Over €3 million in special bonuses were paid to senior managers within the Health Service Executive (HSE) during 2006 and 2007.
According to figures released by the HSE in response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin's Health & Children spokesperson Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, A total of 99 managers were paid bonuses amounting to €1.8 million in 2006. The following year, 128 managers were awarded bonuses that amounted to €1.5 million.
All staff at the grade of national director, assistant national director and hospital network manager were eligible to participate in the Performance Related Awards scheme during 2006 and 2007.
The HSE said that in respect of the bonuses awarded in 2006, the overall financial pool was increased by 7 per cent following a recommendation contained in an independent review of the scheme.
The executive confirmed that no bonus payments are to be made to senior managers for 2008 and that the HSE's board had agreed to a request from the Department of Health and Children to suspend bonuses for this year due to the deterioration in public finances.
Last month it emerged that the board of the HSE had approved a bonus totalling more than €70,000 for its chief executive Prof Brendan Drumm. The bonus payment, which was for 2007, should have been paid in 2008 but was postponed and only confirmed during the summer.
In addition, the Irish Times revealed last week that the Health Service Executive's nine senior managers spent over €130,000 on expenses using corporate credit cards over a four year period.
Mr Ó Caoláin described the €3.3 million bonus payments to senior managers in 2006 and 2007 as "further evidence of the culture of perks and privilege at the top of the HSE."
