The Labour Party has accused the Government of reneging on a pre-election promise not to introduce health cuts.
Party spokesperson on health, Ms Liz McManus said yesterday’s announcement by the Western Health Board that it was laying off 200 workers as a result of Government cutbacks revealed the full extent of the lies told by the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, before the election.
She said the Minister had responded unequivocally that there would be no cuts to health services when interviewed days before the election.
"Now he is quibbling with the Western Health Board about how many jobs should be shed by them as a result of the Departmental directive," she said.
This has been rebutted by the Minister who disputed the health board’s claim that 200 posts will not be filled. He said the health board was required to make savings of €1.15 million was in the context of an overall funding increase of €115 million or 16 per cent.
Based on current rates this saving should equate to the non-filling of approximately 85 posts, according to the Department. The Minister wants the Western Health Board to explain its figures at an urgent meeting next week.
The Minister added that the job losses in the Western Health Board were part of a national figure of 800 announced earlier this year.
All health boards are facing staff cuts with the Government seeking to put on hold the recruitment of 800 health services staff. The move will save the Exchequer €10 million.
Announcing the move Mr Martin said 800 of 6,000 approved health jobs for this year, mainly management and administrative, would not be filled "as a corrective measure".
He rejected allegations that the freeze amounted to "health cutbacks".
The Eastern Regional Health Authority will sustain the largest number of job cuts with 320 to be achieved this year.
A process to avoid job cuts is under way at the Southern Health Board which has reported a budget overrun of over €11.3 million.
The North-Eastern Health Board has reported a €9.29million overspend and as a result must cut 60 jobs.
In the North-Western Health Board a €4.4 million deficit was reported by the end of June. The board is not allowed fill 70 management and administration posts.
A request by the Department to cut 65 jobs in the Mid-Western Health Board is being considered. It is facing an overrun of just over €100,000.
