More than €150,000 paid in expenses to Wicklow councillors so far this year
The Wicklow PeopleNew figures show councillors in Wicklow have been reimbursed €152,621.71 in expenses between them so far this year.
Expenses are paid out under a range of categories and are generally made available to cover the costs incurred by councillors as they carry out their representational duties. Funds are provided to pay for broadband and phone bills, insurance, training, attendance at conferences and mileage.
The travel and subsistence elements are calculated by reference to the distance from each councillor’s home to council headquarters and is calculated on an annual basis and paid in monthly instalments.
Data published by Wicklow County Council up to the end of June 2025 shows Sinn Fein councillor in Bray, Dermot Daisy O’ Brien, received the highest amount with €6,655.78. His district colleague in Bray Cllr Erika Doyle was the second highest with her expenses running to €6,083.61, followed by Independent Cllr Jason Mulhall who claimed €5,867.86.
Among the other high earners were Fine Gael’s Peter Stapleton, who received €3,874.74, and Labour’s Paul O’Brien who took home €3,738.51.
Cllr O’Brien, who was cathaoirleach of the council until June of this year, was also reimbursed €2,094.85 for a trip abroad between the March 13 and 19. As council chair, he represented Wicklow during the St Patrick Day festivities in New York.
Cllr O’Brien separately received €1,107.13 for travel expenses to Wurzburg in Germany as part of a county delegation to celebrate a partnership agreement between the city of Würzburg and Bray that has been in place for over 25 years.
Cllr Stephen Stokes and Cllr Patsy Glennon were also part of the delegation between the May 8 and 11 and received €1,186.02 and €872.27 respectively in travel expenses.
Councillors Tom Fortune and Peir Leonard were among the other highest independent members compensated with sums of €4,025.58 and €4,115.22 respectively, followed by Cllr Gerry O’ Neill at €3,657.06.
At the lower end of the list are Cllrs John Snell, Shane Langrell and Graham Richmond who all claimed €2,196.58.
Meanwhile Cllr Aoife Flynn Kennedy, who resigned from local politics in March, was paid €2,054.03 up to the end of June, with a final payment of €691.29 transferred in May.
So far to date in 2025, more than €7,360 has been paid to allow seven elected members attended a variety of workshops, seminars and conferences across the county.
The highest individual bill came to €1,867.17 to allow Cllr Paul O’Brien attend engagements with the Association of Irish Local Government (AILG) and a conference on corporate governance.
Cllr Pat Kennedy received the second highest subsidy of €1,813.56 to attend seminars hosted by the AILG.
Councillors Avril Cronin, Graham Richmond, Ned Whelan, Warren O’Toole and Patsy Glennon were also reimbursed for their attendance at events hosted by the AILG in various locations with a combined total cost of €1,860.60.
Cllr Shane Langrell also received €718.81 to attend the Local Authority Members Association’s spring conference in Kilkenny.