Mayo County Council pays €1.17m. to its 30 elected members for 2022

THE 30 elected members of Mayo County Council received €1,177,134 in payments during 2022.

Figures released voluntarily by the authority revealed that each councillor cost the ratepayers an average of €39,273.

The biggest recipient was Swinford Councillor Michael Smyth who drew down €53,601.

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

The next biggest recipient is serving cathaoirleach, Independent Knockmore Councillor Seamus Weir, who got €52,727. He served as cathaoirleach during the last six months of 2022.

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

Conference expenses were €65,919, but this figure does not include the conference fees.

Claremorris Councillor Tom Connolly claimed the highest amount in respect of conferences, a sum of €5,414.

He attended a total of 12, the most expensive of which was a sum of €603 in respect of a training conference in Trim, Co. Meath.

While Councillor Connolly was the biggest recipient in conferences expenses, he was followed closely by Damian Ryan (€4,968), Martin McLoughlin (€4,777), John O’Hara (€4,560), Michael Burke (€4,559 and Sean Carey (€4,461).

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

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

The operation of the authority’s six strategic policy committees cost the taxpayer €30,000 while 11 chair and vice-chair allowances came to €58,924.

A bill of €680 was run-up in mobile telephone calls in respect of seven councillors.

Overseas expenses for 16 councillors came to a total of €13,822.

The elected member with the lowest expenses was Castlebar Fine Gael Councillor Ger Deere, who received a total of €30,511.

This made up by his remuneration payment of €26,296, representational allowance of €883 and annual allowance of €3,331.

The annual allowance, totalling €143,116, is based on the number of miles councillors have to travel to and from meetings.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Sean Carey, who resides in Belmullet, received the biggest annual allowance of €7,692.

The elected representatives based in and around Castlebar got the lowest allowances