‘Education and health must yield bulk of savings’

The education and health sectors of the public service must, between them, yield almost three quarters of the total €1bn in savings required under Croke Park II over the next three years.

The Government yesterday told unions the level of savings it requires from each sector depends on the percentage of the current public service wage bill they represent.

At sectoral briefings yesterday morning, the relevant unions for each sector were given a breakdown by Government negotiators of how much their section currently costs in terms of core pay, allowances, overtime and any other areas which cost the exchequer.