Mayo councillors receive payments of €1.26m. in 2023

The elected members of Mayo County Council received €1,261,683 in payments during 2023.

Figures released voluntarily by the authority revealed that each councillor cost the ratepayers an average of €42,056 each.

The biggest recipient was Knockmore Councillor Seamus Weir who drew down €56,064.

He served as cathaoirleach during the first six months of last year.

The next biggest recipient was Castlebar Councillor Michael Kilcoyne with €49,721.

Of that, he received €6,500 as the chair of a strategic policy committee and €6,170 for serving as cathaoirleach of Castlebar Municipal District.

The third highest was Ballinrobe Councillor Michael Burke who was paid €48,390.

This figure included €6,500 for chairing a strategic policy committee and €4,969 for attending nine training conferences.

The fourth highest payment of €48,368 was made to Foxford Councillor Neil Cruise.

This included a sum of €8,170 for attending 17 conferences.

Former Swinford member Michael Smyth received the fifth highest payment of €48,124.

This included €34,005 as a gratuity following his retirement last year.

Castlebar Councillor Martin McLoughlin was the six highest recipient.

He got €47,893, a sum of €6,661 of which related to expenses for attending 15 training conferences.

Approximately €26,296 of a councillor’s wage is taxable with the remaining earnings free of tax.

Conference expenses totalled €78,136 but this figure does not include the conference fees.

Ten elected members declined the option of attending conferences last year.

They were Ger Deere, Peter Flynn, Blackie Gavin, Adrian Forkan, Michael Kilcoyne, Al McDonnell, Paul McNamara, Brendan Mulroy, Jarlath Munnelly, Donna Sheridan and Michael Smyth.

Apart from Mr. Smyth, gratuity payments were also paid in respect of four other former elected representatives in Mayo.

They were Michelle Mulherin (€28,224), Mark Winters (€9,609), Myles Staunton (€9,258) and Peter Clarke (€9,356).

The operation of the authority’s six strategic policy committees cost the taxpayer €39,000 while five chair and vice-chair allowances came to €30,237.

Overseas expenses for 13 councillors came to a total of €14,083.