Water chief gets £266,000 package

Katharine Bryan left her post at the end of May

The former chief executive of Northern Ireland Water has received a severance package totalling £266,000.

Katharine Bryan left her post at the end of May following discontent that an error in the company's business plan would increase household water bills.

The multi-million pound shortfall sparked concerns of an extra £30 on water bills.

It's believed the Regional Development Minister told the company's chairman that change was needed at the top.

Details of Ms Bryan's severance package were revealed by the minister Conor Murphy on Monday.

He was responding to a written question from SDLP assembly member John Dallat.

Ms Bryan held her post for four years. The board of Northern Ireland Water is now searching for a replacement.

In the interim, the chairman, Chris Mellor, is in the role of chief executive.

The shortfall is being investigated by the Utility Regulator.

Impact on customer

Stormont's Regional Development Committee has also been investigating the error and its members have criticised both the department and NI Water over the error and how it was handled.

The committee quizzed both the department and Northern Ireland Water executives, including Ms Bryan, who insisted Northern Ireland Water was doing all it could to minimise the impact on households.

As chief executive Ms Bryan had been responsible for the day-to-day operations of the government-owned company.

Last year, she was paid, including salary and bonus, about £180,000.