Local authority employees in Ireland have been receiving astronomical overtime payments, with some reportedly earning up to €33,000 in extra pay annually. This revelation has led to widespread shock and criticism, with many questioning how such excessive payments can be justified in the public sector, particularly in light of ongoing budget cuts and austerity measures. In this article, we will explore the issue in more detail, examining the reasons behind the high levels of overtime and the potential implications for both employees and taxpayers.
At a local council, employees were earning up to €33,000 in overtime, but an internal audit revealed significant inadequacies in accounting for the extra work. Out of 550 overtime transactions examined, 20% worth €23,083 could not be verified correctly as they did not indicate the start or end time of hours worked. In addition, 66 claims valued at €12,362 did not explain the reason for the overtime, and 25 transactions totaling €3,741 did not include the hours being claimed for. Over an 18-month period, 232 waged employees were paid €1.247 million in overtime, with the top ten payments ranging from €17,650 to €27,359. 62 salaried employees were also paid a combined €449,322 in overtime during the same period, with the top ten highest payments ranging from €14,518 to €33,334. Some employees earned up to 64% on top of their basic annual pay ranges. The audit also found instances of employees signing off on their overtime sheets, with 61 cases worth €10,795 revealing the claimant had signed off on their timesheet themselves. Furthermore, 50 claims examined did not have appropriate approval and 25 had no sign-off at all, yet the council paid out €4,885 on them. The auditors also found that more than 40% of transactions did not follow the official payment format, with difficulties in assessing overtime approval in compliance with procedures. In 56 of 550 transactions, the overtime rate was calculated incorrectly. The audit concluded that there was only “limited assurance” in place at the council for managing overtime processes, and a significant risk that the system would fail to meet its objectives. The council acknowledged the issues identified and had taken significant action to address them.
In conclusion, the revelation that employees at local authorities earned up to €33,000 in overtime payments raises important questions about the management of public funds. While it is important to compensate employees for their hard work and dedication, it is equally vital to ensure that taxpayers’ money is being used efficiently and effectively. As this story continues to develop, we can only hope that the necessary steps are taken to ensure that local authorities are held accountable for their spending and that employees are fairly remunerated for their contributions.
