HSE spent €500k in 19 months on bullying cases

THE HSE has spent more than half a million euro since the start of 2007 investigating bullying allegations and paying out compensation to workers targeted by harassment.

Figures on the level of bullying cases within the administrative section of the HSE have shown that between January 2007 and July 2008 it was forced to spend the massive sum investigating allegations, processing complaints and compensating victims of the abuse.

The figures, which come after an Irish Examiner investigation revealed that Ireland is in the grip of a bullying epidemic in schools and workplaces across the country, were provided to Fine Gael TD Ulick Burke by the HSE’s national director of human resources, Sean McGrath.