€300m pay cuts may not be achieved

The Government has conceded that it may not achieve the planned €300m savings in the public sector pay bill this year as crunch talks on cuts with trade unions continue this week.

Junior Finance Minister Brian Hayes admitted that alternative plans for savings in workers’ pay and pensions were being finalised ahead of a Cabinet meeting on renegotiating the pay deal.

Teachers unions will today meet with negotiator Kieran Mulvey, CEO of the Labour Relations Commission, and his officials ahead of the Cabinet getting an update on talks tomorrow.