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Cormac Fitzgerald/TheJournal.ie

Councillors across the country are getting a pay rise (except for ones in Dublin, Cork and Galway)

Municipal councillors will soon be entitled to €1,000 extra.

DUBLIN CITY COUNCILLORS have hit out at the announcement of a €1,000 pay increase for councillors outside of the city districts.

Councillors operating in municipal districts across Ireland were informed yesterday by the Department for Local Government that they would soon be receiving a new allowance of €1,000 per year.

The Department said this is in order to reflect the additional work of and expenses incurred by councillors since the introduction of reforms in the Local Government Act (2014), which reduced the number by 41% (from 1,627 to 949).

However, councillors in the four Dublin Local Authorities, as well as members of Galway and Cork City Councils will not be entitled to the increase.

It is believed this is due to the numbers of councillors actually having risen in city councils, and the geographical area that they have to cover being smaller.

However, Dublin city councillors have hit out at decision, saying it represented unequal treatment.

“There has been a policy of anti-urban policies by successive ministers and this is just the latest of it,” Labour councillor Dermot Lacey for Pembroke-Rathmines told TheJournal.ie.

“I’d like Dublin City Council to be treated fairly like everyone else.

My electoral area has 100,000 people in it. We’ve been working for in Municipal areas for years without them being called that.

Lacey said that the costs of parking in Dublin and the costs incurred by leafleting homes were two examples of the extra expenses incurred by city members.

Disabilities Conferences What we need is real reform, not piecemeal changes, said Dermot Lacey.

“What we need is real reform, not these piecemeal changes,” he said.

[Housing Minister Simon Coveney] would have been better off doing nothing.

Lacey’s comments were echoed by Independent councillor for the North Inner City Nial Ring.

Ring told TheJournal.ie that he felt Dublin city councillors did a huge amount of work and had one of the biggest populations to cater to.

“Councillors are certainly not in this for the money,” said Ring.

“Most us get involved because we want to make a difference in our communities.

This is just another case where Dublin has to pick up the tab for the rest of the country.

90422295_90422295 Nial Ring said Dublin City Councillors should not have been left out of the wage increases. RollingNews.ie RollingNews.ie

Vouched expenses 

All councillors across the country have also been informed that they will now be entitled to an increase of around €2,500 to their vouched expenses.

As things stand, elected members of a council are entitled to between €2,286 and €2,667 a year in a fixed allowance to cover administrative expenses. These expenses are un-vouched (receipts do not have to be provided to claim).

Now, council members will have an option of trading in that allowance for up to a €5,000 allowance in vouched for expenses a year. This will apply to things like newsletter distribution, web hosting, secretary support and similar things.

Both these changes are due to come into effect from 1 July of this year, once Minister Coveney has signed the appropriate regulations

The new measures were broadly welcomed by the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG), who has been campaigning for improved terms for councillors since 2014.

However, the group said it was “disappointed and concerned” that city councils would be exempt from the €1,000 increase to allowances.

Read: Thousands taken off social housing list for not replying to questionnaire

Read: Dublin restaurants say persistent beggars are a ‘major threat’ to diners’ comfort

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47 Comments
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    Mute Pat Patterson
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    Jan 24th 2017, 12:57 PM

    You forgot to mention that the amount of verbal diaherrioa coming from them has increased 100% with a deficit in the publics paitence and moral bankruptcy.

    156
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    Mute Cathal
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    Jan 24th 2017, 2:35 PM

    There are 40, yes FORTY, councillors in Dun Laoighre Rathdown. It is staggering that this number of representatives is deemed necessary. I would suggest a quarter would do the job but would settle on about 15 being enough.

    101
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    Mute James Mc Loughlin
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    Jan 24th 2017, 3:41 PM

    @Cathal: GET RID OF THE LOT OF THEM A USELESS SHOWER

    54
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    Mute Martin Sinnott
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    Jan 24th 2017, 12:58 PM

    It’s the taxpayers who will foot the bill. We have way to many politicians in this small country of ours.

    147
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    Mute Bernard Cantillon
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:21 PM

    That’s actually not true. In comparison with any of our neighbours or other respectable democracies we have relatively few politicians to population. Certainly we may have proportionally higher numbers of national politicians but our numbers of local politicians are actually well below the average. We have under 1200 elected posts for a population of nearly 5 million people. Small countries tend to need to have enough politicians to allow a government and opposition to be formed and governments need to not be stuck with having to appoint nearly everybody elected to a ministerial office due to shall numbers of elected officials. Unless you want all decisions taken either by unelected officials or you want to abolish local government then we need politicians.

