PADDY'S PAY

>> Late Late host waived goodbye to extra €50k and will pay for his own travel and accommodation >> Star says he will be taking home €250,000..more than the Taoiseach

- SANDRA MALLON

RTE offered Patrick Kielty €50,000 in expenses on top of his €250,00 salary – but was told by the new Late Late presenter that he would cover his own accommodation and travel costs. 

Interim deputy director general Adrian Lynch said Kielty told the Public Accounts Committee yesterday that in his original contract, there was €50,000 worth of expenses included.

He said: “So, Patrick Kielty has waived the €50,000.

“The original contract that the chair would’ve seen that would’ve been provided by the CFO, there was €50,000 of expenses.”

TD Alan Kelly asked: “So the drop is €30k,” but Mr Lynch clarified: “It’s €50k. So Patrick Kielty has waived €50k.”

Mr Kelly added: “So just to be clear. He's on €250k, he's getting €20k for pre-production... and he's waived €50k of what?" to which Mr Lynch, below, replied: "Fees... expenses.

Meanwhile, it was revealed Kielty will be paid more than Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as the presenter confirmed his salary to host the Late Late Show.

Kielty takes over the Friday night chat show from September after Ryan Tubridy stepped down from his role last month.

Yesterday, Kielty confirmed his salary of €250,000, with a €20,000 one-off payment to him to cover rehearsals and pre-production for the summer.

But Kielty, from Co Down, will still earn more than the Taoiseach.

A spokesman for An Taoiseach confirmed: "The Taoiseach's salary, comprising of TD salary and Taoiseach's allowance, and reduced by amount gifted back to the Exchequer, is just over €205,000."