Politicians to get €1.6m for giving up council seats

DÁIL members and senators will get a €1.6m sweetener from the taxpayers this summer to give up their local authority seats.

The 127 members of the Oireachtas who are also members of a local authority will be paid €12,800 each for handing over their council seats later this year.

Under existing regulations, retiring councillors get a retirement package of €7,800 if they do not run again in 2004.