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Public service cuts is 'more spin' - Fianna Fáil

Fianna Fáil has described the government's latest attempt to cut costs in the public service as "more spin" and "no substance".

Yesterday evening, it was announced that the cabinet had approved a new voluntary redundancy programme for public servants.

However, Fianna Fáil wants to see details and has criticised Minister Brendan Howlin for failing to outline how the scheme will work.

Spokesperson on Public Expenditure and Reform, Sean Fleming, says Minister Howlin is trying to make up for his failure to cut allowances in the public sector: "We do want to see the timescale involved. Is it going to happen this year, next year or the following year? We don't know.

"People know there has to be a reduction in numbers and cost in the public service but we want to see what the minister is talking about.

"It sounds like he was bounced into this because he failed to deal with the allowances last week and the other ministers said 'You didn't handle the allowances well Mr Howlin, you better get out and do something else'."