The six elected councillors from the Comeragh area were the heavy spenders in last year’s local elections, according to information released by Waterford County Council. Between them, their expenditure amounted to €26,000 or an average of €4,300 per seat. Tramore’s councillors were, by contrast, the most frugal spending just €14,000 in total, the equivalent of around €2,000 per seat won.
Waterford County’s only Independent councillor, Joe Conway, was the lowest spender on the election parting with just €1,300 while Cllr MJ O’Ryan shelled out almost seven times that amount and, at €8,700, was the biggest spender in capturing of his father’s long-held seat.
Liam Brazil (FG) at €3,500 and John Carey (FG) at €2,000 were the recipients of the two biggest donations while Dr Tom Higgins (FG) is the holder of the biggest number of shares.
He is listed as a shareholder in Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland, Diageo, Marks & Spencer, Royal Bank of Scotland, HSBC, HBOS, Barclays, Lloyds, Rio Tinto Mining with holdings in excess of €12,697.38 in each, according to official County Council figures.
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