The Western Health Board yesterday refused to comment on suggestions that it employed 320 people more than it had received sanction for in 2001.
The refusal came in advance of today's meeting with officials of the Department of Health and Children in the controversy over the number of job cuts which Government cost-saving measures will force on the health board.
Meanwhile, up to 200 attendants in health board hospitals in Dublin and Wicklow have begun a 24-hour strike for a pay claim.
Hospitals affected include St Ita's and St Brendan's psychiatric hospitals and a number of long-stay hospitals, including St Mary's in the Phoenix Park.
Today's meeting between representatives of the Western Health Board and of the Department of Health and Children was sought last week by the Minister, Mr Martin.
He said he wanted the WHB to explain a statement in which its chief executive officer, Dr Sheelah Ryan, suggested that the number of job cuts being sought by the Department under the Government's cost-saving measures had more than doubled from 85 to 200.
The Department had originally indicated that it would seek cost savings involving the non-filling of 85 sanctioned posts. It later told the WHB it wanted a saving in monetary terms of €1.15 million. Dr Ryan told board members in a memo that this amounted to 200 jobs and would mean the non-renewal of temporary contracts in these cases.
When the memo became public, the Minister rejected Dr Ryan's figures and demanded an explanation. The Department maintains that the saving of €1.15 million sought for the second half of this year represents 85 posts at an annual average salary of €27,000. It says Dr Ryan's figures suggest that the 200 people would be on a salary of under €12,000 a year and this could not be correct. The WHB has so far not expanded on its original statement.
Sources suggest the Western Health Board employed 320 more people last year than it had got sanction for. While the appointment of staff without prior sanction is not unusual, Department officials are believed to regard the number appointed by the WHB as particularly high. The WHB yesterday said it did not have anything to say on the matter.
The Government is anxious to portray the job cuts it is seeking - 800 from all the health boards - as having a minimal impact on services to patients and as coming exclusively from the non-filling of new posts. Health boards have suggested some existing jobs may have to go.
Area health boards have agreed contingency plans for essential cover with union representatives in seven psychiatric and long-stay hospitals in Dublin and Wicklow where a 24-hour strike by ward attendants is under way.
The dispute arises out of an 8 per cent pay rise agreed in seven major acute hospitals in 2000. Health employers say the payment arose from extra duties performed by attendants in teaching hospitals as changes in the education of student nurses mean they spend more time in academic study and less time on the wards. SIPTU wants the payment extended to non-acute hospitals.
The Labour Court has ruled that the issue should be dealt with under a benchmarking process dealing with craft workers in the health services. This is separate from the benchmarking process which reported during the summer and is due to report later this year. This recommendation was rejected by the workers.