Key services face further funding cuts

ALL “low hanging fruit” has now been cut from the public service, meaning key services will have to suffer mass staff departures and further funding cuts over the coming months.

Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin yesterday told the Institute of Public Administration’s National Conference that the Government faced stark policy choices because the “low hanging fruit had already been cut from the public service”.

“Resources will be squeezed further and staff numbers will fall, with significant departures expected in the coming months,” Mr Howlin said.