Councillors cost mayo ratepayers 12 million

THE ratepayers of Mayo last year paid out a total of €1.218 million to 30 current and 11 former elected members of Mayo County Council as well as to one former member of Castlebar Town Council.

The biggest single outlay was in respect of gratuity payments to members who retired before last May’s local elections or lost their seats.

Long-serving Moygownagh Fine Gael representative, Eddie Staunton, was the biggest beneficiary in that regard, receiving a golden handskake of €60,327 to bring his overall payment for the year to €78,109.

Westport Fianna Fáil member, Margaret Adams, was paid €72,284 by the authority, a sum of €55,935 of which related to her gratuity award.

The other pensions revealed by the council were in respect of Jimmy Maloney (€53,394), Joe Mellett (€47,711), Michael McNamara, Austin Francis O’Malley and Johnny O’Malley, the three of whom received €33,292, Eugene McCormack (€20,790) and Michael Burke (€16,623) while a payment of €8,845 is recorded in the list in respect of former Castlebar town councillor, Brendan Henaghan.

There is no gratuity payment registered in respect of former Westport Fine Gael member Peter Flynn. But it is understood he will qualify for the allowance on his 50th birthday.

The present cathaoirleach, Councillor Damian Ryan, who is based in Ballinrobe, recorded total expenses of €41,970.

Councillors are entitled to an annual representational payment of €16,565.79 as well as an annual allowance that can be as high as €10,291. On top of their expenses and allowances, councillors ran up a bill of €72,593 in respect of conferences, although conference fees are not included in that figure.

See our print edition for a full breakdown on the figures.