Ms Laverne McGuinness:

They did not. I have the letter in front of me and I am quiet happy to read it into the record. I read it in the last day. I do not accept at any time that there was any fund mentioned at all and I would like the Deputy to read the letter, which I have previously given to the committee, and what it says and the follow-up.
This letter is dated April 2009 to Mr. Des Peelo regarding remuneration of senior staff. It is a short letter but it is important.

As you may be aware, the HSE were requested by the Secretary General of the Department of Health and Children to collect detailed information on the pay and non-pay expenditure of voluntary organisations providing services to people with disabilities. The information requested included the number of staff at each grade or level within the organisation and the full remuneration available to each grade or position. I wish to acknowledge the co-operation of the management of the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) in providing the information in respect of your organisation...
Following analysis of the detailed information supplied by all organisations, the remuneration of a number of senior staff in CRC, as reported, would appear to be significantly out of line with the norms for the sector taking into account the size and the budget of the organisations.
[I then list a number of the posts: Deputy CEO, head of human resources, manager of clinical services, manager of services for adults, manager of IT and manager for capital development and special projects]
I am sure you will appreciate that in the current economic climate, and with the level of pressure on public services due to the restrictions on the availability of funding, the remuneration of senior executives is attracting increased and critical scrutiny. Notwithstanding that CRC has access to funding separate to the funding provided by the HSE, the HSE, as a majority funder, has a responsibility to ensure good governance and accountability in the organisations.
To this end, I am requesting that the Board immediately review and take steps to significantly reduce the level of remuneration for senior management and staff in the CRC, in line with norms of the organisation. I would be grateful if you [could let me have that information.]