Public service to face further job cuts

THE new head of the Department of Public Expenditure said the public service would be a good deal smaller and that difficult decisions lay ahead for projects, payrolls and state agencies.

Secretary general Robert Watt said public service numbers would be reduced to 275,000 with the reform of state agencies and departments on the horizon.

“We’ve reduced numbers from around 320,000 to 300,000 and we’re going to have to reduce those numbers again, probably somewhere between 275,000 and 280,000.”