FERMOY COUNCILLOR CALLS FOR PUBLICATION OF EXPENSES
In the wake of a recent report outlining the amount of expenses claimed by city, county and town councillors throughout the country, one Fermoy town councillor has called for every cent claimed by councillors to be published by the media as a matter of procedure.
“People are sick of reading about the amount of money councillors are claiming in expenses. Most councillors have another income or even a state pension and, at a time when the country is in such a bad way, people need to know just how much their public representatives cost them,” Fianna Fail town councillor, Olive Corcoran told The Avondhu.
NO PROBLEM
The Mayor of Fermoy, Cllr Pa O’Driscoll sees no problem in having all councillors or indeed any public representatives expenses published.
“I see no problem with this request and I for one would not have anything to hide. I think that the whole system of expenses and other allowances for councillors, Senators and TDs needs to be overhauled and I would hope that this is done sooner rarer than later,” Cllr O’Driscoll said. List requested The Avondhu contacted Fermoy town hall and requested a list of councillors’ expenses for 2009.
However, unlike previous years when this paper made the same request, it now appears that this information can only be obtained through a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.
Fermoy town clerk, Ray Owens, was unavailable for comment but a spokesperson said that a FOI request was required for any information concerning councillors’ expenses. A request was then made to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government to clarify the procedure concerning councillors’ expenses.
F.O.I. NOT REQUIRED
“There is no requirement as set by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government as to the publication of any public representatives expenses. A FOI is not required by this department,” a spokesperson for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government said. Having told the town hall of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government’s procedure.
The Avondhu has now been informed that the town hall is now taking our request for a list of councillors’ expenses as official and that this list will be sent to the paper in the coming weeks.
Published:
Thursday 26th August 7:23pm
