This article is from page 11 of the 2006-12-19 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
MEMBERS of Clare County Council can look forward to a prosperous New Year as Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government Dick Roche got into the festive spirit this week – announcing an increase in the tax-free expenses that the members can claim.
The Minister also introduced an allowance covering mobile phone expenses as well as improvement to the councillor’s retirement gratuity scheme.
The new expense allowance for the country council members has now been increased by €1,067 which includes the mobile phone allowance. Members will be able to claim €7,555 tax free allowance.
But while the Minister may seem to be very generous to his local authority colleagues during the festive season the money to fund the new allowances will have to be found by Clare County Council as it draws up the budget for the coming year.
The budget will come before the council members on January 12 for any changes and their final approval.
The Clare councillors’ wages and extra expenses will come from the revenue or operational part of the county finances. This money is collected through the local government fund, commercial rates, non-domestic water charges and other miscellaneous fees and charges.
The councillors are currently receiving a minimum salary of more than €14,000, which is taxable. The members also receive expenses for travel and postage, and from next year their mobile phone costs.
Earlier this year the council approved more than €1 million of the taxpayer’s money for their salaries, expenses an overseas trips.
The largest portion of the monies was ring fenced for the councillors’ wages.
The expense for members to attend monthly meetings was estimated to reach €221,000, but the break down of that figure will not be known until early next year.
In his festive announcement Minister Roche also increased the allowance for the chair of Special Policy Committees by €921 to €6,000.
The chairperson of the Municipal Policy Committee’s will receive an allowance for the first time ever of €500 or €1,000 depending on the size of the town, as will the chair of the County Development Board who will receive an allowance of €6,000 for the first time.
The Chair of the Regional Authority will receive a handsome increase of €3,112 to €12,000.
The minister rejected calls however from councillors for a state-funded pension scheme.