Extra funds for Áras and Taoiseach’s staff left out of speech

MEASURES including €4.4m for running Áras an Uachtaráin, €1m extra for the Taoiseach’s staff, and €12m for abortion were not mentioned in the main Budget speech.

However, buried in the minister’s Budget Expenditure Report is a series of other spending decisions. For instance, the budget for the Office of the President will increase slightly, with the estimated cost of running Áras an Uachtaráin set at €4.4m for 2019, an increase of more than €100,000 a year.

The majority of this additional funding will go towards the centenarians’ bounty, paid to people who reach 100 years old. The rest of the increase is going towards salaries and allowances.

Mr Donohoe also budgeted an extra €1m for salaries, wages and allowances in the Department of the Taoiseach. Office premises expenses for the Taoiseach’s office are also due to cost an additional €50,000 next year.

Meanwhile, the Secret Service has seen its budget increase by 25pc as global threats to State security increase. The country’s mysterious spy agency will see its annual budget rise to €1.25m.

Health Minister Simon Harris has received €12m for the introduction of abortion services following the referendum on the Eighth Amendment.

Mr Donohoe has budgeted €13.5m for the introduction of tighter customs controls on the country’s borders in the case of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit.

The funding will go towards hiring 270 custom officials along with paying for new infrastructure and IT systems for airports and ports.