Reports: Bord Snip Nua to recommend welfare cuts

An Bord Snip Nua is recommending social welfare cuts of €1.5bn, according to reports today.

Newspaper reports said the body wants to reduce the €21bn welfare budget by 7%.

Most likely to be hit are the rent supplement allowance and the universally applied child benefit.

The public sector pay bill is also expected to be addressed in the report which is due to be presented to the Finance Minister Brian Lenihan this week.

It also recommends closing of a number of rural Garda stations and the axing of rarely used public transport routes.