Health department rejects claims that 800 jobs will go

The Department of Health has strongly rejected claims that there will be more than the 800 confirmed job losses in the health sector.

The move comes as the Western Health refused to explain why it intends laying off 200 people when the Minister for Health, Mr Martin claims he only asked for 85 posts not to be filled.

All health boards were asked in a letter dated July 17th to leave a certain number of managerial and administrative posts unfilled in a bid to save costs an estimated €10 million for the Exchequer.

Today the Department confirmed that the Western Health Board was only required to make savings of €1.15 million. This was in a context of an overall funding increase of €115 million or 16 per cent for the health board in 2002.

A spokesman for the Department said the jobs freeze applies until December 31st 2002. Mr Martin has rejected allegations that the freeze amounted to "health cutbacks".

The Western Health Board has overspent its budget by between €13 to €15 million up to July.

Mr Martin is reportedly surprised by the Western Health Board’s announcement and has asked it to explain its figures at an urgent meeting next week.

No spokesperson was available from the health board to comment on why they plan to lay off 200 temporary staff.

The Government was also accused of reneging on a pre-election promise not to introduce health cuts by the Labour Party’s Ms Liz McManus.

She said the Minister had stated unequivocally that there would be no cuts to health services when interviewed days before the election.

The Eastern Regional Health Authority will sustain the largest number of job cuts with 320 to be achieved this year. The authority had a budget overrun of €4.25 million in July.

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 €9.29 million 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.

The South Eastern Health Board is to discuss how to make savings of €5.5 million. The board has been asked not to fill 60 posts.

In the Midland Health Board region has reported a budget overspend of €2.1. It has been instructed not to fill 40 posts.