The number of staff in the HSE earning in excess of €100,000 has increased last year, according to new figures.

According to information given in a Dail reply by Health Minister James Reilly, in 2012, 121 HSE executives earned over €100,000, and between them, total remuneration, including allowances and 'arrears', amounted to €14.6 million.

The brings the average earnings of the 121 staff to just over €120,000.

The Minister, in his reply, said an analysis of annualised payroll data from May 2013 indicated that at that time the number of executives on annual remuneration in excess of €120,000 was 129.

Minister Reilly, in a response to Deputy Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein, said the health service was the subject of an ongoing major programme of reform in line with the Programme for Government.

"It is essential therefore that the health service is led by senior managers with the requisite skills and expertise to ensure safe and efficient provision of services to the public during a period of major change," Dr Reilly said.

He added that the number of HSE executives earning over €100,000 represented a very small proportion of overall staff numbers and the posts occupied by these staff were necessary.