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THE GOVERNMENT HAS said it will not realise its savings targets for 2012 following the outcome of the review of public service allowances and premium pay.
It had planned to save about €75 million this year by reforming allowances paid to public service workers.
Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin said that given the size of the review undertaken, targets for this year will not be met. However, he said that it will not impact the achievement of the pay bill budget for the year. He insisted that this will be fully realised.
Howlin has published all 800 business cases submitted to his department by public sector management for retention of allowances. He has been notified of more than 1,100 allowances.
Following the review, a number of changes have been decided. Allowances currently payable to officials who travel abroad to represent Ireland at meetings are being abolished for both new beneficiaries and existing staff.
The payment terms of a further range of allowances with an annual value of €245 million will be subject to modification and certain allowances will not be paid to new beneficiaries. The annual cost of paying these allowances to current incumbents is in the region of €475 million.
The Minister indicated that sectoral management will being the process of engaging with staff about allowances currently held but that require change.
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My advice. Don’t bother looking till you have mortgage approval. It could take 2 years. The market changes so frequently you’ll only be disappointed. Secondly understand the different estate agents. Sherry Fitz over price their clients houses to get a bigger fee. The guide price you see is exactly that. Offer €100k below. Sure who knows. Also keep and eye on listings. If they’ve been up for a while, they are obviously struggling to sell. That’s to your advantage.
@Danny Sherrard: offer 100k below in a sellers market? Good luck with that.
@Danny Sherrard:
This is why it should be a set fee so the prices aren’t just ballooned so much.
@Danny Sherrard: what house is going for €100k under asking in this market? Can you provide one example?
@Elaine Phelan: or be dope and offer the asking price. People like you are the reason house prices are crazy. Start low is all I say. I got my house in 2020, €40k below asking price.
When you view a home online have a careful look at the garden and try and see what flowers are blooming, whether it’s spring summer or autumn etc This can give you some indication as to how long it’s been on the market or whether it’s been relisted. It can either be a red flag indicating problems with the neighbourhood, or simply too high an asking price, in which case you might get away with offering less than anticipated.
@Liz O’Neill: On the likes of Daft there is usually a listed date.
1. Location. Close to work/family/what you love.
2. Cost v lifestyle. Make a choice, if you want holidays & fun etc buy a house with a smaller mortgage. If you prioritise a large home over everything else – go as big as you can afford.
3. Time. Which is it? Happy paying back a 35+ yr loan & see it as rent anyway (and if anything happens that’s what insurance is for). OR do you want to pay off your fast.
4. Future. Planning a family? Buy a house with that extra room to allow those teens some time away from you/a play room when they are young.
5. Short-term/life term. Buy big & sell when kids are gone -downsize? Buy small & upgrade? Do what most do – make do? Have a plan.
6. cheap furniture for the short term to fill the house & upgrade/only buy the best of the best bit by bit?
Go abroad, do the hard graft and save for couple of years, come back and buy where you know. Not for everyone, but time does fly.
Use your passport, it’s very valuable.
have your say