A round-up of other stories

Defence costs to increase 3%

The cost of running the Office of the Minister for Defence next year will be almost €823 million, 3 per cent more than this year, according to the pre-Budget estimate released yesterday.

Small increases of 2 and 3 per cent are forecast in the areas of salaries, incidental expenses, defensive equipment and medical expenses, while significant cuts of 35 and 36 per cent are prescribed in the areas of office premises expenses and consultancy services.

Spending, including salaries, on the reserve Defence Forces will be 17 per cent lower than this year, while the permanent Defence Forces will get 4 per cent more. Spending on Army pensions meanwhile will rise 4 per cent to €184.6 million.

Monuments' spend to fall

It was revealed yesterday that the amount to be spent on national monuments next year will fall by 7 per cent, as part of estimates for the amount required to run the Office of Public Works.

Apart from a 35 per cent decline in spending on fuel, electricity, water and cleaning materials, and a 3 per cent reduction in money for historic properties, all other spending at the department will increase or remain static, leaving the overall budget at €622.47 million, 1 per cent ahead.

National Gallery to get €13.36m

An extra €1.6 million will be spent on the National Gallery next year. A breakdown of spending shows the budget for incidental expenses will rise 97 per cent, while spending on consultancy services will fall 6 per cent. Overall spending will rise 14 per cent to €13.36 million.