Nursing staff at St Ita's psychiatric hospital in Portane, North Dublin are to ballot for industrial action, in protest at the growing impact of staff shortages.

A statement from the Psychiatric Nurses' Association said staff cutbacks at the hospital's unit for intellectual disability have made the situation "intolerable" for staff and clients.

A spokesperson said there are a growing number of staff looking for transfers due to stress levels, low morale and lack of management support within St Joseph's Centre for Intellectual Disability.

The statement added that: "The ballot for industrial action has been forced on our members in both Mental Health and I.D Services due to the breach of Agreements already in place between the PNA, senior management and the HSE.

"Nurses feel they are being left with no option but to embark on industrial action in order to  protect our services and the safe delivery of care to all service users and staff, which is of the utmost importance," it added.

440 staff members are to vote over the next two days for industrial action, up to and including a strike.