FG plans to abolish quangos

FINE GAEL last night insisted it could save €50 million a year by abolishing a swathe of quangos — without sacking a single person.

Party leader Enda Kenny said 1,000 workers in the 26 bodies he wants abolished or merged could be absorbed into other agencies while still making massive savings for the taxpayer.

Fine Gael says the number of quangos has soared by more than 200 in the past decade and such agencies often overlap their work while some are no longer needed.