21 civil servants get €500,000 lump sums

ALMOST two dozen senior civil servants have received of around half a million euro each in retirement-linked severance packages since the economic crisis began, with 94 more handed €225,000 payments.

Figures revealed over the weekend show that taxpayers have funded the massive once-off payouts since 2007, when the Celtic Tiger era ended.

Department of Finance figures confirm a total of 21 senior civil servants have been paid between €440,000 and €570,000 in retirement lump sums since 2007.