Deputy and Senator deny overclaiming travel expenses

Donegal South West Deputy Dinny Mc Ginley and Senator Brian O’Domhnaill have been answering claims that they have been overclaioming travel expenses.
According to today’s Donegal News, both Deputy Mc Ginley and Senator O’Donal live 290 kilometres from Leinster House. However, both are claiming expenses in Band 11, which covers distances of between 330 and 360 kilometres.
Howwever, both deny overclaiming, with Deputy Mc Ginley and Senator O’Domhnaill saying they travel via conastituency offices in Donegal Town and Stranorlar respectively.
Deputy Mc Ginley says he calculated his milage on the AA Roadwatch website, and that was checked and accepted when he submitted his expenses claim form. Senator O’Domhnaill said he too uses the AA Roadwatch site. According to Deputy Mc Ginley, he was always told to claim for the route via Sligo, and he often travels via Stranorlar where he has a constituency office.
However, Senator Pearse Doherty, who lives in the same townland as Deputy Mc Ginley claims his expenses in Band 9, covering distances between 270 and 300 kilometres. Senator Cecilia Keavney is also in Band 9, as are Donegal North East Deputies Niall Blaney and Joe Mc Hugh.
Dr James Mc Daid claims expenses in Band 8, covering between 240 and 270 kilometres.