooked because the majority was from a government provided bailout program for the banks?