Reform plan lacks details on job losses and savings

THE Government has published plans for a shake-up of public sector costs and efficiency, but without specifying how many job cuts or savings will be made.

The task of identifying where spending or jobs can be reduced falls instead to an external four-member “special group” to be appointed next week under the chairmanship of university lecturer and economist Colm McCarthy.

His group is to report to the Minister for Finance every two months beginning in January, with a final report to be made at the end of next June. Their brief will be “to identify those posts and activities that are not essential”.