Reilly paid six outside advisers €131k

Embattled Health Minister James Reilly was under renewed fire last night for paying outside advisers €21,000 each for just six weeks’ work, despite ordering drastic cuts to frontline services for the disabled.

The revelation comes as the HSE scrambles to impose huge cutbacks in a bid to head off a €500m overspend by year end.

The six advisers brought in to look at restructuring the primary care reimbursement scheme and the regional directors of operations will receive more than €21,000 each under a contract with PA Consulting worth €131,000 plus Vat.