Five current and former Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Executives appear on the 2021 ‘Town Hall Rich List’, that compiles the number of public officials who receive financial packages greater than £100,000 a year.

The list is compiled by pressure group, Taxpayers Alliance, with the 2021 list marking the 14th edition of the annual list.

Drawing on data from the 2019-2020 period, the list reveals that, locally, the top earner that year was former Chief Executive Brendan Hegarty.

Mr. Hegarty was paid £103,840 in 2019-20, plus an employer pension contribution pension contribution of £20,768. His total remuneration was £124,608.

His successor, Alison McCullagh was paid £93,340, and received a pension contribution of £18,668. Her total remuneration was £112,008.

Mr. Hegarty had taken a cut in his earnings, with data for 2018-19 showing he earned £114,445.

In succeeding Mr. Hegarty as Chief Executive, Ms. McCullagh received a pay rise of £8,579 as she had received a salary of £84,761 for her role as Director of Regeneration and Planning in 2018-19.

Others who were included in the list include the Director of Corporate Services and Governance, Celine McCarten (£89,574); former Director of Community and Health, Robert Gibson (£89,170); and former Director of Environment and Place, Kevin O’Gara (£89,059).

The Impartial Reporter asked the Council why there was a disparity between the former and the current Chief Executive’s salary.

A Council spokesperson said: “There has been no change to the nationally agreed pay scale range for the post of Chief Executive, and like all other positions within the Council, it is paid on a salary range which increases with the length of service.”

Of the overall list, John O’Connell, Chief Executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “Taxpayers facing huge and hated council tax rises want to know they are getting value for money from their local authority leadership.

“At the onset of the coronavirus crisis, thousands of town hall officials were taking home huge sums.

“While councils were plunged into tackling the pandemic, many staff will have more than earned their keep, but households have nevertheless struggled with enormous and unpopular council tax rises.

“These figures shine a light on the town hall bosses who’ve got it right, and will enable residents to hold those who aren’t delivering value for money to account.”

At least 2,802 people employed by local authorities in 2019-20 received more than £100,000 in total remuneration – an increase of 135 people on 2018-19’s figures, and marking the highest number of such salaries since 2013-14.