Increase shows Government 'serious about green economy'

COMMUNICATIONS:MINISTER FOR Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Eamon Ryan has said that a €5 million increase in the budget for his department shows the Government is serious about creating a green economy.

Mr Ryan said the €517 million allocation would go “directly” into providing thousands of jobs and developing measures that would help Ireland become a more competitive economy. Spending would focus on renewable energy, insulation schemes and communications infrastructure, he said.

“My budget has gone up and, in a time when just about every other budget is gone down, it just shows that this Government is serious about creating a green economy,” Mr Ryan said. “[It shows] that investing in new telecommunications networks and energy-saving systems will create jobs.”

According to department estimates, spending on energy will increase by 18 per cent to €126.1 million; natural resources will increase by 40 per cent to some €24.9 million; while spending on communications will increase by 15 per cent to €53.5 million.

Spending on inland fisheries will fall by 16 per cent to €30.9 million; and the broadcasting budget, which accounts for almost half the department’s spending, will fall by 6 per cent. Mr Ryan said the €12 million reduction in funding for RTÉ to €195 million did not mean it was being singled out for cuts, but rather, it was a sign of reductions across the board. He said RTÉ was in a difficult financial position because of the fall-off in advertising revenues but it had made significant adjustments.