€3bn in ‘wasted services’

MORE than €3 billion a year is being wasted in public services, Fine Gael last night claimed.

Party finance spokesman Richard Bruton accused the Government of “appalling complacency”, insisting efficiency savings could pay for 6,000 extra front-line staff, such as gardaí and nurses.

He urged Finance Minister Brian Cowen to use next week’s budget to introduce tough targets for public bodies to reduce administration spending, similar to the ones operating in Britain.