Secret service, RTÉ and vapes: Five surprises from Budget 2024
The RTE Television Studios in Donnybrook, near Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. The director general of RTE has been suspended amid a controversy over the national broadcaster's misreporting of the salary of star presenter Ryan Tubridy. Picture date: Friday June 23, 2023.
While the cost-of-living crisis continues to pinch, Ireland’s secret service has managed to retain its €2m annual funding as part of Budget 2024.
The Directorate of Military Intelligence, also known as J2, is the main intelligence branch of the Defence Forces and primarily works with the Government to provide information surrounding the security of the State.
The last time the secretive organisation saw an increase to its budget came in 2019 as part of Budget 2020, with it rising from €1.25m a year to €2m.
Elsewhere in the budget, Finance Minister Michael McGrath confirmed his intention to introduce a new tax on vapes in next year's budget.
In recent years, disposable flavoured vapes have become more popular — particularly among younger people — with pressure coming onto the Government to ban them.
Mr McGrath said the plan is being paused until next year due to delays in reform of EU tax directives on tobacco products as well as public health interests.
He added there will need to be “considerable” preparatory work done by both the Department of Finance and Revenue to draft the legislation to underpin the new tax.
Arts Minister Catherine Martin confirmed in a video message on the X social networking site that RTÉ will receive €16m in interim funding as part of the supplementary estimate process. She added that any further funding beyond this would be provided after RTÉ reveals its new strategic vision.
RTÉ is therefore not set to receive any exchequer funding in the Budget. There is a reference to €18m for RTÉ included in the Summary Public Capital Programme, a normal part of Budget day documentation. As well as Exchequer-voted capital expenditure, this figure encompasses investment from the Semi State Bodies (ESB, Gais, RTÉ etc).
Essentially, this €18m is RTÉ’s capital investment funded by RTÉ own resources, including the proceeds of previous land sales. It will be used for a range of capital investment items including investment in studios; RTÉ Player; 2RN; cameras; and investment in technology.
New allocations to the Department of Transport will see an additional €5.8m provided to the Coast Guard to allow for the transfer to a new contract with Bristow.
According to the Government’s Expenditure Report, this allocation will allow the Coast Guard to “continue to provide world class” services, including maritime and inland Search and Rescue work and air ambulance services.
The extra funding will also go towards the procurement of two new fixed-wing aircraft to be based at Shannon Airport to assist the Coast Guard with search and rescue.
The Department of Rural and Community Development is due to get an extra €2m to help support approximately 900 Tidy Towns groups across the country, with some of the funding to go to agricultural shows.
The Department itself is a key supporter of the annual Tidy Towns competition, with Minister Heather Humphreys announcing the results every year.
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