Bord Gáis retention ‘will not hit budget’

A decision to refrain from selling the retail arm of Bord Gáis will not affect budget plans for 2014, which will instead be supplemented by the sale of assets belonging to the ESB, the Department of Finance has said.

Energy Minister Pat Rabbitte yesterday said the sale of the energy unit of Bord Gáis will be put on hold as the bids received were not good enough.

Up to €110m is pencilled into budget spending measures next year through the specific sale of state assets.