Details have emerged of new proposals from the Health Service Executive (HSE) aimed at cutting costs in the health sector.

Included in the list are suggestions that staff work an extra 2 hours per week for the next couple of years.

It also proposes that flexitime arrangements be discontinued.

According to the Irish Times the HSE supplied the options to unions in recent days.

It is in an effort to tackle a potential €500 million deficit in the health service this year.

Management has proposed that overtime could be paid only at a flat hourly rate with no premium payment.

The executive has reportedly told unions that the current total workforce would have to be reduced to make room for 600 new posts sanctioned by the government.