Tobacco fee for retailers to cost 10 times more

Retailers will be forced to pay significantly higher fees if they want to keep selling tobacco products under anti-smoking measures set to be revealed today.

The Irish Examiner has learned that, as part of budget 2014, Finance Minister Michael Noonan will tell shop owners they face a tenfold licence fee rise from next year in order to sell cigarettes and tobacco.

The rate, which will see the annual cost surge from €50 to €500, is expected to bring in at least €5m in extra funding ring-fenced for the health service.