North faces £128m cuts

The North faces £128m (€148m) spending cuts following today’s UK emergency budget.

Slashing the cost of quangos was among the measures announced by Chancellor George Osborne to address the deficit.

The Northern Ireland Executive will meet to discuss whether to defer action until next year and how the savings can be achieved. Selling off surplus government buildings could be among measures taken as ministers strive to avoid axing frontline staff like doctors and nurses.

The Scottish and Welsh First Ministers fly into Belfast today for talks following the budget.

The North's First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness will meet Scottish leader Alex Salmond and Welsh chief Carwyn Jones to consider their financial strategies.

All three devolved administrations are expected to push for more cash to match some of the regeneration money being spent in London for the 2012 Olympics.

The devolved administrations have to save £704m (€818m).

Mr Osborne unveiled plans for an immediate £6.25bn (€7.26bn) cut in “wasteful” public spending today – insisting the Government is “getting on with the job” of tackling the deficit.