Special public pay allowances face axe

Special allowances for public service workers could be scrapped and incorporated into their core pay, Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin said.

The Labour minister made the remarks ahead of the Cabinet considering a review of over 800 allowances for public service workers.

He also said that up to €600m in savings could be made across departments through efficiencies in procurement. He said departments were being asked to consider outsourcing and sharing services.