Parish running costs hit €1m-mark
The total expenditure in the sprawling Killarney parish was €993,915 while total income for the year fell short of €625,000.
The main drain on the finances was a renovation project at St Mary’s Cathedral where a fire caused extensive damage.
The diocese was hit with a €435,000 reconstruction bill after the sacristy and a side altar were hit by the mystery blaze. A further €99,627 was spent on other repairs and maintenance.
Although the fire damage was covered by insurance, a loan of €150,000 was sought to carry out the renovations which included the provision of a state-of- the-art security system and new lighting. Almost €100,00 was paid out to light and heat the three churches in the parish.
The financial statement also shows a diocesan levy of over €54,000 had to be paid along with €36,995 for altar requisites and just short of €30,000 for insurance and rates. The biggest source of income was the offertory collections which amounted to over €317,000.
The four priests in the parish were each paid €25,250 last year.
