County councillors earn over €700k

CAVAN county councillors were paid over €700,000 in payments and expenses in 2008, figures obtained by the Anglo-Celt have revealed. This equates to an average of almost €28,323 per elected representative in allowances and expenses, the vast majority of which were tax free. This was a significant reduction (almost 10%) on 2008 when the payments and expenses topped €770,000. It was largely on the back of an agreement by councillors at their 2008 budget meeting to cut their expenses by €30,000 for 2009, as well as reducing the cathaoirleach's allowance by €2,000 and the leas cathaoirleach allowance by €1,000. The top earner for 2008 was the Council cathaoirleach, Winston Bennett (FG), who claimed over €40,0000 for the year. His figure was boosted by additional allowances for being the vice-chair from January to June (€2,500.04) and the chairman from June to December (€11,358.92). Redhill's Sinn Féin Cllr. Charlie Boylan ranked second on the list, earning almost €39,000. This also included a figure of €10,710.96 because Cllr. Boylan was chairperson from January to June. He also earned a further €6,000 for chairing one of the Council's Strategic Policy Committees (SPCs) during the year. Also making the top five in 2009 were: Cllr. Paddy O'Reilly (FG), €32,543.40; Cllr. Madeleine Argue (FG), €30,971.44 and Cllr. Gerry Murray (FF), €30,668.73. In general, councillors who chair SPCs or represent the Council on various bodies qualify for additional allowances. These councillors usually clock up more expenses. It should also be noted that councillors who live farthest from Cavan town, where meetings are generally held, are entitled to greater expenses. In terms of travel subsidies paid to councillors, Cllr. Patricia Walsh (FF) topped the list with €4,279.01 for the year. She was followed by Winston Bennett (FF), Danny Brady (FF), John Paul Feeley (FF) and Gerry Murray (FF) - recording travel subsidies of €4,274, €4,110.28, €3,922.98 and €3,857.68 respectively. The greatest monthly expenses were claimed by Cllr. John Paul Feeley (FF) who claimed over €7,350 for the year in this category. Cllr. Feeley, given the great distance that Blacklion is from Cavan town, is entitled to a higher level of monthly expenses that his Council counterparts. Once again, the Sinn Féin councillors are among the lowest earners in the chamber with the exception of party whip Charlie Boylan who was cathaoirleach for the first half of the year. None of the party members, except for Damien Brady, claimed travel subsidies for the year, as these relate to expenses incurred by attending conferences. The party generally does not attend such conferences unless they are deemed to be of major benefit to the member or county.