Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 February 2013
35. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the proportion of the €1 billion cuts to public sector pay and pensions sought by him over the next three years that must come through in 2013. [10443/13]
View answerIreland is committed to reducing its general government deficit to less than 3% by 2015. To meet this commitment the Medium Term Fiscal Statement indicated that, in addition to the overall consolidation of €3.5 billion required for 2013, an additional €3.1 billion in savings and revenue raising measures must be identified for 2014 and €2 billion in 2015. If the public service pay and pensions bill at 36% of spending is to make a proportionate contribution to the necessary additional expenditure reduction currently identified as necessary for the next 3 years based on current economic forecasts, it will require a further reduction of some €1 billion in the cost of the pay and pensions bill. Based on current estimates a contribution of some €300 million of that saving is targeted for delivery in 2013.
