IMF want cut to minimum wage and hike in Fás funds

STAFF at the International Monetary Fund have recommended lowering the minimum wage and ploughing more resources into Fás.

In proposals for returning growth to the economy it said Ireland should gradually cut the level of unemployment benefit and look at ways of making it easier for women to re-enter the workforce after having children.

It said cutting taxes for mothers, to help them overcome prohibitive childcare costs, would boost GDP by up to 1.75%.