The Chief Executive of the Health Service Executive has confirmed that the Department of Health has instructed him to draw up plans to cut next year's budget by at least an additional €800m.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, Brendan Drumm said the HSE would have to cut at least 6,000 jobs in the coming years if substantial savings could not be achieved.
He also announced that he would not seek to renew his contract when his five-year term comes to an end in 2010.
