Golden payoffs to shrink public sector

The Government has confirmed another voluntary redundancy scheme for public servants — but failed to spell out how many people it wants to see go or how much money it wants to save.

Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin’s department last night said it had no target because it was currently in the process of identifying the numbers surplus to requirements.

However, the opposition suggested the move had been forced on Mr Howlin because of his failure to secure anticipated savings in public sector allowances.