Under-payment is most common salary malaise within the HSE

I refer to your front-page story of February 6, in relation to overpayment of salary to some HSE employees.

Within the HSE, underpayment and late payment of salary, and premium payments, are far more common than overpayment.

Last December, the nurses in Cork and Kerry received no premium for Christmas Eve and had to wait until January to be paid.

The majority of overpaid employees pay back the monies promptly.

There may be an issue where the employee is on long-term sick leave and is on reduced pay as a result.

Ironically, the sick pay entitlements of all front-line public servants, such as nurses, was halved in 2014 by our current government, while the existing sick pay of judges and central bankers was retained in full.

Clearly, the Government believes that the health of nurses and of other front-line public servants is less important that that of senior civil servants, even though they combat disease, infection and assaults.

Lastly, I would bring your attention to an overpayment of €160,000 to HSE chief executive, Mr Tony O’Brien.

Mr O Brien was allowed to keep his overpayment. This €160,000 would have paid the annual salary of five first-year nurses within the HSE.

Cormac Williams

PRO

Psychiatric Nurses Association

Co Kerry