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    Mute Bernard Cantillon
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:22 PM

    And we pay less than €20k for a councillor. You wouldn’t get a clerical officer for that.

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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:28 PM

    Shhh Bernard. You’re letting facts get in the way of an internet rant

    43
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    Mute Shane McGettrick
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:28 PM

    Pretty good going for part time work , particularly when there’s no job requirements other than being above the legal age.

    86
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    Mute ray.farrelly
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:29 PM

    Bernard Cantillon. Are you a councillor??

    44
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    Mute Tweety McTweeter
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:34 PM

    I’m not a councillor and I agree with him. I know a county councillor who puts in 20+ hrs per week. Their main job has to suffer as a result. I’m sure there are councillors out there that do little for their €20k. I don’t think €20k is excessive for a good councillor considering the hours that have to put in and the sacrifices that have to be made

    20
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    Mute Colm
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    Jan 24th 2017, 2:09 PM

    @Tweety McTweeter: Local Govt in a nutshell: unresourced local cllrs working full-time at something else and then expected to adequately hold to account unelected civil servants with near free reign to do as they please. We need to pay cllrs or have full-time regional representation, and once that is established crack down on expenses bonanzas like ‘educational’ conferences. Its ironic also that Dublin authorities, who afaik don’t pay for cllrs to attend such conferences, and where cllrs represent much larger populations, with all the complex problems a city generates, are being left out because the word ‘municipal’ was added to the name of electoral districts elsewhere. The Chairpersons of ‘municipal districts’ are also getting large additional payments that ‘local area committee’ chairs don’t get.

    For reference, the South East Local Area of Dublin City, where Dermot is 1 of 14 Cllrs, has a population about 3 times the size of Leitrim, which has 18. Those 18 are now getting pay increases.

    33
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    Mute ray.farrelly
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    Jan 24th 2017, 2:46 PM

    Tweety. If you think they are in it for the good of the people you are living cloud cuckoo land.

    31
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    Mute Fiona Fitzgerald
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    Jan 24th 2017, 3:39 PM

    “Unresourced”? Excuse us readers for thinking this was about increasing individual ‘resources’. Which they don’t have, of course. Also, I note that parking expenses are only an issue for city councillors serving their city. Ordinary citizens with one job never have any difficulty in finding parking, thanks to their efforts. Or not.

    10
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    Mute John Mulligan
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    Jan 24th 2017, 5:53 PM

    You would, if they only had to work one day a month and could hold down another full time job.

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    Mute Charliegrl80
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    Jan 24th 2017, 7:06 PM

    @Bernard Cantillon: about €30,000 and they get to keep the day job on top of being a councillor, plus all the family get the jobs that go with it.

    11
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    Mute Tea Hug
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    Jan 24th 2017, 7:12 PM

    It’s considered a part time job. Most of them (aside from SF and left ) are gainfully employed.

    3
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    Mute mickmc
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:02 PM

    However useless anyone things TD are local councillors are as useful as tits on a bull.

    117
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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Jan 24th 2017, 2:56 PM

    I’d suggest that tits on a bull are far more useful…

    43
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    Mute Paul Whyte
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:06 PM

    It seems in the last 6 months politicians have given themselves a pay increase, argued that giving pay restoration to public sector workers would bankrupt the country and have once again given themselves a pay increase.

    62
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    Mute Teddy
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    Jan 24th 2017, 12:59 PM

    “Reform local government” to save money,and then give them a pay rise so local government costs more money,

    62
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    Mute OnTheOutside
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:08 PM

    Firstly, they shouldn’t be doing it for the money. Secondly, they should stop sending out them, ‘newsletters’, full of cráp I don’t need to know about. Could easily be done online, if people want to know about it, then place an ad in a local paper or something.

    50
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    Mute ballbreaker
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:15 PM

    These parasites are really making my blood boil…people facing losing their jobs and these clowns get pay rises…something seriously wrong with the people in this country…when these boys continue to milk us dry and we do nothing about it

    45
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    Mute Bobby Connolly
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:11 PM

    So Lacey thinks we “need real reform”. Agreed. He’s right. Let’s start by reducing the number of councillors by 50% in all city areas, and 25% in rural areas. Check out their expenses while we’re at it.

    43
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    Mute John B
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:02 PM

    So wait a second, the plan is to increase pay for those living in areas with a cost of living that I’m guessing is 30% less?

    If anything, rural councillors should get paid less.

