Kerry council employees share €2.4m in expenses

County council employees in Kerry have shared almost €2.4m in tax-free expenses.

Some 1,187 council staff including almost every member of staff, indoor and outdoor, claimed mileage and or subsistence in work for the council. The total paid was €2,390,326, according to information released on request, under the Freedom of Information Act.

The figures relate to 2015. In December of that year there were 1,378 staff employed by Kerry County Council. The council confirmed that almost everyone claimed expenses and most of this was mileage.

However, a breakdown of the various departments shows some did better than others.

More than half a million euro, €523,591, went to staff on the water services department of the council. The council is now ‘an agent’ of Irish Water, as are other councils around the country. Under the contract or what is known in council terminology as ‘service-level agreement’ the mileage and expenses will be ‘recoupable’ — that is paid back to Kerry County Council by Irish Water.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland will also have to pay back some of the expenses involved in work for them, as will a number of other departments, the council said.

Staff in Kerry’s department of Operations Health and Safety received €929,676, in mileage and subsistence expenses.

Fire and Civil Defence received €124,754; while Corporate Services which deals with the press and the public got almost €136,000 in mileage and subsistence.

The €2,390,326 represents travel, mileage and subsistence paid in 2015 for both revenue and capital expenditure, it said.

“Payment of expenses are subject to compliance with Revenue legislation and guidelines.

“Therefore most of the travel expenses are not taxable under these rules. However, there are some expenses that are subject to tax deduction in line with this legislation and guidelines,” the council has said.

The overall sum represents both recoupable and non-recoupable expenditure for 1,187 staff members. Mileage is paid at the civil service rate, as is subsistence.

The Civil Service rates for motoring are paid to individuals who have to use their own vehicle in the course of their duty, according to the engine size of vehicle involved and the grade of staff.

According to the latest Civil Service rates, a civil service/council employee driving a car of up to 1,200cc will get 39.12c a kilometre up to 6,437km; and 21.22c for anything after that; those with cars with engine capacities of 1,201cc and 1,500cc will get 46.25c a kilometre up to 6,437km and 28.46c after that .

Those with cars of over 1,501cc will get 59.07c a kilometre up to the limit and 28.46 after that. And that is the standard rate.

The higher Civil Service rates (for persons on lower grades) involve up to 78.76c a kilometre for cars over 1,501cc.