Rehab’s new chief was paid a top-up in her previous job
Mo Flynn received €7k payment on top of her €120k hospice salary
THE new Rehab CEO was receiving a salary top-up in her current job – before the HSE ordered that it be stopped.
Mo Flynn starts work with Rehab in January, but is currently CEO at Our Lady’s Hospice in Dublin, one of the charities found non-compliant with salary requirements by the HSE last year.
Ms Flynn takes over at Rehab from Angela Kerins who resigned in April, citing ill health. The salary she will receive next year is €140,000, €100,000 less than Ms Kerins was paid.
Last year, charity salaries hit the headlines following a HSE audit of Section 38 agencies, which receive funding from the State. Staff in these agencies are considered public servants and so should comply with public sector pay rules.
‘Got €12,700 to manage another hospice’
The audit found an allowance of €7,000 to Ms Flynn sourced externally, along with payments to other senior managers.
Ms Flynn had also been receiving a separate allowance of €12,700 funded from HSE money to manage another hospice in Blackrock. It is understood that this arrangement was in place since 2002, before Ms Flynn took up the role, and was allowed by the HSE.
The audit also highlighted that two other externally sourced payments were paid to other individuals.
The HSE’s Dr Geraldine Smith told the Dáil Public Accounts Committee: ‘The hospice provided information that CEO was in receipt of a HSE allowance to manage Blackrock Hospice. It also stated that a board of directors’ allowance of €7,000 was paid to lead fundraising, a second board of director’s allowance was paid to another individual to manage the fundraising and a third board of director’s allowance was paid in respect of implementation of governance and policy framework, all of which it was stated come from non-public sources.’
Ms Flynn declined to comment but Tina Connell, acting head of fundraising at the hospice, said this week: ‘Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services is in compliance with all HSE requirements.’ She said Ms Flynn’s salary for last year was €120,000, as stated in the hospice’s annual report. She did not give details of how this was sourced but her comment does indicate the top-ups have been stopped, as requested by the HSE.
The Irish Daily Mail reported in November last year that €19,000 sourced from stocks and shares was divided between Ms Flynn (€7,000) and two other managers. At the time, the hospice said these top-ups were not sourced from fundraising money.
A Rehab spokesman said the group could not comment on Ms Flynn’s previous employment.
He added: ‘The Rehab Group conducted a robust recruitment process and is delighted with the appointment of Ms Mo Flynn. The new CEO will take up the post with the charity on January 1, 2015, and we look forward to working with her in developing the services that Rehab provides.’
Ms Flynn’s expenses and details of all salaries over €65,000 will be published by the charity.
This is in contrast to Ms Kerins, who had for some time declined to disclose her exact salary. The PAC had summoned Ms Kerins to appear before it and answer questions about her income. But having done so once for a seven-hour session, she refused to return.
She is now taking a High Court case against the PAC, the committee clerk, Dáil clerk and the attorney general. Ms Kerins says she became ill and had to resign because of her dealings with the committee. She is seeking an injunction against the PAC, and a judicial review of her case.