Plans to cut €666m from health system

Health Minister James Reilly has warned the public to brace itself for a “massively challenging year” that will be the most difficult ever faced by the health service.

He gave the warning after revealing plans to cut €666m from the already overstretched system.

Under plans announced in budget 2014, the Department of Health has seen its funding slashed from €14.2bn to €13.66bn — a cut far deeper than that predicted in recent days.