Three former Donegal county councillors running for re-election to Donegal County Council received almost €100,000 between them when they lost their seats the last time, Donegal Daily can reveal.
And any current sitting councillors who fail to get re-elected can also expect pay-outs after polling day on Friday May 24th.
Three former councillors – all members of Fine Gael – collected €97,811 after the last election in 2014.
John Boyle, who is running again in the Donegal electoral area in the south of the county, picked up a payment of €47,694 when he lost his seat.
Noel McBride, who is running in the Milford Electoral Area, got a pay-out for his two 5-year terms in office and picked up €33,512.
Mickey Doherty in Inishowen got payment for his one term in office and was given €16,605. He has been co-opted back onto the council last year but is not expected to run again.
Under the councillors’ ‘redundancy scheme’ politicians who lose their seats get one year’s money – or €16,605 – for every five years they serve on the council.
A four-term councillor losing a seat – or retiring – can pocket €64,299.
However, if they get re-elected five years later, they don’t have to pay the cash back.
