Town councillors earned an average of over €16k in 2008

The nine members of Athlone Town Council received an average of over €16,000 each in payments and expenses as a result of their role with the local authority last year. Figures obtained by the Westmeath Independent reveal what payments to local government representatives in Athlone cost the taxpayer last year. The six members who sit on Athlone Town Council alone received a representational payment of €8,593, in addition to a monthly expense allowance, in 2008. Meanwhile, the three Town Council members who are also members of Westmeath County Council received the expenses allowance, along with a representational payment of €17,248. Among the six members who sit on Athlone Town Council alone, Mayor Egbert Moran received the highest payment, a total of €20,337.77, last year. This figure included the annual expenses allowance of €2,843.04 which all nine Town Councillors were awarded, along with miscellaneous expenses of €197.73 and a mobile phone allowance of €600. Half of the €15,000 payment which Cllr Moran received for serving as Mayor of the town for 2008/09 is also included in Cllr Moran"s total figure for 2008. His predecessor as Mayor, Cllr Paul Hogan, was paid a €12,000 Mayoral allowance, and half of this sum contributed to his total of €18,036 in payments and expenses claimed in 2008. The next highest earner among those who are town councillors alone was Cllr John Butler, who claimed €12,318.78 over the course of the year. All councillors received a representational payment and a separate fixed allowance of €2,843.04 to meet expenses incurred by them in attending meetings associated with their council business. Three members, Cllr Austin Berry, Cllr Mick O"Connell and Cllr Ray Lennon didn"t claim for any other expenses in addition to the fixed allowances and so received a total €11,436.04 each during 2008. Of the three members who sit on both the town and county councils, Cllr Kieran Molloy took home €21,091.04 (which included half of a €2,000 allowance for serving as Deputy Mayor for 2008/09), while Cllr Kevin "Boxer" Moran and Cllr Mark Cooney both received €20,09104. All the figures listed above do not include members" expenses for attending conferences.