More DOD cuts possibly on the way...

Morpheus

Always the easy target, read the list of recommendations and guess which one the govt will actually act upon....


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0630/breaking19.htm

Cuts group holds last meeting
IRISH TIMES REPORTERS

A review of Government spending that aims to identify €7 billion in annual savings is expected to be presented to the Minister for Finance by the end of the week.

The report will primarily focus on public pay and pensions, and social welfare. Several sources centrally involved in the process, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the cuts would span across all Government departments and State agencies and provide a list of options to the Government on where cutbacks can be applied.

The group, led by economist Colm McCarthy, is to hold a final meeting today to conclude its work and a report should be received by the Mr Lenihan this week.

A Government spokeswoman said it was “unlikely” the report would be received by Mr Lenihan today but he may get it tomorrow and certainly at some stage this week.

However, the Cabinet is unlikely to hold much discussion on the issue when it meets today, though next week’s meeting, or a subsequent one, will be devoted entirely to the issue.

Ministers have yet to decide how they will deal with the results of the committee’s work, though some favour publishing it quickly, if only to avoid a summer of persistent “leaks”, but others fear that publication “could put too many options before people and poison the Lisbon debate”, as one source put it last night.

The three-strong Expenditure Review Committee, better known as An Bord Snip Nua, is proposing cuts in all social welfare payments, including pensions and disability benefits.

Following its review of Government spending, the across-the-board welfare cut, though politically toxic, is part of the expert group’s plans to reduce the €21 billion Department of Social and Family Affairs’ budget by €1.5 billion over the coming 12 months.

Meanwhile, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is preparing to merge several housing agencies reporting to him, including the Affordable Homes Partnership and the National Building Agency.

Rent supplement rates should also be cut, though the group has also recommended that child benefit should be simply cut, rather than means-tested, Government sources have indicated.


The numbers in the Permanent Defence Forces should be reduced over time by between 500 and 1,000, which would effectively mean a recruitment and promotions ban for several years.


Rent supplements must be reduced, the experts recommend. Nearly 5 per cent of the welfare budget – €490 million – goes to landlords, nearly double the percentage spent on accommodation by the State a decade ago.

Two Government departments: Éamon Ó Cuív’s Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and Martin Cullen’s Arts, Sport and Tourism should be “reviewed”, the report also recommends.

Poccington

The next few years are gonna be gas craic in the job.

Trotter

Is it likely the reserve will be wound down also?

Poccington

Trotter wrote: »

Is it likely the reserve will be wound down also?

They may well try get rid of a Brigade from the RDF, much the same as they'll probably try do with the PDF.

But getting rid of the RDF? I can't see it happening anytime soon, the cost needed to keep the Organisaton running really isn't that much in the grand scheme of things.

superref

Morphéus wrote: »

Always the easy target, read the list of recommendations and guess which one the govt will actually act upon....


http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0630/breaking19.htm

nothing new sure that was on its way the 100 they want gone will just be people retiring no recruitmnet for 2 years at least,chance to get rid of all the aul sweats!!!!!!!

Morpheus

its actually 500 - 1000 that they are asking for!

Evd-Burner

Man our military literally will be the laughing stock of Europe. Probably the world.

concussion

The 2 bde structure reccomended by the PWC report had an establishment of approximately 1000 less than at current levels...

Edit - plus it would mean that units would actually have more equipment.

Poccington

Evd-Burner wrote: »

Man our military literally will be the laughing stock of Europe. Probably the world.

I very much doubt that, however the DoD and of course the DF are gonna suffer while this recession malarkey keeps going.

Local-womanizer

Poccington wrote: »

I very much doubt that, however the DoD and of course the DF are gonna suffer while this recession malarkey keeps going.

The DF have been doing a fine job for years without proper support from our politicians.Any country we have worked with has been more than impressed with the DF,and I'am sure they are aware of how the DF is treated.

slapper

i efin love the way they aim at the easy targets and moan about the wrong stuff

ok rent allowance 490 million
ok look at it this way how many house could they build for half of that they'd clear the majority of the housing lists around the country
and how many jobs will it create

now wind down the rdf why not we do fec all anyway


now the reason for the rant

when the reorg occured it was stated no training premises will be closed in cork douglas rd was closed straight away youghal is in disrepair and now midleton ,once a bn hq is now gone and has been sold

all east cork personel will now have to travel up to 80 min where as before it would have been 20-30 min to the training hall now would have that plus to fermoy or cork
:mad::mad::mad::mad::mad::mad: