The projected cost of €15 million to the taxpayer for the staging of the upcoming marriage equality and qualifying age for the presidency referendums, will bring the amount the State has spent on referendums since 2001 to more than €133 million.

That is according to the Minister for Public Expenditure, Brendan Howlin who confirmed that between June 2001 and October 2013, the State spent €118.6 million on 14 referendums.

The Minister said the estimated cost for the forthcoming referendums was €15 million – bringing the total to €133.6 million.

He said “the costs of holding referendums, while significant have been reduced since 2008”.

The most expensive referendum was on the first Lisbon treaty, costing €22.7million, and the second Lisbon treaty, costing €17.5 million.

The referendum to abolish the Seanad and establish the court of appeal cost €14.4 million in 2013.

The Children’s Referendum in 2012 cost €12.8 million.