Nurses belonging to the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) are to stop working overtime from Thursday.

It is in response to what they say is the lack of any meaningful progress in five months of talks to resolve the recruitment and retention crisis in mental health services.

The association says nurses are "irate and frustrated" over this latest action, having suspended their strike action five months ago.

Earlier this week, Health Minister Simon Harris said Thursday's action will have a negative impact on the delivery of care for patients.

Peter Hughes is general secretary of the PNA.

He says the strike was called off on the clear understanding that the Health Service Executive (HSE) was ready to offer substantial solutions.

"Over the past five months of talks which have made little if any progress, nurses have shown extraordinary patience as they watch the mental health services struggle with staff shortages."

"In some services, these shortages amount to over 20% and overall nationally we know that there are 700 vacancies in mental health services.

"This is not sustainable in a vital area of our health care where demand is growing all the time".

"Unfortunately, we have not been convinced that the employer has shown any urgency over the past five months to bring the talks to a conclusion."

Mr Hughes adds: "The actions of the HSE have only added to the recruitment problems in mental health by maintaining an effective embargo on recruitment, and not offering permanent posts to this year's graduates, as has been the practice in recent years.

"This stand by the HSE has been all the more baffling given that competition from the private sector to recruit mental health nurses has intensified, with significantly improved and attractive salaries on offer."

It comes a week after ambulance personnel, who are members of the PNA, protested at Leinster House in a dispute over union recognition.