Protesters locked out as city budget agreed

Protesters were locked out of Cork City Hall last night as councillors agreed a 2014 budget described by the city manager as a “turning point” for the city.

Tim Lucey said it was the first budget in several years that did not include funding or service cuts. He said the city would spend just over €165m delivering services next year — €3m more than this year.

He said 314 employees had left the council since 2009 and not been replaced — including 30 this year alone and 24 more next year.