CEOs of ESB and Bord na Móna will receive pay increases

Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers TD has sanctioned pay increases for the chief executives of two major commercial state energy companies, ESB and Bord na Móna. This brings the total number of ministerial consents for CEO pay hikes across the commercial state sector to 16.

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While Ministerial consent for an increase to CEO remuneration for BnM (Bord na Móna) and ESB has been given, the governance process is not yet completed.

The Department of Public Expenditure confirmed on July 6 that Minister Chambers approved the increases for Paddy Hayes of ESB and Tom Donnellan of Bord na Móna. The ESB CEO's 2025 salary was €318,083, while Bord na Móna's CEO earned €225,000 in the same year. The specific amounts of the current increases have not been disclosed.

These approvals are part of a broader overhaul of remuneration for commercial state body CEOs, which has already resulted in significant pay raises for others. For instance, the CEO of Uisce Éireann will see their package rise by €118,000 to €391,953 this year. Similarly, the CEO of the Land Development Agency received a €50,000 hike to €250,000, and the National Stud CEO's salary increased from €110,569 to €170,000.

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The matter is expected to be finalised shortly. The Minister is not in a position to disclose further details until the process has concluded.

Minister Chambers approved these latest increases following recommendations from the line Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment, Darragh O’Brien. A spokesperson for the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment stated that while consent has been given, the governance process is not yet complete and details will be finalized shortly. The Department of Public Expenditure noted that no applications for pay increases have been rejected to date. Further recommendations for CEO roles at daa, Coillte, TG4, RTÉ, and the Irish Aviation Authority are currently under consideration.

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no applications have been rejected