Efficiency drive 'means job cuts'

Peter Robinson wants "more efficiency"

Nipsa has said thousands of public sector jobs could be lost due to the executive's planned efficiency drive.

The union's John Corey said he feared this would be the impact of 5% cuts in administration costs and 3% efficiency savings announced by Peter Robinson.

The finance minister wants to raise £790m through "more efficiency" from public services by 2010/2011.

A Department of Finance and Personnel spokesman said efficiencies did not "necessarily" mean staff reductions.

"As part of the budget announcement, the minister did not set or impose any staff reductions but identified £790m worth of efficiencies that will be delivered by 2010/2011 through providing public services in a more efficient manner," he said.

"It is for individual departments to determine how these efficiencies will be delivered."

John Corey said cutting public service jobs would mean cutting services to the public.

"The executive ministers pledged to the people of Northern Ireland that it would provide excellent public services," he continued.

"You cannot provide excellent public services and cut public service staff at the same time."