Louth County Council spend over €20k on St. Patrick's Day trip

Louth County Council spent over €20,600 on sending a delegation to New York for St Patrick’s Day this year.

The delegation was made up of Louth County Council Chief Executive, David Conway, Director of Strategic Economic Development, Thomas McEvoy, Cllr Kevin Callan as Louth County Council Cathaoirleach, Cllr John Sheridan as Cathaoirleach of Ardee MD, Cllr Seán Kelly as Cathaoirleach of Dundalk MD and Cllr Pio Smith as Deputy Mayor of the Borough District of Drogheda.

The figures obtained under a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, show that a total of €5,270 was spent on flights for the trip.

A further $7,397 (around €6,432) was spent on accommodation at the Pod 39 hotel.

Meanwhile, three of the councillors, Councillors Kelly, Smith and Callan claimed €754.32 each under the Subsistence Abroad Allowance, while Councillor John Sheridan claimed €807.40 and Chief Executive David Conway and Director of Strategic Economic Development, Thomas McEvoy claimed €705.49 each, bring the total spend on travel and subsistence to €4,481.34.

During the trip Louth County Council hosted a dinner for the Louth New York Society at a Smith and Wollensky Steakhouse spending $3,024 (around €2,630) .

Additionally, $325 (around €282) was spent at Jackson Hole Burgers and $252.60 (around €219) at Pershing Square restaurant.

Additional expenses included €27.60 on food at the Cloud Picker Cafe at Dublin Airport, $21 on an ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) application and $57 at Rosie Dunn’s in New York.

Euro figures for transactions made in dollars reflect current exchange rates which may differ slightly from exchange rates at the time.

Independent Councillor Maeve Yore has voiced her objection to what she has dubbed as an “annual junket” to New York by Louth County Council officials and Cathaoirleachs, hitting out at the cost of the trip to Louth taxpayers and what she said is “the zero return on any jobs or tourism coming to Louth as a result of such trips”.

Since April Councillor Yore said she has requested a report of this year's trip which was issued to Councillors last week stating a six person delegation - two council executive and four Councillors - went for six days to New York costing €20,600.

The Independent Councillor requested clarification and information at June’s County Council Meeting of the trip saying in her opinion the figures given were misleading as according to revenue rules subsistence covers meals and meals cannot be receipted if subsistence is paid, she also asked for an explanation of the meal at Smith and Wollensky Steakhouse and was advised Louth County Council hosted a meal for the County Louth Society of New York.

Councillor Yore said she queried how many active members are in the society and how many of them marched in the parade with the Louth delegation. She queried whether Tourism or Enterprise Ireland have ever followed up on these meetings by sending on their plans to promote Louth as a tourism destination or a place for investment of jobs.

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Councillor Yore said she has spoken to business owners and been contacted by members of the public over the years who also cannot see the benefit of this annual trip saying, “one business owner told me ‘no business in Dundalk or Louth would send a six person delegation off on a trade mission with no guarantee of a return in jobs or investment’.”

She also said that year on year costs for the St Patrick’s Day New York trip rise whilst the local volunteer led St Patrick’s Day parades struggle annually to cover the cost of running St Patrick’s Day events and that when Louth County Council was asked for additional funding to ensure the parade goes ahead are told additional funds are not available.

“Louth taxpayers should not have to ‘pick up the tab’ and if elected representatives want to attend for the tradition and building relationships they should pay for the trip themselves,” she said.

Asked to comment on the figures and Councillor Yore's comments, Louth County Council said: “The elected members received a detailed report on the St Patrick’s Day visit to New York earlier this month. Responses to the items raised by Cllr Yore were provided in the Chamber at the council’s monthly meeting on 16th June, in the presence of the media, and to the satisfaction of members. These matters have since been reported in the media.”