State agencies pay out tens of millions in severance packages since 2019
Since 2019, several state agencies in Ireland have disbursed substantial amounts in severance packages, highlighting the financial impact of organizational restructuring and efficiency measures across various sectors. Key entities such as the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), Irish Rail, the National Asset Management Agency (Nama), and the Central Bank have been at the forefront of these significant financial outlays.
The DAA, responsible for operating Cork and Dublin Airports, has spent a staggering €56 million on voluntary early retirements and severance scheme exits. The initiative came in response to the crippling effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on global travel, which saw a dramatic reduction of passenger numbers by 78% at Dublin and Cork Airports, and 79% at Shannon Airport in 2020. Transport Minister Eamon Ryan elaborated on the necessity of these measures, underlining the acute financial challenges faced by state airports which led to comprehensive organizational restructuring and the implementation of cost-saving strategies.
In a similar vein, the Dublin Port Company reported substantial exit packages, with two individuals receiving sizeable sums in 2023, including one package exceeding €200,000. The company further disclosed payments totaling €1.5 million through a voluntary severance program encompassing six individuals in 2019 and 2020. The Transport Minister assured that positions categorized as redundant were largely not refilled, except one, which was done at a reduced cost.
On another front, Eirgrid has confirmed one departure with a package above the €200,000 threshold since 2019. However, the organization emphasized confidentiality surrounding the terms, hence the sparse details. The Irish Rail, too, has disbursed voluntary severance packages, totalling €1.56 million to 13 employees in 2019 and an additional €0.57 million to five employees over the subsequent four years.
The Central Bank reported severance packages to the tune of €1.15 million for nine employees, alongside separate packages of €140,257 and €105,312 in the following years. Nama, dealing with the management of acquired assets, provided severance packages worth €1.19 million to 10 employees in 2021, with each package averaging around €123,000.
Moreover, a unique case from Enterprise Ireland saw a senior market advisor receiving a statutory end-of-contract payment of €120,864, in alignment with local legislative requirements in countries with specified statutory benefits payable upon contract completion, such as the UAE, Qatar, India, China, South Korea, and Saudi Arabia.
These disclosures have sparked concern over the management and oversight of severance payments within the public sector. Catherine Murphy, TD for Kildare North, referenced a special report by the Comptroller & Auditor General on severance payments management in public sector bodies, issued in late 2015. The report highlighted potential oversight gaps, with the Department of Finance indicating that statutory severance payments or early retirement terms could be incurred without requiring departmental approval, suggesting a blind spot in controls.
This wave of severance payments since 2019 not only underscores the financial implications of organisational adjustments across state agencies but also raises important questions about the governance of such expenditures amidst challenging economic circumstances.
