Northern Ireland public sector cuts will lead to 10 years of social devastation‏

Northern Ireland, where 31% of the workforce is employed in the public sector compared to a UK average of 25%, faces 10 years of social devastation because of public spending cuts according to a study commissioned by the Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action (NICVA). http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-10756407

In April, Finance Minister Sammy Wilson detailed £367m of cuts in 2010 and budget cuts could be £1.2bn over the next five years NICVA conclude that wage cuts and job losses are very likely. The report also identifies a variety of options for saving money centrally. The £1.2bn savings could be made by cutting the budgets of all departments equally by 8.4%. Another choice would be to ring fence the department of health, which would mean 15% cuts for all other departments. The report also looked at a third option, to ring fence the health and education, which would mean 22% cuts for all other departments.