The HSE may have to cut services later this year because the cost of retirements is set to exceed forecasts.
In documentation sent to the Public Accounts Committee, the HSE said it had budgeted for 3000 retirements in 2012 under the grace period arrangement. That number has now risen to over 4300.
The HSE acknowledged this evening that once it has established a final figure for departures, it will review this year's service plan, though it refused to comment on the prospect of cuts.
While each departure can save up to 36% of salary payments, the pensions still have to be paid from the HSE budget - with a big hit in the first year due to lump sums.
Based on 3000 departures, the HSE service plan for 2012 targeted payroll savings of around €160m.
However, that calculation has been skewed by the fact that over 4,300 staff have left - massively increasing the cost.
For example the HSE budgeted €180m for retirement lump sums for 3000 retiring staff. Today's documentation estimates it could need another €60m for lump sums alone.
The HSE said this evening that it had given a commitment that once it had fully established the actual number of staff who departed under the grace period arrangement, that it would conduct a review of the service plan.
Plan to free beds
Earlier today, the HSE said it hoped to free up hospital beds for surgical cases by avoiding medical admissions and moving more of these patients away from crowded emergency departments.
They will be moved to acute medical units, purpose-designed areas for rapid investigation and treatment.
It says the Acute Medicine Programme is being introduced in 18 hospitals and could free up 1,300 beds in a year for surgical cases.
The plan is to extend the programme to all hospitals in 2013.
