How will the government bridge the gap?

[junketman]

Ok so we are already 7 Billion behind in our tax take on last year, and heading into the fourth quarter, does that mean we will be 10 billion behind by the time of the budget, which would be approximately 20% of the total budget gone up in smoke.

Added to that the expected pay rise demands of public sector workers and we can expect a budget maybe 5% larger than last year.

So there will be a gap of 25% between what we intend to spend and what we receive in tax, probably about 12 billion euro, to make up.

Where are the government going to get 12 billion euro from? Are they going to borrow it?

Anyone else worried about this? Or is it still an abstract concept to most people, ie so much money, people cannot associate with 12 billion.

And it this happens again next year, and possible for the next five years, we will be 60 billion in debt. We took years to control our national debt and now its been run up once more.

[COMMIE]

The Metro will cost five billion. But is still going ahaed.

[Dublinguy]

Every part of the Public Sector should start off with a zero budget and justify every penny they need for next year with full staffing levels, skills matrices, job roles etc all being provided.

[junketman]

Well here's my suggestion and the government can take it for free.

They need to stimulate the economy somehow. If the people in the EU say its against the rules they can take a hike.

The US central bank and government regularly stimulate the economy with packages to get it going again and the Irish government need to do the same.

The reason for a stimulas package is to get economic activity going again to the level it was.

My suggestion for a stimulous package is to cut stamp duty in half for a number of years, this would encourage more home buying and get economic activity up and running again.

[smitchy2]

Every part of the Public Sector should start off with a zero budget and justify every penny they need for next year with full staffing levels, skills matrices, job roles etc all being provided.

That is a great idea which FG have also stated (1st good thing they have said really).
Unfortunately this would be too dramatic a change for any public director to face.
He might have to act like someone in the private sector.
It should be noted that the day to day health expenditure has moved from €3bn to €12.3bn, of which only €595m goes on capital (long term spending), since 1997.

[Dublinguy]

Every part of the Public Sector should start off with a zero budget and justify every penny they need for next year with full staffing levels, skills matrices, job roles etc all being provided.

That is a great idea which FG have also stated (1st good thing they have said really).
Unfortunately this would be too dramatic a change for any public director to face.
He might have to act like someone in the private sector.
It should be noted that the day to day health expenditure has moved from €3bn to €12.3bn, of which only €595m goes on capital (long term spending), since 1997.

Forget about having to act like someone in teh private sector...he would actually have to act like someone who was capable of doing his job full stop.

[Leftfemme22]

Why don’t we just kill everyone in the public service?

It’s patently obvious we don’t need them? I mean with all the combined wisdom on this thread I’m sure those advocating the eradication of Public services could do a far better job.

Honestly, this stuff is beyond laughable at this stage, it's pathetic.

[size=7]*predicts apoplectic rage from those who know better about value for money, competition, privatisation blah blah blah yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwn*[/size]

[youngdan]

How many fools are there in Ireland that can not figure out that you can't pay people if you don't have money.

[Leftfemme22]

How many fools are there in Ireland that can not figure out that you can't pay people if you don't have money.

What? We're broke now?

[smitchy2]

Why don’t we just kill everyone in the public service?

It’s patently obvious we don’t need them? I mean with all the combined wisdom on this thread I’m sure those advocating the eradication of Public services could do a far better job.

Honestly, this stuff is beyond laughable at this stage, it's pathetic.

[size=7]*predicts apoplectic rage from those who know better about value for money, competition, privatisation blah blah blah yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwn*[/size]

You have to admit sensible trimmings have to be made.
Taxpayers fund the public sector and that is why there is interest in how the spending in the departments has gone up so dramatically without substantial results.
A zero based budget is an idea implemented by many companies and governments; it would be an easy mechanism to identify essential and discretionary expenditure in depts and would provide focus to the heads of each dept.