New chief executive and board appointed to CRC

The Central Remedial Clinic in Dublin, which was the subject of controversy over top-up payments and a €740,000 severance package to its former chief executive has appointed a new chief and board.

Occupational therapist Stephanie Manahan has been appointed chief executive following what the CRC said today was a "rigorous selection process" through the Public Appointments Service. She is a former chair of the National Association of Occupational Therapists of Ireland and most recently was deputy hospital Manager at Connolly Hospital, Dublin.

She will take up her position on June 1st.

It emerged in January that the clinic's former chief executive Paul Kiely was given the €740,000 payoff to speed up his exit from the organisation due to his large pay package.

Ministef for Finance Michael Noonan described it at the time as "an astounding set of circumstances" and said the developments were "absolutely shocking".

The HSE appointed an administrator, John Cregan, to identify any legacy issues on "salary rates and compliance with public pay policy, pension schemes and pension payments".

The new chairman of the board, Kieran J Timmins, said he understood the report of the interim administrator would be presented to the director general of the HSE "in the coming weeks".

He said he expected there would be “many important recommendations contained within this report and the implementation of those recommendations where appropriate will be an absolute priority for the incoming board”.

Mr Timmins acknowledged the new board and chief executive faced “many challenges”.

“The most important task involves rebuilding the trust and goodwill of the people who use our services, our staff and our other supporters. The new board will provide the governance and leadership necessary to ensure that every cent received by CRC is spent in a way that maximises the support of children and adults with physical disabilities.”

Ms Manahan said the CRC’s staff had over 60 years of providing excellent services and support to children and adults with physical disabilities.

“My focus will be to further build on this great work and to continually emphasise to staff that the recent governance issues in the CRC in no way reflects on the fantastic work they undertake, day-in and day-out, for the children and adults who attend the clinic.”

The new board members are Kieran J Timmins (chair), Carol Ann Casey (vice chair), Emer Moriarty Crowley, Damien Dalym , Tom Fleming, Sean Hickey, Malcolm MacLachlan, Chris McEllhinney and Tom Quinn.