Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Councillors fund may fall short

It has been reported in today's Irish Times newspaper that the €250,000 fund set aside by Clare County Council is not likely to be enough to meet the pay-offs required for nine outgoing Councillors who will not be part of the new 32-member council.

Of the five councillors who failed to get re-elected in Clare, outgoing Fianna Fáil councillor, Peter Considine is set to receive the highest amount of more than €35,000 having served as a councillor since 1991 (after a brief spell previously in 1974). Cllr Considine remains on Ennis Town Council.

Fianna Fáil councillor Tom Prendeville, who lost out in the Kilrush electoral area but was re-elected to Kilrush Town Council, can expect a gratuity in excess of €35,000 after serving on the county council for 18 years. Fianna Fáil councillor Bernard Hanrahan, who lost out in Ennis East, became a member of Clare County Council in 1995 and can also expect a gratuity in excess of €30,000.