The Minister for Health James Reilly has said Health Service Executive managers will shortly provide more information about the local impact of cutbacks announced last month.

Neither the HSE nor the Minister has provided any further detail, as promised, about the cutbacks announced over two weeks ago, prompting speculation that the Government had ordered a publicity blackout on the issue.

A meeting between Mayo TDs and HSE West management to outline the impact of the cuts in this region has been postponed twice already.

However, a spokesman for Dr Reilly said last night the HSE would be conveying information on cuts “at different times in different regions”. More information may be provided today.

The €130 million package of cuts announced last month provoked massive criticism, particularly in relation to measures affecting the disabled and older people. Dr Reilly later announced a partial U- turn in relation to cutbacks affecting provision of personal assistants.