THE leader of the Progressive Democrats, Ms Mary Harney made a hard hitting attack on Government spending and tax in Wexford yesterday. The proceeds of economic growth were being lost in fraud and wasteful public spending, Ms Harney declared.

Speaking to the Wexford Chamber of Commerce, Ms Harney highlighted the survey on social welfare fraud and the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General as "conclusive evidence" that big Government doesn't mean better service.

The PAYE sector has been left to carry the can for the relaxed approach to the enforcement of our tax and social welfare regulations, according to Ms Harney.

She also urged job creation efforts to be pursued without interference from the "heavy hand of Government bureaucracy".

She proposed a single contact point in each county where entrepreneurs can have all their requirements met. "As it stands we have over 120 job creation agencies employing 4,000 people; this system is in urgent need of rationalisation," she said.