Question to the Minister for Environment, Community, and Local Government (Mr. Alan Kelly, TD)
To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the savings expected to be generated over the next five years by the reduction in the number of councillors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Jerry Buttimer
For WRITTEN ANSWER on Thursday, 15 January 2015.
REPLY
Details of payments to individual councillors, which are not available in my Department , would be required in order to provide a reasonably accurate estimate of the savings arising on account of the reduction of the number of councillors . Notwithstanding this, it is estimated that the savings involved will amount to approximately €3.7 million per annum. However, this is a very tentative estimate and it is difficult to disaggregate the savings , for example in relation to the annual expenses allowance as there are a number of variables such as varying distances of elected members’ places of residence from local authority head offices. More detailed information could be sought from individual local authorities.