Over €1.6million in payments paid to Mayo councillors in 2024

OVER €1.6 million in payments were paid to Mayo County Councillors in 2024 with two retiring councillors receiving over €90,000 in gratuities.

Mayo County Council announced that payments to elected members in 2024 totalled €1,618,675.61 with the five councillors who retired or failed to get elected in last year's Local Elections receiving gratuities.

Former Independent councillor Seamus Weir who retired after 25 years in local government received the most in 2024 with a total payment of €119,218.72 which included a €90,292.13 gratuities payment.

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Former Ballyhaunis-based Fine Gael councillor John Cribbon who also retired after 25 years received €114,897.08 which also included a €90,292.13 gratuities payment.

The three former councillors who failed to get re-elected in the 2024 Local Elections also received gratuities.

Former Claremorris-based Fine Gael councillor Tom Connolly who was first elected in 2004 received €89,664 after losing his seat while former Independent councillor Christy Hyland from Westport received €50,601.82 and former Fianna Fáil councillor from Castlebar Martin McLoughlin received €37,020.18.

The payments also reveal that a total of €887,966.44 in remuneration payments were paid to the elected members with the majority of councillors receiving a remuneration payment of €29,719.16.

A total of €140,049.44 in members allowance was paid out in 2024 with the two Erris-based councillors Seán Carey and Gerry Coyle receiving €7,999.32 and €7,787.86 respectively which was the most paid to individual councillors.

Of the councillors who served a full 12 months in 2024, six councillors – Donna Sheridan, Blackie Gavin, Ger Deere, Jarlath Munnelly, Michael Kilcoyne and Cyril Bourke - received €3,318.86 in members allowance.

A total of €88,931.51 was paid to the Cathaoirleach and Leas Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council and the four municipal districts in 2024.

Crossmolina-based councillor Michael Loftus who was Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council for the first six months of the year and later became Cathaoirleach of the Ballina Municipal District received the most with €32,506.85 in Cathaoirleach allowances.

Bonniconlon-based Fine Gael councillor John O'Hara who is the current Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council received €15,000 in allowances for the first six months of his term in 2024.

A total of €70,909.93 was also paid to elected members for expenses for travelling to conference training in Ireland while €9,818.71 was paid for expenses for travelling abroad.