Health chief to get €430k severance pay in April

It has emerged a lump sum severance payment of €430,000 is to be paid to the outgoing Secretary General of the Department of Health, Michael Scanlan.

According to reports, the 55-year-old will receive the massive pay-out when he retires in April at the end of his seven-year term in office.

He will also qualify for a pension of more than €107,000 after 38 years in the civil service.

Mr Scanlan has offered to work for free after his retirement, once a successor is appointed, to help bring about reform in the department.