Troubles over but border duty costs taxpayer €3.6m

ANOTHER €3.6m in border duty allowances has been paid out to Irish soldiers so far this year, despite the State’s spending watchdog stating that justification for the extra payment has “long ceased”.

The allowance was introduced in 1971 to reflect the arduous nature of border duty during the Troubles.

In his 2007 report, published last month, the Comptroller and Auditor General criticised the fact that the allowance was still being paid even though the violence has ended in the North.