Executives at voluntary hospitals and agencies are receiving more than €3.2 million in allowances and benefits on top of their salaries, it has emerged.

Among the extra payments and benefits being provided from taxpayers' are private health insurance cover, motor allowances and extra duty allowances.

A report carried out by the HSE's internal audit unit, maintained that 13 agencies were paying €912,000 to nearly 50 managers in top-up salary, allowances and benefits from private funds separate to their State allocations, according to the Irish Times.

The report said in cases where management pay exceeded official scales, the agencies said th€ey had received verbal approval in the past from the Department of Health.

No rationale for Tallaght top-up pay