Govt depts ordered to identify €3bn in savings

The Department of Finance has reportedly written to all other government departments telling them to draw up a list of cutbacks totalling €3bn by the middle of next month.

Reports this morning say the various departments have been told to draw up a list of savings based on the report from An Bord Snip Nua.

That report identified more than €5bn in potential public spending cuts, including more than €1.8bn worth of social welfare cuts.

This morning's reports say the departments have been told that they must provide a rationale for any decision to omit a Bord Snip recommendation from their list of savings.