29 Irish Water employees to earn over €100k a year

The controversy over the set-up costs of Irish Water is set to intensify after it was revealed that 29 employees at the State-owned utility earn over €100,000 a year and all 309 staff could earn bonuses from 2.5% to 15% of their annual salaries.

Figures released last night show that, despite Government assurances there would be no return to the days of Celtic Tiger bonuses, 94 staff at Irish Water could earn future performance related bonuses of between 14% and 15%.

The figures reveal the true extent of the bonus culture at Irish Water, and will pile more pressure on boss John Tierney, who is already under fire for spending €50m on consultants.

In a reply to Labour TD Kevin Humphreys, Environment Minister Phil Hogan said that, on top of the 29 staff earning over €100,000:

* 21 are paid from €90,000 to €100,000;

* 35 are paid from €80,000 to €90,000;

* 42 are paid from €70,000 to €80,000;

* 183 less than €70,000.

Mr Tierney has already told a Dáil committee that because salaries at the company were “competitive” and there were no annual increments, it was decided a bonus scheme could be introduced.

Another 27 senior managers who drive their own cars are being paid an annual allowance of €10,500, which is taxable. Irish Water is paying the allowance in lieu of mileage as it believes it’s more “cost-effective”.

Replies to Dáil questions also show that, of Irish Water’s total staff of 310, 59 had come from parent company Bord Gáis, 107 had worked with local authorities, five had come from the Department of the Environment, and 139 were externally recruited.

Irish Water is also providing private health insurance of VHI Plan C or equivalent for nine senior executives.

Mr Humphreys said he welcomed the fact that the Government was finally answering questions on Irish Water. However, he said further questions had to be answered in relation to staff bonuses, as Mr Tierney told a Oireachtas committee last week that the average potential bonus was just 7%.

“We have a situation where 50 staff can earn bonuses of 2.75%, 165 can earn 6.5% yet 94 can earn bonuses of between 14% and 15%.”

Irish water has insisted no bonuses have be paid out and a pay freeze is in place until 2016.