Conference gravy train rolls on and on - Ratepayers cough up 89,488 to cover conference costs

Friday, 03 February 2012 15:28

conference_chartTHE ratepayers of Mayo coughed up 89,120 last year to send 25 elected members of Mayo County Council to conferences throughout the country.

The figure is made up of 68,223 in travel and subsistence as well as 20,897 in conference fees.

A total of 145 separate trips to conferences were made during the course of the year as a car pooling system was not in operation.

It cost an astonishing 5,152 for seven councillors to attend a conference on the future of local politics at the Celtic Ross Hotel in Rosscarbery, Co. Cork, last April

They were Councillor Tom Connolly (626), Councillor Blackie Gavin (648), Councillor Henry Kenny (668), Councillor Damian Ryan (518), Councillor Richard Finn (647), Councillor Jimmy Maloney (683) and Councillor Johnny OMalley (662).

The council had to pay a further 700 in registration fees.

The highest single expenses claim for attending a conference was made by Councillor Austin Francis OMalley, the current cathaoirleach of the authority.

He received 725 for attending a media skills conferences in Rosscarbery, Co. Cork. The conference fee was 100.

Five councillors attended the Parnell Summer School in Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow and their individual expenses were Councillor Damian Ryan (711), Councillor Jimmy Maloney (675), Councillor Eddie Staunton (648), Councillor Patsy OBrien (656) and Councillor Seamus Weir (469).

However, when the conference fee of 275 per delegate is added, the total cost to Mayo ratepayers for sending five representatives to the Wicklow event was 4,534.

Councillor Ryans expenses in respect of the Wicklow conference represented the highest single claim by an elected member.

Ballinrobe Fine Gael Councillor Michael Burke was the biggest claimant for travel expenses and subsistence for the second consecutive years.

The cost of sending him to 16 conferences during the year was 7,445. That was on top of other payments and allowances of 47,772.

As well as the 6,228 paid to him in expenses, there was an extra cost of 1,217 in conference fees.

Westport Fianna Fil Councillor Margaret Adams clocked up 3,905 in expenses travelling to 12 conferences the length and breadth of Ireland. There was also a further cost of 1,555 on the council in respect of her conference fees.

Other regular conference attendees were Councillor Patsy OBrien, Councillor Richard Finn, Councillor Blackie Gavin, Councillor Tom Connolly, Councillor Johnny OMalley, Councillor Annie May Reape and Councillor Eddie Staunton.

The details of the cost of all conferences attended by councillors have been furnished to the local media by the council. Mileage rates are calculated as follows.

For an engine capacity of up to 1,200cc, elected members are paid 62.94 cent per mile for the first 4,000 miles and 34.13 cents per mile for every mile over 4,001.

For an engine capacity of up between 1,2010cc and 1,500 cc, councillors are paid 72.42 cent per mile for the first 4,000 miles and 38 cents per mile for every mile over 4,001.

For an engine capacity of over 1,501cc, they are paid 95.05 cent per mile for the first 4,000 miles and 45.79 cent per mile for every mile over 4,001.

The information outlined by the council did not provide details of the type of vehicles driven by councillors to and from conferences.

Despite financial constraints imposed in council employees, there is not an onus on elected members to car pool or use public transport in order to cut down on costs.

The exact amount paid out by the council in fees and expenses in respect of members attending conferences is shown in the accompanying table.