Taxpayers foot CEO’s €10,000 hotel bill
The west’s top hospital chief, who transfered to Galway from Dublin, is paid an annual stipend of €10,000 to cover the cost of accommodation in the city.
The HSE West has confirmed to the Galway City Tribune the ‘annual detention payment’ of €10,000 to Bill Maher, the CEO of West/Northwest Hospitals Group (WNHG), who is paid a salary in excess of €145,000.
Mr Maher, who is from Carlow, is using the allowance to cover the cost of staying at city hotels during the week – it is understood he has not relocated and drives home at weekends.
Mr Maher was previously acting CEO of St Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin, which he joined in 2006 – he was head-hunted to sort out hospitals in the West of Ireland, including University Hospital Galway.
Health Minister James Reilly and Public Expenditure and Reform Minister, Brendan Howlin, confirmed they sanctioned approval of an over-the-cap salary of €145,000 for the appointment.