Up to 14 administrative and academic staff members are said to be currently under investigation, eight of whom are professors at the university. It is alleged that bonus payments, in one case amounting to 85 per cent of the professor's salary, have brought total pay packages over the recommended level for university academics.

The Oireachtas committee is in the process of investigating the claims and no action has yet been taken against any member of staff at Trinity College. However, Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe has warned that, depending on the results of the investigation, he may have to look at reducing funds allocated to Trinity in the future.

Last October, the HEA defended the pay levels of leading university figures saying they were on par with the pay of chief executives of similar sized enterprises in the private sector.

However, Joseph Brady, President of the IFUT, said that the current education system could not afford to continue paying such funds. He criticised the HEA’s reluctance to issue information as well as the selectivity surrounding these payments and benefits. (Source: University Observer)