Noonan told large projects face cut over debts

EXPENSIVE large-scale capital projects first mooted during the boom may have to be abandoned to help stabilise our debts, the secretary general of the Department of Finance has warned.

In a briefing note to Finance Minister Michael Noonan, Kevin Cardiff said difficult decisions will be required in all areas of policy, including further reductions in expenditure.

“This includes the cutting back of programme spending, firm control of pay and numbers and the abandonment of expensive large-scale capital projects,” Mr Cardiff wrote.