Meath cllrs received over €1.5 million in payments in 2022

Meath councillors were paid a total of €1,553,243.68 in representational payments and expenses during 2022, according to figures published by Meath County Council on meath.ie. This represents an increase of €344,000 on the amount paid in 2021, when activities were still partially restricted due to Covid.

The average payout for the 40 councillors was €38,831. Councillors are entitled to payments under a number of headings which include annual expenses allowance, local representation allowance, strategic policy committees chairpersons, chairperson’s payment (taxed), conferences in Ireland, conferences abroad, training, additional expenses, payments from outside bodies, and annual remuneration (subject to tax).

The annual remuneration paid to each councillor in 2022 was €27,212.60 and this is subject to taxation. Some councillors are paid more than others because they have been elected to positions of responsibility including cathaoirleach (chairperson) of the council, cathaoirleach of a municipal district, or because they are chairperson of a council strategic policy committee.

Twenty nine councillors availed of special training and this cost a total of €48,152, an average of €1,660 each.

Thirteen councillors who attended conferences in Ireland were paid an average in expenses of €595 each while 18 councillors attended conferences abroad and were paid an average of €613 each to cover expenses.

The amounts paid out to councillors in each municipal district are as follows:

Ashbourne - Cllrs Joe Bonner, Independent €37,606.09 (includes conference abroad €328.66, training, €1,060.99); Suzanne Jamal, Fine Gael €37,655.66 (chairperson allowance €2,482.19, training €746.23) ; Amanda Smith, Independent €42,885.67 (includes €3,517.81 chairperson’s allowance, conference abroad €775.92, training €1,960.61); Alan Tobin, Fine Gael €37,141.85 (conference abroad €447.26, training €924); Conor Tormey, Fianna Fail €44,119.81 (includes €6,000 allowance, chairperson strategic policy committee, training €4,672.39).

Kells – Cllrs Mike Bray, Fianna Fail €39,880.76 (includes €6,000 chairperson’s allowance, conference abroad €320.71, training €409); Eugene Cassidy, Fine Gael €45,995.01 (includes €6,000 chairperson’s allowance strategic policy committee, chairperson allowance €3,517.81); Sean Drew, Fianna Fail €46,475.45 (includes chairperson allowance €12,410.96, conference abroad €717.65; Michael Gallagher, Sinn Fein €36,395.68 (includes training €404); David Gilroy, Independent €38,840.79 (includes €2,818.72 for training); Paul McCabe, Fianna Fail €33,581.04 (includes conference abroad €634.84, training €249); Sarah Reilly, Fine Gael €36,166.32 (includes training €525).

Navan - Cllrs Yemi Adenuga, Fine Gael €36,330.51 (includes €328.66 for conferences abroad and €699 for training); Francis Deane Independent, €36,734.51 (includes Chairpersons allowance of €2,482.19); Eddie Fennessy, Sinn Fein, €42,273.95 (includes chairpersons's allowance of €7,035.62, €328.66 for conferences abroad and €249 for training); Padraig Fitzsimons, Fianna Fáil, €36,465.70 (includes €4,964 chairpersons allowance and €249 for training); Alan Lawes, Independent, €31,494.68; Tommy Reilly, Fianna Fail, €41,252.14 (includes €699.83 conferences abroad and €5,099.99 training); Emer Toibin, Aontu, €35,672.10 (includes €1,046 for conferences abroad and €249 for training).

Trim - Cllrs Aisling Dempsey, Fianna Fáil €31,853.36; Joe Fox, Fine Gael €46, 826.53 (includes €6,000 chairperson allowance, conferences abroad €320.71, training expenses of €3,372.55); Noel French, Fine Gael €35,452.32; Trevor Golden, independent €47,367.41 (includes €6,000 allowance chairperson strategic policy committee, conferences abroad, €634.84, training, €4,624.09); Ronan Moore, Social Democrats, €33215.48; Niamh Souhan, Fine Gael, €32,323.86.

Laytown - Cllrs Tom Behan, Fianna Fail €27,212.60; Wayne Harding Fianna Fail €45,529.67 (includes €3,517.81.00 chairperson’s allowance, €1,046.31 for conferences abroad and €4,859.70 for training); Geraldine Keogan, Independent €39,650.38 (includes €3,285.61 for training) Elaine McGinty Labour €40,912.37 (includes €2,482.19 chairperson’s allowance, €649.37 for conferences abroad and €1,303.72 for training); Stephen McKee, Fianna Fail €43,079.68 (includes €6,000 SPC chair allowance, €574.89 conferences abroad and €236.29 for training) Paddy Meade, Fine Gael €36,967.35 ( includes €916.59 for conferences abroad and €315 for training) Sharon Tolan, Fine Gael €37,816.04 (includes €474 for training)

Ratoath - Cllrs Brian Fitzgerald, Independent €32,924.94 (includes €155 training); Deirdre Geraghty Smith, Fianna Fail €31,658.24; Nick Killian, Independent €58,400.54 (includes €20,071.23 chairperson’s allowance, €328.66 for conferences abroad and €1,302.89 for training); Maria Murphy, Fine Gael €36,804.16 (includes €250.08 for training); Gerry O’Connor, Fine Gael €37,937.15 (includes €1352.49 for conferences abroad and €680 for training); Damien O’Reilly, Fianna Fail €44,413.50 (includes €281.75 for conferences abroad and €6822.81 for training); Gillian Toole, Independent €35,586.53 (includes €3,517.81 chairperson’s allowance and €155 for training).

The figures are available on the Meath County Council website, www.meath.ie.