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Jackie strikes a new deal
Joe McCrohan with David O'Neill, Denis Curran, John O'Connor, John Kelly harvesting the potatoes for the elderly for Christmas through the Rural Social Scheme and the South Kerry Development Partnership, Cahersiveen. Credit: Photo by Michelle Cooper Galvin
Wednesday December 09 2009
DEAL-making Independent TD Jackie Healy Rae will lend his full support to today's belt-tightening budget after he emerged from intense negotiations yesterday evening claiming to have secured a new 40-bed community hospital for Kenmare. Independent TDs had been courted by Fianna Fáil officials in the final hours leading up to today's budget. Fianna Fáil members and government backers will expect a public backlash with cuts to child benefit and dole payments predicted alongside cuts of up to seven per cent in public sector wages.
