Ilex bosses' bill

Chair Sir Roy McNulty and former Chief Executive Bill Kirk received over 284,892 in 2008/9.

Sir Roy's salary for a part-time post last year was over four times the average full-time wage in Londonderry - which at April last year stood at just over 21,000. He was also paid expenses at a rate of almost 2,000 per month on average.

Full details of the ILEX wage bill are detailed in the company's newly-published annual report which shows that Sir Roy received a total of 104,677 in salary and employer National Insurance Contributions (NIC) whilst claiming 23,470 in expenses in 2008/9.

Former Chief Executive Bill Kirk received a total of 137,453 in salary and NIC as well as 16,244 in pension contributions, the report reveals.

He also claimed 3,048 in expenses, said the report.

In total ILEX paid an average of 24 staff 592,728 in wages and salary. Employment costs for the year came to a total of 776,620.

Included in the overall report is the findings of Mr Kieran Donnelly, Comptroller and Auditor General who examined the firm's financial statements.

He states: "In my opinion, in all material respects the expenditure and income have been applied to the purposes intended by the Northern Ireland Assembly and the financial transactions conform to the authorities which govern them."

The Sentinel asked ILEX whether the salaries of its Chairman and Chief Executive were justified.

But a spokeswoman for the body said it was not for ILEX to say whether it was justifiable or not and that this was a matter for the sponsor departments responsible for company appointments.

In relation to staff salaries she said: "All posts within Ilex are approved by the sponsor departments and advertised publicly in accordance with Northern Ireland Civil Service guidelines."

She said 18,152 of Sir Roy's expenses were spent on travel, 4,862 on accommodation and 455 on subsistence.

ILEX's sponsor departments DSD and OFMDFM had no comment as the Sentinel went to press.

Meanwhile, ILEX chiefs have been updating MLAs on the Social Development Committee at Stormont on the regeneration plan for Londonderry.

Speaking to the committee, Sir Roy predicted that ILEX's ambitious plans have the potential to create 10,000 jobs.

For details, see page 13.