95 jobs are being lost at the Mater Private Healthcare group. The company says it is in response to the falling number of people with private health insurance cover.

It is seeking the 95 voluntary redundancies - describing it as 'unavoidable' - if it is to safeguard as many other jobs as possible and maintain high standards of patient care.

The firm says it has carried out a comprehensive review of its business, including external developments, and that these job loses are part of an overall cost reduction programme.

Mater Private Healthcare currently employs around 980 people.

"There has been a significant reduction in the number of people with health insurance, and while the amount and type of procedures that patients on lower insurance plans can access at the Mater Private has been increasing every year, the fall off in the health insurance market has negatively impacted the sector" it said in a statement.

"The reduction in the cost base achieved to date falls short of the challenge and, regretfully, Mater Private has no choice but to reduce headcount by around 95, which it will seek to do by way of a voluntary redundancy programme" it added.

The company operates services in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Louth and Meath.