    41
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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Jan 24th 2017, 3:01 PM

    No, they shouldn’t get paid less. However, the minimum wage is the same wherever you go. Dole payments are the same wherever you go. Therefore, councillors’ wages should be the same wherever they are.

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    Mute ray.farrelly
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    Jan 24th 2017, 3:34 PM

    Brian O Dalaigh you do not get minimum wage on a C.E. scheme.

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Jan 24th 2017, 3:38 PM

    @ray.farrelly: I know that. Where in my postings suggest otherwise?

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    Mute ray.farrelly
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    Jan 24th 2017, 4:06 PM

    Brian O Dalaigh. You did say the minimum wage is the same where ever you go did you not.

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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Jan 24th 2017, 4:11 PM

    I did. I never referenced CE schemes. What’s your point? What are you referencing?

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    Mute ray.farrelly
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    Jan 24th 2017, 4:18 PM

    Brian O Dalaigh. I am not having a go at you merely pointing out you do not get minimum wage wherever you go.

    7
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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Jan 24th 2017, 4:34 PM

    Yes, but that’s dependant on whatever scheme or employment mechanism you’re on. If you’re working outside of the DSP, then you are entitled to €9.25 per hour, irrespective of where you live. I’m not talking about whether it’s right or wrong. I’m just saying that the same minimum wage applies (for non-DSP-supported jobs) across the board. What I’m saying, basically, is that I don’t see why councillors outside of the major urban areas should have their pay increased. If standardised minimum national wage rates and standardised national dole rates apply, then standardised councillor rates should apply too.

    3
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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Jan 24th 2017, 4:36 PM

    PS: I’m not having a go at you either. I think we just got our wires crossed…

    3
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    Mute ray.farrelly
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    Jan 24th 2017, 4:37 PM

    Brian O Dalaigh. I agree.

    4
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    Mute Michael Clinton
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:17 PM

    €1,000 p/a for what !!!!!!! , They do sod all. It seems they spend all their time trying to raise rates and drive companies out of towns. Put pay parking everywhere and spend on ridiculous shite.

    35
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    Mute Adrian
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:12 PM

    For what?

    33
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    Mute John Campbell
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:54 PM

    Just another group putting their hands deeper into the trough of public money.

    27
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    Mute Kieran OKeeffe
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:36 PM

    Don’t really have a problem with local politicians..it’s national politicians having local Clinics that pisses me off…let local councillors deal with local issues..

    22
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    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
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    Jan 24th 2017, 3:03 PM

    I don’t have a problem with them having local clinics. It’s a great way to bring up national interests on a local level. Unfortunately, as you have alluded to, they are too often used for local issues that could be sorted by councillors.

    7
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    Mute Willy Malone
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:47 PM

    Trough is ever giving …

    22
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    Mute @mdmak33
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    Jan 24th 2017, 2:40 PM

    All about the money for Dermot Lacey,time for people to vote in change,get rid of present parasites.

    16
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    Mute DubKid
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    Jan 24th 2017, 1:35 PM

    So it’s not across the country then……..

    9
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    Mute Jim Hartnett
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    Jan 24th 2017, 6:19 PM

    Not that long ago there was a programme on TV exposing these politicians and their shennanigans, with some of them clearly corrupt in their actions. What sickened me at the time was the rush to defend them and as far as I can tell, not one of them lost their gravy train jobs. It was also apparent that for years many of them couldn’t fill out a declaration of interest form but were not found wanting when it came to filling out an expenses claim form.

    7
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    Mute Bill Clear
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    Jan 24th 2017, 6:42 PM

    Nothing stopping any of ye moaners from running for election next year. In my opinion they work very hard for not a lot of money. The senators. .now that’s a gravy train.

    3
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    Mute Sean @114
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    Jan 24th 2017, 7:04 PM

    Yes they work very hard, all 40, yes 40, of them in DL/Rathdown. As for the likes of Councillor Hugh McElvaney and others like him. They just want loads of money. It’s a gravy train funded by the suckers who pay tax. EVERY expense should be vouched – full stop. More allowances on top of allowances.

    7
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    Mute Linda Hughes
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    Jan 25th 2017, 12:17 AM

    God is there a strike looming? Go on i dare you! We will all back you …not! You have a cheek to moan about €1000 with the money your getting for doing fluke all …

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    Mute Charliegrl80
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    Jan 24th 2017, 7:01 PM

    Why do we need county councillors – they have no power anymore at one time you could go to them to get maybe a medical card or help with housing or the like the local authorities have had most of their works taken away. Most of the politicians in the Dail are more for the local than the national.

    1
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