Cllrs earned €2m over two years

County councillors in Meath earned a combined total of over €2m for the years 2008 and 2009, which includes gratuity payments to nine councillors who retired or lost their seats in the 2009 local elections. Figures published in last week's Irish Independent showed that 42 Meath County Councillors received a total of €2,086,499 for 2008 and 2009. This includes payments to councillors who retired or lost their seats in the June 2009 elections and payments to new councillors for the second six months of 2009. Meath councillors received payments of €1,180,827 for 2009 which included gratuity payments to nine former councillors - Oliver Brooks (FF), Michael Gallagher (SF), Michael Lynch (FF), Liz McCormack (FF), James Mangan (FF), Patsy O'Neill (FG), Patrick Boshell (FF), Tom Kelly (GP), Peter Higgins (FG) and Seamus Murray (FF). Meath County Councillors received payments totalling €905,672 in 2008. The largest payout was to former Oldcastle Fianna Fail councillor Michael Lynch who served 42 years on Meath County Council before he retired in 2009. Mr Lynch received a total of €103,897 for 2008 and 2009. His payment for 2008 was €34,174 and he received €69,724 in 2009 which included his gratuity payment. The second highest payment was also to a former Kells area councillor, Liz McCormack (FF), who received a total of €102,137 for 2008 and 2009. This included €41,727 in 2008 and €60,410 in 2009 which included her gratuity payment and cathaoirleach's allowance. Mr Lynch said his figure was high as it included his gratuity payment and that he had served 42 years on the council before he retired. He recalled that when he first joined the council in 1967, his monthly allowance was just £4/12s/9d. Mr Lynch said he believed his gratuity was in the region of €50,000 and that this equated to approximately €1,200 per year of his 42 years' service. Mr Lynch added that there was full accountability in Meath County Council and that anything he received, he had been entitled to. Former councillor Patsy O'Neill, who lost his Navan seat last year after 30 years of service, was also entitled to a lumpsum payment. He received a total of €91,006 for 2008 and 2009. His payment of €60,772 last year included his gratuity of approximately €40,000. The average annual payment to councillors in Meath was €29,632. Former Fianna Fail councillor Seamus Murray, who lost his seat in the Trim electoral area, received €92,793 for 2008 and 2009. This included €38,746 in 2008 and €54,047 in 2009, which included his gratuity payment of approximately €30,000. The Green Party's Tom Kelly, who also lost his seat, received a total of €86,622 for 2008 and 2009. His payment of €59,385 in 2009 included the gratuity payment of approximately €30,000. Of the sitting councillors, the highest payments were made to Tommy Reilly (FF) €90,944, Jim Holloway (Ind) €88,055, William Carey (FG) €77,760 and Nick Killian (FF) €74,901. Councillors received a representational payment of around €17,000 last year as well as a fixed annual allowance for reasonable expenses incurred in attending meetings associated with their council business, usually around €450 a month. They can also claim up to €600 annually for their mobile phone costs and receive an annual conference allowance. Councillors may also receive payments for bodies and regional authorities they sit on such as health forums and VECs. The chairs of the Strategic Policy Committees also receive an allowance of up to €6,000 per year.