CALL FOR PAY LEVEL REFORM AS ALTERNATIVE TO HSE WEST CUTS

Date Published: 04-Sep-2012

A Galway West TD says the HSE can reduce the planned 130 million euro cut in its national budget by adopting an alternative approach.

Fine Gael Deputy Sean Kyne says several cuts can be avoided by renegotiating pay levels of higher grade public sector workers as part of the Croke Park Agreement.

This includes Ministers, TDs, heads of State Agencies and hospital consultants.

The HSE recently announced plans for cuts of 130 million euro nationwide in an effort to reduce a budget deficit of 259 million.

The plans include cutting agency staff by 50 percent, cutting overtime by 10 per cent, and reducing home help hours by 5.5 percent.

As part of the budget cuts, the HSE West must make savings of up to 30 million before the end of the year.