The members of Mayo County Council are to fund their own study trips in the future it was agreed at the June monthly meeting of the local authority.
Head of finance for Mayo County Council, Mr Peter Duggan outlined the new proposal to the members which was warmly welcomed at the meeting. The new system will see study trips become self financing through voluntary deductions from the members expenses and relevant employees’ salaries. A fee of €20 will be deducted from councillors’ expenses each month and from the relevant employees for the remainder of the council’s term. This will allow members and employees to have a fund built up to cover the costs associated with the trips and cut down on the cost that may need to be paid. He also informed the members that if there was any money left in each individual’s fund at the end of the council’s terms it would be repaid to the councillors and staff.
Leas Cathaoirleach Cllr Peter Flynn, who was chairing the meeting in the absence of Cathaoirleach Cllr Michael Burke, told the meeting: “I think this is a great idea and well worth supporting by every member in the county.” Independent Cllr Gerry Ginty welcomed the news telling the meeting: “I’d like to welcome this, but so will the people in Mayo who see that the members are taking on such a proposal.”
