Council chiefs’ €1.3m golden handshake ‘obscene’

Bumper pension payoffs last year to five retiring county and city managers totalling €1.3m were last night described as “obscene.”

Deputy Clare Daly made the comment in response to figures provided by Phil Hogan, the environment minister, showing that five managers received €1.3m in golden handshake payments.

One retiring manager, Joe Horan at South Dublin County Council, received a lump sum and special severance gratuity payment in excess of €300,000. He received a lump sum of €227,698, and a special lump sum payment of €75,899 for a combined award of €303,597.

Mr Horan was aged 64 when he officially retired in April of last year and is now receiving annual pension payments of €75,899 per annum.

Since the start of 2010, 11 retiring managers have shared €2.855mn in pension payoffs.

“The idea of county managers being paid more than twice the national industrial wage in annual pension payments and retiring on six-figure lump sums is obscene, particularly in the light of the austerity that many people are facing,” Ms Daly said.

Retired Limerick city manager Tom Mackey received a lump sum payment of €202,646 and the highest-ever special severance gratuity payment of €91,222 received by a county manager when he retired in Feb 2012 to give him a combined €293,868. Mr Mackey — aged 58 when he retired — is now in receipt of annual pension payments of €73,422. His deal included terms that allowed him to get pension benefits for years he did not work.

Gerry Behan retired as Limerick county manager aged 64 in April, and received a pension payoff of €270,194, between a lump sum of €202,646 and special severance payment of €67,548. He is currently receiving annual pension payments of €67,548.

Tom Dowling retired as Meath county manager aged 59 last September, and received a payoff of €290,658 made up of €217,994 in a lump sum and €72,664 as a special severance gratuity. He receives annual pension payments of €72,664.

Eddie Breen, the retired manager of Wexford County Council, received a pension lump sum of €202,646.

Mr Breen, who retired last November, is in receipt of annual pension payments of €67,548.