2019 PAYMENTS AND EXPENSES

COUNCILLORS’ EXPENSES T

More than €750,000 in representational payments and expenses was paid to Louth county councillors in 2019, according to recently released figures. A total of €755,667.18 was paid to 38 councillors. The council is made up of 29 members, but the bigger number of individual recipients is because Local Elections took place last year in May.

A number of sitting councillors retired before the election and others were unsuccessful in their bids for re-election.

Sadly, Cllr Oliver Tully and Cllr Tommy Byrne passed away during the year. In 2018 the amount paid out was less at €779,311.

Each councillor is entitled to a representational payment of €17,093.34. It was €16,867.34 in 2018.

They also received an allocation of €1,000 (down from €1,499.86 in 2018 when it was a new payment) for being members of the three Municipal District committees of Dundalk,

Ardee and Drogheda, while there are allowances for the County Council chairperson and vice-chairperson, and chairs of the Municipal Districts. All of the above are taxed and subject to other statutory deductions.

An allowance to the chairpersons of Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs) is tax-free.

Councillors also get expenses for attending meetings and official functions, and for broadband and phone expenses, in addition to training and foreign travel.

Each member of the local authority is given a phone and iPad for the purposes of council activity; while those attending any outside bodies must supply a report to their own council on a quarterly basis.

Councillors receive expenses for taking part in training courses such as those organised by the Association of Irish Local Government and Local Authorities Members Association.

Seven councillors received the SPC chairpersons’ allowance, Cllrs Joanna Byrne and Emma Coffey, €6,000 each;

Cllrs Marianne Butler, Maria Doyle and Pio Smith, €3,500 each; and Cllrs John McGahon and Mark Dearey, €2,500 each.

Meanwhile, six members received the Municipal Districts chairpersons’ allowance, Paul Bell and John McGahon, €7,000 each; Frank Godfrey and Conor Keelan, €5,000 each; Dolores Minogue, €3,500 and Pearse McGeough, €2,500.

The breakdown of the €755,667.18 is as follows: Representational Payment €492,360.37, Annual Expenses