Judges' expenses bill tops €80,000
One District Court judge last year claimed more than €82,000 in expenses, it was revealed today.
New figures show €2.3m of public money went towards judges’ travel, meal and hotel costs in 2007, but the Court Service said it cannot identify who benefited from the taxpayer funds for security reasons.
The official records from the Courts Service indicate the country’s 145 judges were paid an average €20,000 each in expenses – on top of their wages. Seventeen of those however claimed nothing.
However, one District Court judge claimed €82,240.65 – which included more than €25,000 in travel expenses and €56,000 in subsistence.
A Court Service spokesman said almost all of the travel and subsistence expenses paid to judges are necessarily incurred by them in travelling to court venues.
“In 2007 this amounted to 97% of the total amount claimed,” he said.
“The remainder is made up of expenses paid for attendance at conferences, judicial attire and miscellaneous.
“Judges based in Dublin have very little travel and subsistence expenses, while those assigned to larger geographical areas have substantial travel between court venues within the area.”
The members of the judiciary are not employed by the Courts Service, but their expenses are processed and paid by the Courts Service in accordance with rates sanctioned by the Department of Finance.
There are 55 Circuit Court venues and 181 District Court venues outside of Dublin.
