646 civil servants earn over €100k

MORE than 600 civil servants were earning over €100,000 at the end of June, with 13 receiving up to €250,000 every 12 months.

Figures from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform show that while no civil servants are now in receipt of €250,000 pay packets, 13 are earning between €200,000 and €250,000 a year.

A further 48 are being handed between €150,000 and €200,000 a year, while 585 are receiving between €100,000 and €150,000.

The figures were revealed after a parliamentary question by Fianna Fáil’s Cork South Central TD, Michael McGrath.

The response also said the that figures cover what are called “non-industrial” civil servants, and account for about 2% of civil servants.

It comes just days after the HSE’s July performance monitoring report confirmed the service needs to make a further €302 million of cuts and savings this year, and just two months before a budget which is expected to cause yet more pain to the public.

Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Brendan Howlin also confirmed in the response that the incoming President’s salary will be slashed by €76,493.

Mr Howlin said the new salary level will be €249,014, down from the €325,507 the sitting President, Mary McAleese, is allowed to be given.

While Mrs McAleese is entitled to this sum, which is calculated by providing the same rate as the chief justice plus 10%, she has voluntarily waived a number of payments since the economic crisis began.

Under the Constitution, the financial deal offered to any President cannot be changed without the permission of the President while he or she is in office.

As a result, the planned cut in pay must be made before the new incumbent is elected next month.

The correspondence from Mr Howlin to Mr McGrath also said Cabinet does not intend to cut the €317,434 annual entertainment allowance afforded to every President since 1998.

The planned reduction in pay is likely to play a role in the presidential election.

To date, all candidates except for Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness, who has said he will take the industrial wage if elected, have said they are happy to receive whatever pay structure the Government decides is warranted.