23/02/2009

Downturn Creates Billion Euro Deficit For HSE

The increased dependence on medical cards due to the mass job losses in recent months and loss of income from the health levy has left a billion Euro hole in the HSE's budget.

The Health Service Executive is to hold an emergency board meeting to discuss ways of making savings and to look at options for spending cuts, which are suspected to include cuts in overtime, allowances and non-core pay for over 113,000 staff.

However, the current slew of protests over the pension levy has seen health staff already protesting over the Government's planned cuts and any further reductions in pay could spark further industrial action.

The HSE board meeting comes ahead of a meeting of the executive council of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) tomorrow. Ballots on strike action are expected to be on the agenda.

The council's considerations come in the wake of a massive protest march in Dublin on Saturday, attended by an estimated 100,000.

The HSE had a budget of over €14.5bn this year, and major cuts seem unavoidable with a deficit of €1.1 billion looming.

(DW/BMcC)

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