The government has been accused of spending money like it's confetti when it comes to big projects.

Fianna Fáil's called on the Fiscal Advisory Council to examine the budget in the wake of the National Broadband Plan and Children's Hospital announcements.

Opposition politicians have said the broadband plan and how it's being funded is consistently coming up on the doors as they canvass for the local and European elections.

Fianna Fáil's finance spokesman, Michael McGrath, has called on the Fiscal Advisory Council, the state's spending watchdog, to have a look at the budget.

Sinn Féin's finance spokesman, Pearse Doherty, says it's a throwback to the Charlie McCreevy days of Fianna Fáil

He said: "When you hear a minister and you hear a taoiseach saying: 'It's OK; don't worry; don't look here folks. An extra €2.5 billion on broadband plans, that's OK. An extra €1 billion on the National Children's Hospital, that's OK'.

"This is a throwback to the McCreevy time when money was being squandered in that way."

Fine Gael TD Noel Rock has hit out at opposition parties criticising the government's plans.

"What we have seen from Fianna Fáil again is a version double-speak, where they kind of agree with the plan and the principle," he said.

"But one person has a plan; another person has a plan. In fact, Fianna Fáil has five different plans.

"I don't know if the Department of Public Expenditure would agree with any of their plans because they won't settle on a single one."