Board members of Ireland’s adoption authority said they were being “exploited” by a government department and being made to work far more hours than they were being paid for.
In a dispute over fees, the Adoption Authority warned government that pressure was becoming so intense that standards would “inevitably” fall as they dealt with ever-more complex cases involving vulnerable kids.
The chair of the Adoption Authority (AAI) Orlaith Traynor wrote as well of board members feeling “entirely undervalued” with a €7,965 annual stipend when a similar role at state broadcaster RTÉ paid €15,000.
Correspondence reveals how officials from the Department of Children and Equality did ask the Department of Public Expenditure to examine whether the payments could be increased.
However, their requests for an increase in the stipend as well as the yearly salary of €134,854 that applies for the chief executive were rejected.
Asked about the correspondence, the Adoption Authority of Ireland confirmed that board fees and the salary for the CEO position remained unchanged.
A spokeswoman said: “Discussions by the Board of the AAI regarding this issue remain ongoing.”