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Health service recruitment is set to be curtailed in two regions due to budget deficits.

The HSE has written to managers in HSE Dublin and southeast region and the southwest region informing them that a pause on recruitment will apply across all non-frontline “non-critical posts”.

It said exceptions will only be considered where supported by a documented business case and subject to approval.

“This includes recruitment of all non-frontline management and administration staffing,” it said.

The memo said priority should be given to critical posts “rather than automatically replacing vacancies on a like-for-like basis”.

“All recruitment must be actively reviewed,” said the memo to the executive management team in HSE Dublin and Southeast.

The memo was sent by Martina Queally, regional executive officer in HSE Dublin and southeast on April 30.

She asked the management team to review its pay allocation, with particular attention to the use of agency staff, overtime, and any current arrangements classified as exceptional payments.

“The Quarter 1 position for HSE Dublin and South East shows a year-to-date deficit of €37.4m against budget, representing 5.7pc,” she said.

“This level of variance, together with the nature of the overspend and the limited impact of corrective actions to date, has resulted in the region being placed under financial escalation.

“Immediate and decisive action is required across the region to realign expenditure with approved levels through stronger financial controls”.