WHILE many civil servants are being hit by pay freezes it has been revealed that the chief executive of the new Fermanagh/Omagh council could earn a whopping 44% more than the salary enjoyed by the current chief executive.
When Fermanagh District Council chief executive Brendan Hegarty was appointed in 2011 he commanded a salary of £76,452, with increments, but the boss of the new amalgamated council, who will be appointed early next year, will earn up to £110,000.
The closing date for applications for the new position is next Monday, December 9.
The reported differential in salary for the new council chief executive has been described by Erne East councillor Sheamus Greene as ‘disgusting’ and in an explosive tirade at a council meeting in the Town Hall on Monday night, the Brookeborough man suggested the pay package was totally unwarranted.
“The President of America earns £300,000, the Prime Minister David Cameron £142,000, the French President £130,000, the Columbian president £13,000 and the Prime Minister of China £10,000.
“For to be given that type of money for these small areas of the 11 councils is a wee bit disgusting, I’m sure we’re all agreed on that.
“It is totally wrong in this day and age for people running small organisations to earn almost the same as people running countries.”
The new payscale for the chairman position in 11 new super councils, set to begin operation in 2015, is between £95,000 and £110,000 and Mr Greene questioned whether the role merited such a lavish salary.
SDLP Councillor Frank Britton suggested that the ‘average Industrial wage’ may be a more fitting salary, seconded by councillor Greene.
DUP councillor Bert Johnston joked: “I think Sheamus is unlikely to get a Christmas card from the chief executive.”
Speaking to the Herald yesterday Mr Greene stood by his comments.
“In this day and age when people can not afford to heat their homes and have to choose between food and heating that type of pay is way over the top. For our council, a district which will probably have 100,000 people, to pay so much is scandalous.
“Of the 200 or so countries in the world the pay of the chief executive would be pretty high up there, in at least the top 50 countries in terms of leader’s salary. It doesn’t seem right.”
Due to the size of the new Omagh Fermanagh amalgamated council the salary for the new chief executive will not be as high as similar positions in Belfast or Derry, but will at least, according to the pay scales, be £95,000.
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