Interview board fees paid to Mayo councillors revealed

THE Mayo, Sligo and Leitrim Education and Training Board has paid out almost €60,000 to Mayo county councillors for attending meetings and fees for sitting on interview boards over the last four years, writes CLAIRE MCNAMARA

Documents released to The Connaught Telegraph under the Freedom of Information Act show €59,495 was paid out.

Independent Councillor Christy Hyland received the highest level of expenses across the four years. He got €38,186 in total before tax, with €30,912 paid to him for sitting on interview boards, a role for which he received specialist training.

In total, he sat on 150 interview boards during the four years, just under 40 per annum. He was available when requested.

A further breakdown of the 2018 figures show he received €655 for attending statutory meetings, €10,351 for sitting on interview boards, €501 for attending conferences and seminars, and €924 for ‘other’.

Former Fine Gael Councillor Tereasa McGuire was the second highest paid, claiming €6,129 from 2015 to 2018, with €1,660 paid to her for sitting on 26 interview boards.

Councillor Tom Connolly was paid €5,669 for statutory meetings and attending conferences and seminars.

Payments made to other board members were: Teresa Whelan €526 for 2018; John Caulfield €929; Annie May Reape €1,526 from 2016-18; Therese Ruane €1,296 from 2015-17; and Lisa Chambers €155 for 2015.

Payments to Christy Hyland for sitting on interview boards: 2018 - €10,251; 2017 - €9,945; 2016 - €6,578 and 2015 - €4,138.

Payments to Tereasa McGuire for sitting on interview boards: 2018 - €101; 2017 - €129; 2016 - €918 and 2015 - €512.

Payments to John Caulfield for sitting on interview boards: 2015 - €880.

Responding to the figures, Councillor Hyland, who received the highest payment, said the figures are correct and reflected his work on the board.

Meanwhile, separate documents released by the HSE show €17,748 has been paid out in expenses for travel and subsistence from 2014 to 2018 to Mayo County Council members who sat on the Regional Health Forum West.

The highest recipients were Independent Councillor Michael Kilcoyne (€5,264), Tom Connolly, FG (€4,584), and Damien Ryan, FF (€2,942).