Why did Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Co Co pay €10k last year for Clr Barry Ward's Masters?

[RainyDay]

Does anyone have any idea about what particular bit of legislation allows the council to pay for councillor's education costs?

[cricket]

This guy is not an employee of the council , he's an elected representative. The council should make the criteria used in deciding this available to the public. What's next , flower arranging courses ?

[loner]

This would seem to be a charge that should be looked at by the Comptroller and Auditor General--on the face of it the payment of education fees for Councillors would seem to be inappropriate.

[RainyDay]

on the face of it the payment of education fees for Councillors would seem to be inappropriate.

That's putting it mildly....

[Thekinghasnoclothes]

Would the Revenue see this as a taxable benefit?

They should do

Ward should do the decent thing and repay the money with interest

[RainyDay]

Ward should do the decent thing and repay the money with interest

He's been rather quiet on the issue so far, though I'd be surprised if he's not reading this thread.

The legislation that I can find is;

S.I. No. 37/2010, which refers to
Local Government Act, 2001, Section 142, which refers to
Local Government Act, 1991, Section 51

As far as I can see, the legislation refers to "attendance at conferences, seminars, training or other events". It is a bit of a stretch to use this legislation to make a payment for a Masters, unless I'm missing something.

Have any other councils made similar payments to other councillors?

[Thekinghasnoclothes]

How was he singled out for the payment out of all the other Councillors in the Country?


Cllr Barry Ward » Gallery
Aparently he is "Listening for a better Blackrock"

http://www.barryward.ie/about/

Aparently "Barry Ward has been a member of Fine Gael since 2001 and worked as Enda Kenny’s legal adviser from 2005 to 2007, in the run-up to the last general election."

[Analyzer]

I am surprised that this sort of information has entered the public domain.

I mean, if it is true then it is serious and shocking stuff.

[Thekinghasnoclothes]

As a Fine Gael member I am apalled by this revelation if it is true.

I believe that Mr Ward should resign his seat and resign from Fine Gael if it is true. If it is false he deserves an apology and acknowledgement that he was wronged.

I expect the matter to be investigated and given due process

This cannot be let go without investigation to determine if it is true or not

What do other FG members think?

[wombat]

What do other FG members think

Its more a question for DLRCoCo - they have better things to spend money on than this. Obviously he feels he's entitled to claim it but if that is the case, he should be shamed into repaying it.