This article is from page 18 of the 2013-02-26 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
A TOTAL of € 1.25 million is allocated in the council budget for Clare councillors’ wages, expenses, allocations and support cost.
The majority of that sum, € 916,832.12, was paid to councillors in the form of wages, expenses and allowances.
Among the higher earners for the year were the two mayors – Cllr Pat Hayes (FF), that served from January to June, and the current mayor Cllr Pat Daly (FF), that took over as first citizen in June.
As well as their basic annual allowance as a councillor of € 16, 724, they also received a mayor’s allowance of € 13, 500. Both payments are subject to taxation.
Among the expenses listed on Cllr Hayes’ accounts was a € 1, 535.56 subsistence allowance for a weeklong tourism promotion trip to New York in March, including St Patrick’s Day.
Cllr Patricia McCarthy (Ind) received the third highest payment of € 37,784.72. The Shannon councillor’s payment includes an allowance of € 6,000 as chairperson of a Strategic Policy Committee and € 4,500 as chair of the County Development Board.
Councillor Richard Nagle (FF) also received an allowance of € 6,000 as chairperson of another SPC and € 1, 500 for chairing the County Development Board.
Cllr John Crowe (FG) received an allowance of € 5,870 as chairperson of an SPC, as did the sixth highest recipient, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG), who received € 6,000 as chair of a SPC.
As well as payments of almost € 920,000 to councillors, a budget of almost € 250,000 is set aside for support costs provided by council staff and the offices.
Councillors can claim up to a maximum of € 4,700 in expenses and € 6,156 to attend conferences.
Just one councillor, Cllr Christy Curtin (Ind), noted the tax and PRSI paid on his council income. Including PAYE on salary, PRSI, universal social charge, pension levy, the deduction totalled € 5,100.