The trade union Impact has said that 100 additional posts in the health sector are to go as part of further cuts to be introduced by the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Impact Union members protest outside Our Ladys Hospital Crumlin in May
Impact said it had learned that as part of new cutbacks in the Dublin/Mid Leinster region that 100 posts were to be suppressed, a region-wide ban on overtime was to be put in place and that one, as yet unidentified residential unit was to close.
The union published its claims about the new cutbacks to coincide with lunchtime protests in 28 locations around the country in protest at recruitment restrictions introduced by the HSE.
The HSE has invited Impact to meet with senior management next Monday “to engage in dialogue with a view to agreeing a process towards resolving this dispute”.
It said that contrary to claims by the union there was no embargo on recruitment in place within the public health service.
The HSE said that since January 2008, over 3,400 posts had been approved to be filled to bring total staffing levels across the health sector to 128,000.
Impact has pointed to official HSE documents given to the health authority’s board last month which showed that there are nearly 2,700 fewer staff on the payroll now than there were last August when the recruitment restrictions were first introduced.
In a statement today, the HSE said it was "constantly reviewing all temporary contracts".
"Temporary contracts that are coming to an end, may not be renewed because the purpose for which the person was employed no longer applies e.g. to cover maternity leave, sick leave, career break.
No permanent jobs are affected," the HSE said.
The HSE statement said no final decision had been made as to which residential home would be closed.
"There are currently five child residential houses with a total bed capacity of 17 places under the management of Longford Westmeath PCCC providing a service to the midland counties.
"Over a period of years there have been suggestions from different stakeholders as to the feasibility and benefit of reconfiguring the service model to include the closing of one of the residential homes. No final decision has been made as to which home will be closed. This decision will be finalised shortly following discussions with the relevant residents and staff."
The HSE said it was "confident that the resultant configuration and service model will be to the benefit of children tin need of support currently and in the future and will result in no adverse impact for children concerned".
About 28,000 Impact members in the health sector have been engaged in a work-to-rule for the last three weeks in a dispute over the controversial recruitment restrictions.
From last Monday the union escalated the dispute and instructed members not to co-operate with HSE corporate management by attending meetings or providing details on issues such as employment levels, budgetary developments and monthly activity statistics.
The HSE warned last week that staff taking part in the escalated industrial action could face disciplinary procedures.
Speaking at the protest at HSE headquarters in Dublin today Impact national secretary Kevin Callinan said that it was disappointed by attempts by health service management to bully and intimidate staff as well as by comments by HSE chief executive Prof Brendan Drumm in the media at the weekend which linked the industrial action with absenteeism levels and “skiving”.
“This has had the effect of strengthening the resolve of our members. It has created a lot of anger and resentment. We believe that he has been very badly advised," he said.
Mr Callinan said the union had a mandate for full scale industrial action and would be reviewing its campaign on a continuous basis.
Impact said that the campaign was designed to affect HSE bureaucracy rather than patients.
However the HSE said the dispute would eventually impact on patient services as the organisation’s ability to maintain important performance/non performance measurement processes were being targeted.
HSE assistant national director for Human Resources Norah Mason said: “There are tried and tested industrial relations mechanisms available to all parties to avail of - if people are really willing to engage in a meaningful discussion about staffing in the health services. As a first step towards such a dialogue, we have invited IMPACT to meet with us next Monday”.
Today's protests took place from 12.30 to 2pm.
Impact said the protests would not involve any work stoppages and that patient services will be maintained.