THE STATE and its agencies will spend €68.5 billion next year, according to this week’s Budget. Total revenue is expected to amount to €54.9 billion. If both targets are met, the general government budget deficit will fall from €15.6 billion this year to €13.6 billion in 2012. This will amount to the fifth consecutive year of unsustainably large gaps between the State’s income and its outlay.

THE MINISTER for Social Protection has apologised for the worry caused to people with disabilities and their families arising from social welfare changes, which she said were proposed as reforms.