Taoiseach hints at government cutbacks of 5% next year

CUTBACKS by government departments may be greater than the 2.5% envisaged earlier this month, the Taoiseach has hinted.

Brian Cowen said the Government is looking at spending below €50 billion next year — a drop of about 5% on this year.

Mr Cowen gave the figure at a press conference at the Fianna Fáil party think-in yesterday where he said all areas of government spending will be looked at and warned: “There is no painless way of doing this.”