NEW DUP assembly member Emma Pengelly is in line to receive a "golden handshake" worth up to £45,000 after giving up her role as a Stormont special adviser.
The former adviser to first minister Peter Robinson was last week chosen by the party as its new South Belfast MLA after Jimmy Spratt stepped down on health grounds.
Until her appointment she worked for more than eight years as a special adviser (Spad) in the first minister's office, earning a salary of more than £90,000 when she left.
There has been controversy after it emerged advisers to DUP ministers who have resigned from the Executive in recent weeks are in line to receive severance payments worth six months' wages.
But The Irish News has learned that Mrs Pengelly is also entitled to receive the taxpayer-funded package despite voluntarily leaving her position for another publicly-paid role.
It came as the former head of a parliamentary standards watchdog, Sir Alistair Graham, last night described the DUP's use of 'in-out' ministers as a "manipulation" of Stormont rules and waste of public funds.
DUP MP Gregory Campbell also launched an outspoken attack on The Irish News over its reporting on ministerial salaries, describing it as a "royalty-hating, DUP-bashing, truth-avoiding" paper.
The party last night did not respond when asked to confirm the level of severance package due to Mrs Pengelly, who will receive a salary of at least £48,000 as an MLA, and whether she intended to accept the money.
TUV leader Jim Allister described the payment as "absolutely sandalous".
"It's outrageous that somebody walks from one public sector job to another paid at a rate of £48,000 and can pocket a golden handshake in excess of £40,000 – the first £30,000 of which are tax free," he said.
The Office of the First and Deputy First Minister also declined to give any figure for the severance package.
A spokeswoman said: "Emma Pengelly receives a severance payment in accordance with the terms and conditions of her contract of employment.
"Mrs Pengelly will receive her severance payment from her former employer in due course as it is a contractual obligation to resign upon having become identified as an election candidate."
A DUP spokesman said: "Any severance payment to a special adviser is carried out in accordance with the terms and conditions of their contract of employment. This is a matter for the relevant government department."
