CLARITY has been sought from the Government that it has not diluted rural and regional development in the Cabinet reshuffle.

OUT here in the real economy, the worldly-wise knew in mid-2007 that the Celtic Tiger was dead. Property prices started to fall, spending slowed, job losses accelerated and business sentiment turned sour.

GOVERNMENT departments have been told they should prepare unused properties for sale immediately and surrender them to the Office of Public Works.

AN Bord Snip Nua recommends a range of measures to cut 2,000 jobs and save €271 million a year on third-level education.

The body representing vocational education committees, the IVEA, has said An Bord Snip's recommendation to reduce capitation grants to schools would be "catastrophic".