Salaries and expenses of Wexford councillors revealed as Fianna Fáil member tops list for third year running

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

For the third year in succession Fianna Fáil’s John Fleming has received the highest payment of any councillor in Wexford having received €77,075.76 in 2025.

That figure also surpasses the €73,453.43 Cllr Fleming received last year which, at the time, was a record high for a councillor in Wexford.

The €77,075.76 he received last year is broken down as follows: flat salary provided for all councillors (€30,932.08), conferences attended in Ireland (€2,267.95), conferences abroad (€7,155.16), conference fees (€90), training fees and expenses (€3,878.50), annual expense allowance (€5,044.68), local representational allowance (€5,080), security allowance (€10,000), chair allowance (€3,520.18), SPC chair allowance (€9,107.21).

The security allowance relates to funding offered to all councillors to have safety works carried out at their homes, including CCTV systems, electric gates, and doorbell monitors.

Despite serving as chair of Wexford County Council (WCC) from June 2023-24 Cllr Fleming continued to receive a chair allowance (€3,520.18) in 2025. The New Ross man is currently chairperson of the council’s strategic policy committee (SPC) for Economic Dev & Enterprise which accounts for €9,107.21 of his pay.

The second-highest earner in the county for 2025 was Fianna Fáil’s Barbara Anne Murphy who received €72,209.51. This consisted of her flat salary (€30,932.08), conferences attended in Ireland (€885.75) conferences abroad (€5,824.73), training fees and expenses (€960.68), annual expense allowance (€6,041.64), local representation allowance (€5,352.70), security allowance (€10,000), municipal district chair allowance (€3,104.72), and SPC chair allowance (€9,107.21).

Third on the list was Cllr Garry Laffan (FF) who received €66,359.15 in 2025. This consisted of his flat salary €30,932.08, conferences attended in Ireland (€1,480.19), conferences attended abroad (€4,603.35), conference fees (€90), annual expense allowance (€3,449.54), local representation allowance (€4,578.27), security allowance (€10,000), and municipal district chair allowance €5,979.48.

The highest annual expense allowance (€7,227.38) in the county last year was incurred jointly by Cllr Joe Sullivan - who served as chair of WCC from June 2025 onwards - and Cllr Nicky Boland (Wexford Independent Alliance).

In total, councillors in Wexford were paid €1,603,036.25 in 2025, an increase on the 2024 figure of €1,470,903.44.

The full breakdown of salaries and expenses by councillors is as follows:

Barbara Anne Murphy (FF) €72,209.51.

Joe Sullivan (Independent [was FF in 2025]) €64,297.81

Trish Byrne (FG) €20,276.29 - co-opted to the council following Cathal Byrne’s election to the Seanad.

A number of outgoing councillors also received payments in 2025.

Cathal Byrne (FG) €7,284.32 - elected to the Seanad.

Fionntán Ó Suilleabháin (SF) €3,677.19 - elected to Dáil Éireann.

Anthony Connick (IND) €2,490 - lost his seat.

Kathleen Codd Nolan (FG) €233.93 - retired.

Willie Kavanagh (FF) €112.58 - lost his seat.

George Lawlor (LAB) €109.77 - elected to Dáil Éireann.