Friday, December 3, 2010

Cllrs Claimed €145,000 in Conference Fees in 2010-O'Leary

Councillors Claimed €145,000 in Conference Fees in 2010

Sinn Féin’s general election candidate in Cork South Central, Cllr Chris O’Leary, has slammed the payment of over €145,000 in conference fees by Cork City Council in 2010.

Cllr O’Leary said:

“In the past 12 months Cork City Council has paid councillors €145,277.95 to attend conferences.”

“Given the current economic state of the country, and the hardship government cutbacks are imposing on ordinary people, this is simply not acceptable.”

“It is particularly scandalous that 15 councillors claimed more than the €4,700 limit on conference payments imposed by Minister Gormley.”

“Three councillors received over €10,000 in expenses, while another five claimed between €8,000 and €10,000.”

“Ten councillors, including the five Sinn Féin representatives, claimed no money for conferences.”

“These figures represent a shocking abuse of the system, which must be stopped. Nobody can justify councillors claiming thousands of euro to attend conferences on Facebook while people on social welfare and the minimum wage face cuts in their income.”

“€145,000 could be better spent providing long-overdue repairs for dozens of the council’s housing tenants who live with draughty windows or rising damp. And while councillors like to claim conferences equip them better to do their job, I am sure some of the academics at UCC who are experts in housing or planning policy could provide seminars for city councillors in these areas at far smaller cost to the taxpayer.”

“At the upcoming council estimates Sinn Féin will once again be proposing a substantial reduction in the allowance for conference fees. If other the parties want the public to retain any faith in politics, they should support us.”

For further information or comment contact Cllr Chris O’Leary @ 087-2794307 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting              087-2794307      end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

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