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Nine News: David Murphy, Business Editor, reports that the Government is seeking €4bn in expenditure cuts
The development came as Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe rowed in behind other ministers who have backed the need for €4bn in expenditure cuts at the Kenmare Economic Conference.
That does not necessarily mean ministers will agree to the cuts, but it shows the types of cutbacks currently on the table, as proposed by the Department of Finance.
At the conference, Colm McCarthy, author of the An Bord Snip report, said despite cutbacks introduced already, public spending will actually rise this year compared to 2008.
That is largely because a surge in unemployment has caused a rise in social welfare payments.
The higher spending for 2009 makes the Government's job of fixing the public finances all the more difficult.
