€1bn gravy train - Public sector perks must be reformed

The charade of the botched government bid to save money by reducing controversial perks and allowances for workers travelling on the public sector gravy train has taken a significant twist with today’s front-page report that thousands of state employees received more than €1bn in overtime and allowances last year.

Following its embarrassing climb down on reforming the public service, the Coalition aims to abolish 88 allowances but, as revealed by the Irish Examiner, that will achieve savings of just over €30m.

It is a far cry from the €75m target originally set by Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin and a drop in the ocean compared with the enormous sums identified in today’s report.