As predicted by IMPACT, a new HSE voluntary redundancy facility will not be open to all staff and will only apply to “targeted employees in certain grades, services or locations determined by the employer and approved by the HSE.” The HSE issued a circular to senior management on the facility last month.

Meanwhile, IMPACT has asked HSE management to look again at the low release rate for staff who have applied for incentivised career breaks. However, it is not expected that there will be much of an increase in the numbers released.

At its December meeting, IMPACT’s Health and Welfare executive discussed both schemes, neither of which were negotiated with the union. The executive believes current staffing levels in IMPACT grades should not be reduced any further because of huge existing shortfalls. Therefore, the union won’t be actively pursuing implementation of either the redundancy or the incentivised career break circulars.