Hosting the EU Presidency in 2004 cost the Department of Foreign Affairs over €32 million, €9 million of which went on salaries and allowances for extra staff.
The figures revealed in the Comptroller and Auditor General report for 2004 show the hosting of the Presidency cost the Department €10.7 million in 2003 and €21.4 million in 2004.
The other main expenditures were travel and subsistence costs which amounted to €3.6 million and information technology costs which totalled over €4 million .
The C&AG John Purcell said the 2004 Presidency posed "new and demanding challenges" in comparison with the previous one held in Ireland in 1996.
He said the progression of ten States from observer to full membership of the EU during the Presidency required the provision of logistical support for 25 member states and three observer states, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey.
The negotiation of private sector sponsorship and significant advances in information and communications technology since 1996 also posed challenges, he said.