The Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) has again moved to clarify how the salaries of some of its senior executives are paid.

In a statement, the CRC is stressing that any top ups to wages come only from its lottery and not from its Santa Bear Appeal, flag days or any other fundraising activities.

The clinic has been under fire after it emerged last week that some of its senior executives were earning above the government approved salary cap.

In the statement the clinic says that charitable donations fund only 1.1% of the CRC wage bill, with over 98% of all public donations being used to fund the provision of services and capital investment.

It adds that funds currently held in reserve, totalling €12 million, are earmarked for planned capital expenditure.

It has also reiterated that in 2009, the Clinic had an agreed position with the HSE to phase out any existing management salaries being paid over and above the Department of Health consolidated pay scales.

Meanwhile the Children's Minister says charities need to be more transparent about what they spend their money on.

Frances Fitzgerald says money raised for services should not be topping up staff salaries. But she says the government needs more information from CRC about what has been going on.

The Finance Minister said earlier that the top-ups controversy at the CRC is "unacceptable". Michael Noonan says how the government reacts to the controversy is now a matter for the Department of Health.

And the Social Protection Minister has called for the establishment of a charities regulator. Joan Burton says the health agency funding debacle shows the greater need for scrutiny.

But she has again stopped short of calling for the resignation of the board of the CRC.