The HSE has rejected 'business cases' made for the retention of nearly 150 allowances and extra payments made to senior staff in voluntary hospitals and other Section 38 agencies it funds.

Among the allowances the HSE says should cease are €33,250 to Tallaght Hospital's Deputy CEO, €51,617 paid to St James's Hospital's Director of Postgraduate Medical Education, €28,035 to the chair of the Mater Hospital's medical executive, €39,000 to Holles Street Hospital's Secretary/Manager and €37,500 to its Director of Midwifery.

The decision to discontinue more than €1.6 million in allowances paid to senior management and medical staff is made in a report presented to the Dail Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

The report followed a HSE audit published last year which showed that €3.2 million in unauthorised 'top-ups' were being paid by hospitals and other voluntary agencies on top of official salaries.

The HSE invited these bodies to present business cases for the continuation of the 'top-ups'.

The health executive says some of the allowances must cease by July, while others are to be suspended pending a review. Some of the allowances were paid from external, non-HSE sources.

The HSE has now rejected the majority of the business cases put forward for the retention of allowances.

Its report also discovered some extra payments which were not discovered in the previous audit.