Government accused of over-spending to buy votes

THE Government was last night accused of creating an economic mess as figures revealed it had spent €2.8 billion more in the first seven months of this year compared with 2001.

Most departments were overspending in the first half of the year, as public expenditure ran out of control. Across 15 departments, the Government used 80% of its entire budget increase in seven months.

The Department of Finance figures prove that the Government engaged in a process of vote-buying in the run-up to the general election, opposition parties said last night.