Bord Snip? Bord slash more like it
The report into possible expenditure cuts has been released, and those it targets most, are the poor, and the west.
Firstly of interest in Limerick is the proposal to abolish Shannon Development. The responsibilities of the agency would be distributed to both the IDA and Enterprise Ireland. It is believed that this move will save the government approximately €2m each year.
Assets owned by Shannon Development such as land, which is not required by Enterprise Ireland or the IDA would be sold for the benefit of the exchequer if the recommendations of the report are implimented.
Another recommendation is the amalgamation of Limerick City and County Council into one local authority. Local town councils would also be merged into their respective county councils.
The report also recommends that the RAPID schemes operating in disadvantaged areas around the country, including Limerick, be scrapped.
In education, it proposes the merger of smaller rural schools, and cuts in spending on school travel. It also recommends the closure of Tipperary Institute of Technology
The poor would get it in the neck if the recommendations of the report were implimented. Recommendations include the lowering of income limit for entitlement to the Medical Card to the basic Social Welfare amount, an increase in Accident and Emergency charges, increasing the amount required for the drugs repayment scheme to €125 a month, and a €5 charge for a prescription for medical card holders.
It is also recommended that a scaled rate of social welfare payment be introduced based on the recipient’s age. A five percent reduction in welfare payments is also recommended.