Commenting on the ongoing scandal of massive payments to the former Chief Executive Officer of the Central Remedial Clinic and other abuses of funds at the charity, Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe said that the needs of service users must be prioritised and that the Minister for Health James Reilly and the HSE should urgently assess how root and branch reform at the Central Remedial Clinic can make best use of public money and win back public trust.
Deputy Seán Crowe said:
“Most Irish people are gobsmacked and thoroughly disgusted at the greed and the gross abuse of trust at executive level in the Central Remedial Clinic.“An audit by the HSE has now revealed that the former Chief Executive pay-off included €200,000 tax-free, €273,336 which was taxable and €268,689 paid to Mercer’s consultants to top up his pension fund as though he had worked until November 2016.
“Mr Kiely had previously only admitted to a pension pot of €200,000. The money was supposedly secured from donations and paid out of accounts held by the Friends and Supporters of the CRC.
“Charitable funds raised to provide services for physically disabled children and adults went to reward and line the pockets of a retiring Chief Executive. Meanwhile people with physical disabilities are struggling to get access to vital therapies and other services. This is especially appalling for the parents of children with disabilities whose life prospects depend on early access to services.
“The Minister for Health James Reilly and the HSE, as well as fully investigating the gross abuses at executive and board level, should carry out a parallel examination of how the CRC can be reformed. The needs of service users have to be paramount.
“The entire management and structure of the CRC needs to be thoroughly overhauled to ensure that every cent is directed towards the provision of services and that the very best use is made of public money and of charitable donations. Nothing less will to win back public trust in this charity that carries out such important work.
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