Losing councillors get golden handshakes of up to €51,000

COUNCILLORS who lost their seats in last week’s elections will be entitled to golden handshakes of up to €51,000 amounting to a bill of €6 million for the taxpayer.

Maurice Ahern, brother of the former Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, is entitled to a lump sum payment of €32,000 after losing his seat in Dublin City Council while also failing to get elected to the Dáil in the Dublin Central by-election.

Councillors who retired and decided not to contest a seat will also get the compensation payments which amount to €3,520 per year of service for those who worked as councillors since 2000 and €716 a year for up two 20 years previous to that.