CONFERENCE EXPENSES CUT BY €10,000
Fermoy town councillors this week voted to reduce conference attendance expenses from €13,000 to €3,000 at their annual budget meeting Conference attending by councillors has been a sore subject for the past few years with the point being made, over and over again, that the funds allocated for conferences could be put to better use.
The moment of truth arrived this week when town council members voted for a massive reduction of €10,000 in the 2010 budget.
The proposal, which was made by town mayor, Noel McCarthy, and later passed, was challenged with a counter proposal from Cllr Seamus Coleman, who suggested that the expenses should be reduced to zero, achieving savings of €13,000.
Cllr Tadhg O’Donovan supported Cllr Coleman’s proposal, and commented, “I feel things are so bad now, that, on this occasion, we should support Cllr Coleman’s amendment.”
It was, though, Mayor McCarthy’s €10,000 proposed reduction that was voted through in the end.
Mayor McCarthy said, “I wanted to leave a small contribution to allow for conferences that are beneficial to the town.”
Other fellow councillors commended his initiative. Cllr Colette Dolan-Moore said, “I don’t believe that anyone should be out of pocket for attending conferences, but I do feel that the conference has to be of benefit to the town and that there should be accountability for the attendance.”
Cllr Patrick O’Driscoll concluded, “I said before the election that I was against the ridiculous expenses claimed for conferences. I am delighted now that we cut them by 77%.
"The figures released during the week by Minister Gormley show that across the country expenses are being used in a way that can’t be justified. I am glad that Fermoy Town Council has taken a lead in reducing them to such an extent.”
Published:
Friday 22nd January 10:40am
