Secretaries general paid over €500k on retirement

THE secretary general of the former Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport received a package worth more than half a million euro upon his retirement, figures released under the Freedom of Information Act have revealed.

Con Haugh, who retired in May, qualified for a retirement lump sum of €332,896, severance pay of €110,964, and an annual pension of €100,889.

A similar package was paid to Gerry Kearney, the retired secretary general of the former Department of Community, Equality & Gaeltacht Affairs.

Upon his retirement in December 2009, Mr Kearney qualified for a lump sum of €332,893, severance pay of €110,964, and an annual pension of €110,964.

The figures were confirmed by the Government to TG4.

Confirmation of the figures comes just weeks after the outcry over the retirement package afforded to the former secretary general of the Department of the Taoiseach, Dermot McCarthy.

Mr McCarthy departed over the summer with a lump sum of €428,011, severance payment of €142,670 and pension worth €142,670.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny said at the time that he had been “caught” with the package awarded to Mr McCarthy as it was under pre-existing contractual arrangements.

“We’re in a situation where I’m caught with that particular deal, but I made it clear that there will be changes in this area for the future,” Mr Kenny said.

The Government last week announced further cuts on retired politicians and senior public servants who have six-figure pensions.

The functions of both the Department of Tourism and the Department of Community were delegated elsewhere when Mr Kenny opted to reorganise the Government system following his election.

The Department of Community was abolished in favour of a newly-created Department of Children.

The Department of Tourism, Culture and Sport, meanwhile, became the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

Responsibility for tour- ism and sport was reassigned to the Department of Transport.