HSE pays total of €8.2m to 25 retirees

TWENTY-FIVE consultants who retired from the HSE last year received tax-free retirement lump sums in excess of €8.2 million.

The tax-free bonanza for retiring consultants is revealed in figures made available under the Freedom of Information Act and show that the top 25 retirement payments in 2010 were all paid to HSE consultants who received amounts ranging from €330,691 to €412,384.

One consultant psychiatrist received €412,384 on retiring in September of last year while two other consultant psychiatrists received €407,621 and €405,656 respectively.