Revealed: Breakdown of the €1.2 million paid to Louth councillors last year

A total of €1,201,215.59 in representational payments and expenses was paid to the 29 Louth County Councillors in 2025, including a total of €899,351.12 in representational payments, €148,226.67 in ad hoc expenses, €17,141.98 in foreign travel expenses, and €26,039.89 in other training expenses.

It is up from the €1,142,988.63 that was paid to 36 councillors in 2024. Payments were made to 36 councillors in 2024 due to local elections taking place, with some being re-elected, some being elected for the first time, and some not re-elected but serving as a councillor until the 2024 elections.

The highest amount was paid to Cllr Seán Kelly. Cllr Kelly was paid €59,081.82 up from €52,365.25 in 2024.

His 2025 payments comprised €30,932.08 in representational payments; €6,546.48 in ad hoc expenses; €11,666.90 as a chairperson allowance; €5,000 as a chairperson of a municipal district allowance; €593,12 in phone and broadband allowances; €259.05 in personal liability personal accident A/B; €50 for LAMA (Local Authorities Members Association); €471.09 in East Border Region Forum & other meeting expenses; and €3,563.10 in foreign travel expenses.

The lowest amount was paid to Cllr Maeve Yore. Cllr Yore was paid €34,112.36 in total, which comprised €30,932.08 in representational payments; €2,565.32 in ad hoc expenses; €524.78 in phone and broadband allowances; €40.18 in personal liability personal accident A/B; and €50 for LAMA.

Just one other councillor received payments of over €50,000 in 2025, Cllr Pio Smith.

Cllr Smith was paid a total of €55,912.15 in 2025, up from €52,958.85 in 2024, with his 2025 payments comprising €30,932.08 in representational payments; €7,026.34 in ad hoc expenses; €6,000 as a chairperson of a Strategic Policy Committee (SPC); €524.29 in phone and broadband allowances; €40.18 in personal liability personal accident A/B; €50 for LAMA; €700 for conference expenses in State; €963.70 in East Border Region Forum & other meeting expenses; €6,607.11 in other training expenses; and €3,068.45 in foreign travel expenses.

Since 2019, Cllr Smith has been paid €25,738.43 in other training expenses. Along with €6,607.11 in 2025, he was paid €5,308.23 in 2024; €6238.75 in 2023; €4,019.56 in 2022; €1,284.44 in 2021; €795.24 in 2020; and €1,485.10 in 2019.

With regards to foreign travel expenses; a total of €17,141.98 was paid to eight councillors in 2025. This included €5,033.30 to Cllr Kevin Callan; €980.25 to Cllr Michelle Hall; €3,563.10 to Cllr Seán Kelly; €494.65 to Cllr Robert Nash; €280.25 to Cllr Declan Power; €3,291.53 to Cllr John Sheridan; €3,068.34 to Cllr Pio Smith; and €430.25 to Cllr Jim Tenanty.

Louth County Council provided some information to the Dundalk Democrat last year in relation to representational payments, items covered by ad hoc expenses, and training expenses.

Louth County Council said that the Local Representational Allowance (LRA)  covers the following expenditure categories:

• Rent, Rates & other such charges in relation to an Office
• Signage in respect of an Office
• Improvements to Office accommodation
• Utilities of an office 
• Purchase or maintenance of home office furniture or equipment
• Purchase of Stationery
• Insurance for office accommodation, equipment & public liability insurance
• Cleaning of office accommodation
• Internet & telephone costs
• Web hosting
• Hiring of rooms for Clinics or other meetings
• Leaflet & newsletter printing & distribution
• Advertising relating to the performance elected members functions 
• Purchase of secretarial support, public relations & expert advice relevant to local government functions

It said that ad hoc expenses covers:

• Travel by elected members to meetings of LCC
• Subsistence payments for attending meetings of LCC
• A payment of €960 of unvouched expenses
• Local Representational Allowance (LRA) up to €4,200 per year for which receipts must be submitted
• Phone bills
• Insurance for Councillors

Louth County Council said that all expenses are a combination of vouched & unvouched expenses. With regards training expenses, Louth County Council said that: "All training expenses are covered by Circular LG 03/2025 and would include training provided by the:

• "Association of Irish Local Government
• "Local Authority Members Association 
• "Appropriate event organised by national representative bodies for function for which local authorities have responsibilities. The bodies must have a remit in relation to the relevant functional area and represent relevant bodies or individuals action in relation to that function across a range of matters other than the provision of training - examples would include Irish Planning Institute and The Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland in relation to planning functions."