Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on HealthBi lly Kelleher has described as 'extraordinary' reports that the HSE service plan was altered before it was officially published to hide the severity of cuts in the health service next year.

"Coming just a week after it emerged that the scale of the deficit this year was much greater than the figure outlined in the Dáil by Minister Reilly, this raises serious questions about the accuracy of what people are being told about our health services," he said.

He said yesterday's report in the Sunday Business Post would only add to the sense of disillusionment that existed right across the service'.

The HSE has sought to downplay the reported changes in the plan.

Its Director General Tony O'Brien said changes to the plan were made following a Cabinet meeting and he and Health Minister James Reilly subsequently discussed changes that might be necessary to reflect what was discussed at Cabinet.

Mr O'Brien said he subsequently proposed changes which were agreed with the Minister and what had occurred was not as dramatic as it seemed.

The HSE's 2014 service plan says there are required savings targets of €619 million for the health service in 2014. However, in addition to this there are underlying 2013 deficits of €419 million which need to be addressed as well.