John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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218. To ask the Minister for Health if any person in either Waterford Regional Hospital or any other Health Service Executive operated institution within Waterford city and county has been in receipt of any top up payments similar to those currently being reported in the media; if so which institution; the member of staff that has received the top up payment; where the associated additional funds have come from; his views on officially appointed members of staff receiving top up such payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52299/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Arising from the HIQA report on Tallaght Hospital in 2012 which noted that a number of senior staff had been in receipt of remuneration in addition to the approved rates for their posts, my Department requested the HSE to take steps to ensure that similar payments were not being made in other agencies funded under Section 38 of the 2004 Health Act. The HSE’s Internal Audit Directorate undertook a detailed review of remuneration in these agencies. This review was concluded in March 2013 and identified a significant number of cases in which senior personnel were in receipt of additional payments outside the terms of the approved pay scales. The agencies which were audited are voluntary hospitals and disability organisations and the audit does not relate to employees of the HSE.

On 27 September 2013 my Department issued a pay policy, prepared following consultation with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, to the HSE. This policy, which reflects Government policy on senior public service pay generally, makes it clear that health service bodies, including the HSE, may not supplement approved rates of remuneration with Exchequer funding or non-Exchequer sources of funding.

As the issues raised in relation to Waterford are service matters this aspect of the Deputy's question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.