Donegal County Councillors claim almost €900,000 in expenses last year

The twenty-nine members of Donegal County Councillors claimed almost €900,000 in expenses last year, new figures have revealed.
Donegal County Councillors claimed a total of €220,000 under their monthly allowance payments – all of which is tax-free- during 2010.
The councillor who claimed the most money was former Mayor and Fianna Fail councillor Brendan Byrne from Carrick who claimed a total of €57,976 including €3,245 on foreign travel.
The councillor who claimed the least amount of expenses last year was Labours Frank McBrearty from Raphoe who was paid €22,055.
That figure is made up of €5,331 through the monthly allowance and a further €16,724 in representational payments which is received by all councillors.
Current Lord Mayor, Cllr Cora Harvey of Sinn Fein, claimed a total of €45,198 including her Cathaoirleach’s allowance of €20,959.
Newly elected TD’s Thomas Pringle, Padraig MacLochlainn and Charlie McConalogue claimed €32,124, €38,728 and €32,043. Newly elected Senator Jimmy Harte recieved €24,553.
Six councillors including Thomas Pringle, Dessie Larkin, Ciaran Brogan, Padraig Maclochlainn and Noel McBride all received a further €6,000 each as members of the strategic policy committee.
In total members claimed €866,645 in expenses for 2010.