€1.6m in salary top-ups for charity bosses must be repaid

Senior charity bosses will be forced to pay back lucrative salary top-ups as part of a government crackdown.

Unauthorised top-ups “will not be tolerated”, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe warned yesterday, after details of significant bonus payments to senior staff members at St John of God emerged.

Health Minister Simon Harris also said payments would have to be returned, which could force 14 senior managers in the St John of God organisation to repay €1.6m worth of top-ups.