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Mon 12 Dec 2008Government considered social welfare cuts to make savings
THE GOVERNMENT was examining massive spending cuts in the run-up to the budget which could have resulted in either reducing or axing a range of basic social welfare payments.
Records released under the Freedom of Information Act show the Department of Finance was seeking savings of up to €2 billion in social welfare payments just weeks before last October’s budget. This was aimed at keeping spending for 2009 at existing 2008 levels.
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