Cork address gets senator €80k mileage

A FIANNA Fáil senator is at odds with his own website after claiming extensive mileage from his home in Cork – despite telling constituents he lives in north Dublin.

Senator Ivor Callely claimed €81,000 in mileage expenses from the Houses of the Oireachtas on the basis he lived at his second home in Bantry.

He explained this as an anomaly of his appointment because he used the Cork address when he accepted the Seanad nomination from the then taoiseach Bertie Ahern in 2007.

“Following the loss of my Dáil seat, I took up residence in Cork and received my appointment to the Seanad from that residence,” he said.

However, the former junior minister’s personal website linked to his constituency office on the Howth Road in Killester said he still lived in his original constituency.

“Sen Callely was nominated to Seanad Éireann in 2007 and appointed Government Spokesman on Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

“Married to Jennifer, they have three children. He was educated and continues to live in Dublin North Central,” he said.

There is no mention of his relocation to Kilcrohane, Bantry, in the Cork south west constituency and the local issues he referred to, going back to 2008, are all in the area of north Dublin.

“I am also continuing my work in the constituency and dealing with every issue until the best solution is achieved. I am always available if you would like my advice or assistance with any matter.

“I truly believe, together, with a redoubling of our commitment and effort, and with new thinking, we will see these tough times through and restore our country to more prosperous times,” his website said.

Mr Callely could not be contacted yesterday.

Most of his expenses for mileage and overnight costs were claimed in 2007 and 2008 the total came to €81,015.

According to documents released to the Sunday Independent the Oireachtas wrote to Mr Callely in October 2008 asking for clarity on his address, after he re-registered his Bantry details.

It asked him to certify in writing that he was living in Cork.

At this point, he said Kilcrohane was his “normal place of residence for the time being but not one’s principal abode at all times”.

Last November, he changed his address back to Dublin and said he would not be claiming the out-of-Dublin allowance for September, October, November and December 2008 because he wanted to reflect actual expense.

In a letter written early last month he returned €3,987 by cheque and said he had hoped the new Oireachtas allowance system would accommodate his two-home situation, but it did not.