THE HSE is facing cuts of €103m if it wants to stay within budget this year. The latest data for the Health Service Executive shows that up until the end of July, it was over budget by €35m, according to RTÉ.

The largest deficit is attributed to the HSE West region, which was €45m over budget, while the HSE Dublin-North East was €42m in the red.

The HSE is blaming the shortfall on a €297m drop in receipts from the health levy – this is due to rising unemployment in the country. The HSE has said that it will not require further cuts to reduce costs and will instead assume the shortfall itself.

The organisation has underspent by €41m on capital expenditure, but expects to spend this by the end of the year.

The HSE also said that €50m allocated to mental health will not be spent, as the money is dependent on the sale of lands, which is not forthcoming.

The HSE has already been lambasted for its lack of mental health resources. The  Psyciatric Nurses Association recently said that mental health services in Ireland are in “freefall”.