Taxpayers face €3m bill for councillors’ gratuity payments
Taxpayers are reportedly facing a €3m bill to meet gratuity payments for councillors who retired or lost their seats at the recent local elections.
Reports this morning said 575 councillors were entitled to claim the gratuity introduced by former Environment Minister Noel Dempsey four years ago.
City and county councillors are entitled to tax-free payments of €8,400 each, while borough and town councillors are entitled to up to €4,242 each.
This morning’s reports said the Consumers Association and the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland were both calling for the gratuity scheme to be scrapped as it "serves no purpose for the taxpayer".
