WATERFORD City and County councillors accumulated a bill of almost €20,000 from June to December of last year attending training seminars and conferences.
The figures, received by the Waterford News & Star, are the first published expenses claims from the amalgamated Waterford City and County Council.
Attending conferences nationwide over the six-month period, a total of €19,632.93 was claimed in expenses by 20 councillors across the city and county.
The remaining 12 councillors- Declan Clune, Pat Fitzgerald, Jim Griffin, Blaise Hannigan, John Hearne, Joe Kelly, Seamus O’Donnell, Lola O’Sullivanm Eamon Quinlan, Mary Roche, Siobhán Whelan and Adam Gary Wyse,- had either attended conferences and not entered expenses claims or had not in fact attended any conferences within the June to December period.
Fianna Fáíl Councillor Tom Cronin was the local representative who had claimed the most expenses for his conference attendance.
Listing expenses of just over €2500, Cllr Cronin attended six conferences over a three month period.
All conferences attended by the Ardmore and Grange-based councillor were related to Local Authority training seminars, such as Association of Irish Local Government’s (AILG) training courses in Finance, Housing, Planning in addition to the group’s annual conference.
He also attended a conference dealing with the effects of Budget 2015 and the Local Authority Members Association’s Autumn Training seminar.
His party colleague John O’Leary was close behind with listed expenses of €2269.44. Cllr O’Leary attended the same six conferences attended by Cllr Cronin, which were all training-based seminars for local representatives.
Labour Councillor John Pratt also broke the €2000 mark, with just over €2200 claimed in expenses. Cllr Pratt had also attended six conferences.
Independent Councillor Joe Conway and Fine Gael’s Declan Doocey completing the top five list, with each claiming €1963.39 and €1488.48 respectively.
Cllr Conway had attended five conferences, while Cllr Doocey attended two.
