Scale of cuts to be revealed within days, says Lenihan
The Government will reveal the scale of the cuts in next month's Budget by the end of the week, it emerged tonight.
Finance Minister Brian Lenihan said the Government is expected to sign-off on the level of savings needed and the predicted pace of economic growth next year tomorrow.
"The Opposition will be briefed on the matter and then that information will be put into the public domain," Mr Lenihan said.
"So there will be a pre-plan information document prepared and circulated later this week."
The Government last week announced the Government must find €15bn in cuts and taxes over the next four years to restore stability to the public finances - twice the initial estimate.
Mr Lenihan insisted a significant amount of the pain will be taken upfront, while Taoiseach Brian Cowen agreed the move was necessary to please international money markets.
The Finance Minister said he was influenced by the Dáil debate on the economy last week to publish the figure in the public interest.
The Cabinet met tonight to discuss the four-year plan and will meet again tomorrow evening to discuss Budget 2011 and estimates.
Meanwhile the latest figures from the Live Register detailing the number of people who signed-on for benefits last month will be announced tomorrow.
Speculation has been focused on the scale of the savings needed next year, amid suggestions it could be as much as double the initial €3bn estimate.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen said last week that most of the savings for 2011 would be reached through cuts in spending instead of increased taxes, and warned that nobody could escape shouldering the burden.
