Costs of search for HSE chief top €200,000

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) has spent at least €200,000 of taxpayers’ money on two unsuccessful attempts to recruit a chief executive.

That figure could rise above €300,000 if the HSE is forced to return to the market place for a third time, which seems increasingly likely if the reports that they will not select a candidate from an existing shortlist are true.

A spokesperson for the HSE said the successful recruitment of a candidate was the priority, not the amount spent in doing so.