Senator calls for probe into second health group over top-up payments

A government official has called for a new “top-up” payments investigation into state-funded health groups not included in this week’s revelations, after claims some CEOs are receiving €340,000 a year.

Senator Colm Burke of Fine Gael said the move is needed to ensure public money is spent on services and not on extra salaries for already highly paid employees.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr Burke said this week’s revelations over “section 38” voluntary hospitals and health agencies are almost certainly being repeated in a different group called “section 39” organisations.