Councillors paid €500k last year

Westmeath’s county councillors received over half a million euro in payments last year, newly released figures have revealed.

The highest earner was Cllr Ken Glynn, who was elected cathaoirleach by his peers last June. The Fianna Fáil man’s gross payment was €36,587.27. This included a gross representational payment of €17,519.95, an annual allowance and municipal district allowance of €5,100.27 and his chairperson allowance of €10,655.48. The annual chairperson allowance is €20,000.

The second highest earner was the man whom he replaced as cathaoirleach, his party colleague Paddy Hill.

The veteran Fianna Fáil man from the north of the county received a gross payment of €33,524.51, which included his representational payment of €17,519.95, the annual allowance and municipal district allowance of €6,498.98 and the chairperson allowance of €9,505.58 for the first five months of the year.

The mayor of the Municipal District of Athlone Moate, Cllr Aengus O’Rourke received the third highest gross payment (€32,578.27, see table for a breakdown), while the deputy mayor, Cllr Louise Heavin, received the next highest payment (€31,419.78). Labour stalwart Cllr Johnnie Penrose received the lowest gross payment (€22,729.56).

Speaking to the Westmeath Examiner, Cllr Ken Glynn said that while he enjoys representing the people of Mullingar, “there are a lot of hours that go into being a county councillor”.

“I don’t be jumping and shouting on the front of everything or getting into every picture. That’s not my way of doing things. My way is working away quietly for people individually behind the scenes. That’s how I operate and the people who come to me or whom I help over the years will testify to that.

“They won’t do it publicly but they will do it privately in the ballot box. I think that’s the vindication for any councillor: if they are elected, they are putting in the hard work.

“Whatever the rates we are paid, they are set down nationally. They are above our heads. We get what we get. If you are cathaoirleach, you get the bit more. The figures are there.

“The people will have an opinion and rightly so. Do they get value for money from their councillors? That’s down to each person to make that decision.

“I can only testify for the work I do and the type of councillor I am. It is very much on the ground, working for people and groups who ask for my help. There will be times that I can help them and there will be times that I can’t. That’s the most honest answer I can give.”

Cllr Glynn says that his council duties usually takes up more than 20 hours a week, which have to be carried out after he finishes his day job.

“As an elected representative, it is my job to represent people and they get to have their say every five years.

“If in 2024 people decide that councillor’s not for me, that’s the way it is. To be fair to the other 19 councillors, I know them all individually and they all work hard for their areas. I am a long time doing this now.

“Over the years, the one thing you try and do is keep some form of a family life. If I got away with 20 hours a week [on council work] that would be great.

“You are on call for people. I think I am fairly accessible. That’s what I am elected to do. I am elected to work for people. The day that anyone decides that they don’t want to do that, they shouldn’t be in public life. That’s the way it is.

“The figures are what they are. People will make their own minds up,” Cllr Glynn said.