Nearly €1m was spent on Wexford’s councillors in 2016
CLOSE TO one million euro was the cost of local democracy in County Wexford in 2016 to meet the cost of councillors’ payments, expenses, committee allowances, phone, travel and conference fees.
In total €937,062 was spent for our elected councillors and former councillors James Browne, who gave up his seat when elected to the Dail, and the late Fergie Kehoe.
Each serving councillor gets a basic representational payment of €16,565.12 per year which relates to their gross annual pay. These payments are subject to PAYE, PRSI and other statutory deductions.
Conference and training fees are paid directly to conference and training organisers.
Conferences abroad fees include events held in Northern Ireland and outside the country.
The highest earning councillor last year was Fianna Fáil Tony Dempsey from Barntown.
Cllr Dempsey received €44,925.26 including €16,565.12, along with a Wexford County Council chairman’s allowance of €15,670, €253.53 for his phone allowance, €5,265.64 in expenses, while €7,752.50 was spent for Cllr Dempsey’s conferences abroad (which includes Northern Ireland), €85.36 for his training, €207.73 for his confernces in the Republic of Ireland and €125 for his conferences and training fees.
The next biggest spender was current chairman, Fine Gael’s Paddy Kavanagh, who was funded to the tune of €44,034.
The councillors who claimed the most expenses all hailed from North Wexford, meaning they travel the furthest distances to County Hall in Wexford.
Sinn Fein’s Fionntán O Súilleabháin from North Wexford, had a bill of a whopping €8,490.87, followed by Gorey district Fine Gael Cllr Anthony Donohoe who spent €8,041.32.
Fianna Fáil Cllr Joe Sullivan was next on the expenses list with a refund of €8,025.96, followed by Fianna Fáil Cllr Barbara Anne Murphy from Bunclody who spent €7,100.28.
The total expenses bill incurred by Wexford County Council in 2016 was €210,936.22, up around €300 on the 2015 figure.
The highest earning New Ross councillor was Fianna Fáil Cllr Michael Sheehan who received €37,682.45 minus taxes, which includes income from his role as a vice chairperson and chairman of a special policy committee group.
The highest earning Enniscorthy councillor was Cllr Paddy Kavanagh, who was paid €44,034 last year including €18,346.12 for being chairman of Wexford County Council.
The highest earning Wexford district councillor was Cllr Dempsey, who received €44,925.26 including €14,670.38 for his role as chairman of Wexford County Council for part of 2016, and the highest earning Gorey district councillor was Fianna Fail Cllr Malcolm Byrne who received €31,377.98 minus taxes which included €2,950.56 paid to him for being vice chairperson of the body.
The lowest earner was James Browne who received €4,408 for his eight weeks as a councillor last year, followed by the late Cllr Fergie Kehoe who received €9,610 and Cllr Lisa McDonald who was coopted on to the council in his place. Cllr McDonald received €9,765 in 2016.
Councillors’ representational payments amounted to €558,390.17.
Special Policy Committee chairperson allowances of €6,000 were paid to Cllr Michael Sheehan and Cllr Larry O’Brien.
€5,500 was paid to Jim Moore for his chairperson duties and
€3,500 was paid to John Hegarty, whle €2,000 was paid to the late Fergie Kehoe.
Chairperson allowances for county and municipal district chairpersons were paid to the following councillors:
Frank Staples (€5,901.12), Ger Carthy (€6,131.89), Malcolm Byrne (€2,950.56), Michael Sheehan (€2,983.53), Michael Whelan (€3,032.98), Oliver Walsh (€3,082.43), Paddy Kavanagh (€18,346.21), Pip Breen (€3,065.94) and Tony Dempsey (€14,670.38).
Kathleen Codd Nolan received €2,934.08 in 2016 for her role as vice chairperson of Wexford County Council and Cllr Michael Whelan from Ballycullane received €3,082.43 for his role as vice chairperson of the body.
Councillors’ training fees came to €19,396.97, conference and training fees came to €8,925.85.
The cost for councillors to attend conferences in Ireland ran to €12,001.65 and €30,348.28 for conferences abroad.
The phone bill for our councillors came to €7,881.67 with the award for most loquacious and proactive councillor going to Fionntain O’Suillebhain whose bill for 2014 and 2015 amounted to €652.66.