SPENDING CUTS

The government will achieve less than one-third of the spending cuts recommended by An Bord Snip Nua this year, reports The Sunday Independent.

At best, the government hopes to achieve €1.7 billion in savings this year out of the €5.3 billion cuts recommended by economist Colm McCarthy’s board.

Out of the hundreds of cuts recommended, just 40 are being fully implemented and 96 others partially implemented.

The justice department is the worst offender, with Minister Dermot Ahern achieving just €6.9 million in savings out of €136 million recommended.

Interestingly, a separate Sunday Independent story claims that wigs and gowns for Irish judges cost the taxpayer €70,000 over the last two years.

But a move to hire designer Louise Kennedy to fashion a new range of robes for judges has been shelved to cut costs.