Kenny warned over growth

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has been warned by his officials that meeting this year’s fiscal targets will pose “major challenges”.

The officials have acknowledged that “most” independent forecasters have predicted lower rates of economic growth this year than those underpinning the EU-IMF bailout agreement and December budget.

As a result, there are “serious risks” that recovery will not materialise at the pace envisaged just last December when the agreement was approved and the budget announced.