CHAPLAINS WORKING for the HSE in the Dublin North East region earn over twice as much as the average priest in Dublin, new figures show.

HSE records obtained by the Medical Independent, based on questions from Fine Gael councillor Kieran Dennison at a HSE forum, show that the total spend on chaplaincy services for the Dublin North East region in 2012 stood at €1,571,595 – covering the cost of 27.78 full-time chaplains, working out at over €56,500 each.

By comparison, the Archdiocese of Dublin said its 270 priests had an average annual income of just under €25,000 a year.

While priests assigned to everyday parishes would have some benefits-in-kind – such as the provision of accommodation or of voluntary housekeeping services – the total monetary value of their salaries still falls below HSE equivalents.

HSE chaplains are paid on a similar grade to middle-ranking clerical administrators, with salaries starting at €43,192 when the positions were standardised in 2006.

This applies to both ordained and non-ordained chaplains.

Diocesan priests are paid based on contributions received in parish collections, which are forwarded to the Diocesan management to be dispersed equally between its priests.