Ireland sets out new round of spending cuts

The Irish government outlined on the 5 December 2011 €2.2bn of further spending cuts in an austerity budget that aimed to cut the country’s sky high deficit and put it back on a path to economic recovery.

The 2012 budget is the first by the Fine Gael/Labour coalition, which assumed power in March 2011 with a promise to restore order to the country’s public finances.

The second part of the 2012 budget was due to be announced on the 6 December 2011.

Under the terms of the EU-IMF bailout Ireland must bring its general government deficit to 8.6% in 2012, down from about 10.1% in 2011.

BBC News, 5.12.11: More cuts as Irish Republic's budget is unveiled http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16035066

Irish Times, 6.12.11: Health, social welfare and education face bulk of cuts http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2011/1206/breaking2.html

ESO: Background information: Ireland seeks EU help over bank bail-out http://www.europeansources.info/record/ireland-seeks-eu-help-over-bank-bail-out/

ESO: Background information: Few Irish eyes smiling amid fragile recovery http://www.europeansources.info/record/few-irish-eyes-smiling-amid-fragile-recovery-irish-mortgage-problems-increase/

Ireland: Department of Finance: Budget 2012 http://budget.gov.ie/budgets/2012/2012.aspx

Ireland: Department of Finance: Budget 2012: Financial Statement of the Minister for Finance, Mr Michael Noonan, T.D. http://budget.gov.ie/budgets/2012/Documents/Financial%20Statement.pdf

Ireland: Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation: Press Release, 6.12.11: Bruton welcomes pro-jobs measures in Budget http://www.djei.ie/press/2011/20111206.htm

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