Rehab funding could be cut if it fails to reveal all pay levels

Rehab officials who dodged Thursday’s Dáil grilling are set to be hauled in to explain their no-show — with the group told its €83m-a-year State funding could be slashed if they fail to reveal all pay levels.

Public accounts committee chair Fianna Fáil TD John McGuinness confirmed the moves will take place if the group fails to come clean on salary and bonus deals to top bosses.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr McGuinness said the cross-party group expects Rehab to provide all details on its salaries in recent years and all bonus payment entitlements and pay-outs to senior officials.

He said, as agreed with current Rehab CEO Angela Kerins at Thursday’s meeting, the Towers Watson independent report on which these salaries are based — and full details of previous pay — must also be made public by early next week.

If this does not happen, Mr McGuinness said he will organise a “specially convened” public accounts committee meeting with Rehab again next month to get to the bottom of the ongoing crisis.

The PAC chairman said during this meeting the cross-party group will raise the possibility of cutting the disability charity’s €83m a year in State funding as the charity has claimed it should not have to reveal pay packets as it is a private entity.

The potential step has gained public support in recent days due to revelations Ms Kerins is receiving a basic salary of €240,000 a year, pension and car allowances bringing it up to €272,000, and has a contractual entitlement of a bonus worth up to 35% of her salary — an €84,000 pay-out.

In addition, Mr McGuinness said individuals who failed to turn up to Thursday’s meeting despite being requested will also be ordered to attend. They include Rehab’s remuneration committee, the disability charity’s chair, Brian Kerr, and ex-CEO and long-time Fine Gael senior adviser Frank Flannery.

PAC members have confirmed Mr Flannery’s no-show was particularly frustrating, as he was seen in Leinster House while the grilling took place.

The Irish Examiner sent a series of questions to Rehab’s spokesperson yesterday. They included what Ms Kerins’ bonuses and salary has been since she became CEO in 2006; who else is entitled to a bonus and what are the pay-outs involved; when exactly will the Towers Watson report be made public; and what Mr Flannery’s salary, bonus entitlements and pension was when he left in 2006.

No response was given at the time of going to press.