Mark Gleeson
17-11-2008, 11:53
Appalling economic vista triggers public service plan
Shane Coleman Political Editor
Outside body to tackle numbers as government approves inheritance tax rises and CIE fares hike
Brian Cowen
FINANCE minister Brian Lenihan is to recommission An Bord Snip, the legendary body assembled by Charlie Haughey in 1987 to cut spending in the public service, the Sunday Tribune has learned.
An expenditure review group made up entirely of non-public servants ill be appointed by Lenihan this month with a brief to conduct an extensive review of public sector numbers and programmes, with a view to making substantial savings for the exchequer.
The Sunday Tribune has learned that CIE is to set to be granted an average fare increase of 10% by the government in the coming weeks just half the 20% sought by the state transport group in September.
..snip..
Meanwhile, transport minister Noel Dempsey is expected to bring a proposal to cabinet in the coming weeks recommending an average increase of 10% in CIE fares and a rise of 6% in Luas tickets.
A spokesman for CIE said yesterday that the company had applied for a 10% increase. However, government sources insisted that CIE lodged an application for a 20% rise in fares last September, citing increased fuel and labour costs. At the time, the company was projecting a very significant total loss of €131m for next year without any fares increase.
It is understood the government has ruled out an increase of anything close to 20%, but will agree to a compromise increase of 10%. However, following discussions with the Department of Transport, CIE will be expected to introduce a number of measures designed to protect the financial position of the group. These will include reductions in services on loss-making routes and measures to improve bus priority and bus journey times.
http://www.tribune.ie/news/article/2008/nov/16/appalling-economic-vista-triggers-public-service-p/
Shane Coleman Political Editor
Outside body to tackle numbers as government approves inheritance tax rises and CIE fares hike
Brian Cowen
FINANCE minister Brian Lenihan is to recommission An Bord Snip, the legendary body assembled by Charlie Haughey in 1987 to cut spending in the public service, the Sunday Tribune has learned.
An expenditure review group made up entirely of non-public servants ill be appointed by Lenihan this month with a brief to conduct an extensive review of public sector numbers and programmes, with a view to making substantial savings for the exchequer.
The Sunday Tribune has learned that CIE is to set to be granted an average fare increase of 10% by the government in the coming weeks just half the 20% sought by the state transport group in September.
..snip..
Meanwhile, transport minister Noel Dempsey is expected to bring a proposal to cabinet in the coming weeks recommending an average increase of 10% in CIE fares and a rise of 6% in Luas tickets.
A spokesman for CIE said yesterday that the company had applied for a 10% increase. However, government sources insisted that CIE lodged an application for a 20% rise in fares last September, citing increased fuel and labour costs. At the time, the company was projecting a very significant total loss of €131m for next year without any fares increase.
It is understood the government has ruled out an increase of anything close to 20%, but will agree to a compromise increase of 10%. However, following discussions with the Department of Transport, CIE will be expected to introduce a number of measures designed to protect the financial position of the group. These will include reductions in services on loss-making routes and measures to improve bus priority and bus journey times.
http://www.tribune.ie/news/article/2008/nov/16/appalling-economic-vista-triggers-public-service-p/