Humphreys insists she was ‘blindsided’ as social protection budget was used for RTE [Video]

Social Protection Minister Heather Humphreys insists she wasn’t “blindsided” by a decision to use some of her budget to assist in the bailout for RTÉ, writes Brian Mahon.

Last week the Government finally announced its plans to fund the controversy-plagued national broadcaster over the next three years.

It ultimately decided to retain the licence fee and to provide some additional funding to the national broadcaster in a multi-annual deal.

However, media reports over the weekend indicated that €42m was raided from the social welfare fund, a pot of money that sits under the Department of Social Protection, to help pay for the additional number of pensioners who would be entitled to receive a free TV licence fee.

BusinessPlus.ie understands Ms Humphreys spoke up at Cabinet last week when it emerged that €42m from her department would be used to help plug this hole in the financing arrangement for RTÉ.

It is understood she …