Troika-style budget controls have been slapped on the biggest government departments such as health, education and social protection as part of a need to cut an estimated €12bn from State spending. Any attempt by ministers to keep Covid-19 funds into next year “will not be entertained” as the Government looks to slash at least €12bn in spending, Michael McGrath has warned. At a Cabinet meeting in recent days, Mr McGrath “laid down a major marker” to his colleagues saying they are going to be getting back to a situation where "spending will be tightly controlled". He told the Irish Examiner: “The Covid-related expenditure is a type of emergency spending and therefore will be unwound over time. Picture: Gareth Chaney/CollinsIn probably the strongest warning to ministers at Cabinet, Mr McGrath said he and his officials have drawn a very clear line between Covid spending and core spending, to make it easier for the Covid-related spending to be unwound over time.

Source: Irish Examiner April 26, 2021 05:30 UTC