The executive said there were no plans for any staff cutbacks or redundancies within the health service.
The Minister for Health, Mary Harney, has described today's reports as 'totally inaccurate'.
She said: 'They show a complete lack of understanding of public service employment management and the new health service developments announced and underway this year.'
The HSE was responding to a leaked document from its head of human resources, dated 30 March, which said that as the executive must operate within its employment ceiling of 108,000 full-time staff, a target staff reduction of 1,000 must be achieved be the end of this year.
In a statement, the HSE said that the number of staff will rise by around 5,000 this year, due to major service developments in the areas of disabilities, services for the elderly and primary care.
The executive said that all parts of the service have been asked to review current employment levels to identify posts that may no longer be required.
According to the leaked document, employment ceilings can be transferred between various HSE departments or units to achieve reductions.
Voluntary hospitals and other voluntary agencies will be asked to achieve their reductions in 2007.
The filling of higher posts at management and administrative level across all health services will, from now on, require the prior approval of the Minister for Health and Children.
