€1.5bn Saved By Croke Park Body In Two Years

Savings of almost €1.5 billion have been secured in the two years since the formation of the Croke Park Implementation Body, according to the head of the group.

However, speaking about the latest annual review of the agreement for the year to March 2012, Chairman PJ Fitzpatrick warned that there would be no let up in the pursuit of reform and savings - particularly as demand for such services was rising, and the fiscal situation remained challenging.

He said the deal had delivered pay savings of €650 million this year, though the "sustainable" saving that will carry to future years would be around €521m once recruitment of up to 3,000 essential new recruits was factored in.

When that was added to the €289m in pay savings secured between April 2010 and March 2011, the total pay saving under the agreement came to around €810m.

Meanwhile further non-pay savings of €370m were secured, on top of €308m secured in the first year of the deal - bringing the total non-pay saving to €678m.

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin said it is clear from today's report that the Croke Park Agreement is "a framework that is delivering".

He said it shows an even more robust implementation of targets during the second year, and "very significant savings" on payroll costs.

However General Secretary of the Irish Nurses and Midwives' Association, Liam Doran, said that Government and wider society needed to acknowledge that public servants have put their “shoulders to the wheel”, in providing public services to the best level possible with reduced resources.

(H)