Post by corrupteire on Sept 18, 2012 14:15:48 GMT -5
THE 32 members of Clare County Council claimed payments approaching €1 million in expenses and salaries last year, new figures published online show.
Yesterday, the local authority disclosed details of the payments to each councillor, including payments for meetings, conferences and summer schools attended in 2010.
In total, the councillors claimed €953,000 in payments last year.
The figures show one of Fine Gael’s three general election candidates for Clare, Cllr Tony Mulcahy, scooped the highest amount at €44,169.
The Shannon-based councillor received the highest amount through serving as mayor for six months of 2010 with his mayoral allowance — which is subject to taxation — at €13,500 for the year.
Cllr Mulcahy said yesterday: "It is not for me to say if I was good value for money or not, that is for others to say, but I did not profit from being the mayor last year."
Cllr Mulcahy said that he clocked up 40,000km driving to various council and community functions last year as mayor.
He said: "I run a small business and I had to pay people to cover for me when I was away. It was an extremely busy year and I’m not too sure if I would do it again."
The council’s current mayor, Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind), received the next highest amount at €40,701.
"In my six months so far as mayor I have clocked up 27,000km. I hope I would be good value for money. I am endeavouring to do my best. I have a passion about what I do."
Mr Curtin pointed out his take-home payment as a councillor was €31,366 after tax was deducted.
He said: "That is important to point out. I will make my diary available to anyone."
Clare County Council is one of a few local authorities to publish the expenses of their councillors online.
Other councillors to feature high on the list include special policy committee chairpersons Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) who claimed €38,660; Cllr Martin Conway €38,972; Cllr Patricia McCarthy €34,461 and Cllr Richard Nagle who claimed €33,043. The four received €6,000 each for chairing SPC meetings while they are also obliged to attend the more regular Corporate Policy Group meetings as SPC chairs.
The council’s budget for 2011 shows that councillors will be required to share the pain with council employees in the council’s €109m budget for this year.
The figures show that councillors’ annual allowance will reduce from €247,000 to €197,000 this year, with councillors’ expenses under one heading reducing from €264,000 to €150,400.
www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kfeyeykfeysn/rss2/#.UFid1C9g_uE.facebook
Yesterday, the local authority disclosed details of the payments to each councillor, including payments for meetings, conferences and summer schools attended in 2010.
In total, the councillors claimed €953,000 in payments last year.
The figures show one of Fine Gael’s three general election candidates for Clare, Cllr Tony Mulcahy, scooped the highest amount at €44,169.
The Shannon-based councillor received the highest amount through serving as mayor for six months of 2010 with his mayoral allowance — which is subject to taxation — at €13,500 for the year.
Cllr Mulcahy said yesterday: "It is not for me to say if I was good value for money or not, that is for others to say, but I did not profit from being the mayor last year."
Cllr Mulcahy said that he clocked up 40,000km driving to various council and community functions last year as mayor.
He said: "I run a small business and I had to pay people to cover for me when I was away. It was an extremely busy year and I’m not too sure if I would do it again."
The council’s current mayor, Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind), received the next highest amount at €40,701.
"In my six months so far as mayor I have clocked up 27,000km. I hope I would be good value for money. I am endeavouring to do my best. I have a passion about what I do."
Mr Curtin pointed out his take-home payment as a councillor was €31,366 after tax was deducted.
He said: "That is important to point out. I will make my diary available to anyone."
Clare County Council is one of a few local authorities to publish the expenses of their councillors online.
Other councillors to feature high on the list include special policy committee chairpersons Cllr Joe Arkins (FG) who claimed €38,660; Cllr Martin Conway €38,972; Cllr Patricia McCarthy €34,461 and Cllr Richard Nagle who claimed €33,043. The four received €6,000 each for chairing SPC meetings while they are also obliged to attend the more regular Corporate Policy Group meetings as SPC chairs.
The council’s budget for 2011 shows that councillors will be required to share the pain with council employees in the council’s €109m budget for this year.
The figures show that councillors’ annual allowance will reduce from €247,000 to €197,000 this year, with councillors’ expenses under one heading reducing from €264,000 to €150,400.
www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/kfeyeykfeysn/rss2/#.UFid1C9g_uE.facebook