#Budget18: Varadkar's new communications unit will cost the public €5m

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's claims his controversial strategic communications unit will cost the public nothing have been proven untrue after budget documents showed it will in fact cost €5m next year, writes Fiachra Ó Cionnaith.

The figure is contained in the Department of Finance's lengthy expenditure report for budget 2018, which has been released in tandem with Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe's budget announcements and is available on the department's website.