Bonus payouts at energy and water watchdog total €300,000

The agency that regulates water charges increased its bonus payments last year for staff to almost €300,000.

According to the 2014 annual report published by the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), bonus payments to staff last year totalled €297,720, representing an increase of more than €20,000 on the bonuses of €273,798 paid out in 2013.

Over the past six years, the regulator has paid out almost €1.6m in staff bonuses in a scheme that has the approval of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, as well as that of the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources.