Northern Ireland Assembly members claimed nearly £8 million in expenses last year, it was revealed tonight.
The average per MLA in 2008/09 was about £74,000.The figure included expenses for travel, offices and food, allowed under the rules. This is on top of annual salaries of £43,101.
The top five expenses bills were:
- Pat Ramsey (SDLP, Foyle);
- Danny Kennedy (Ulster Unionist Party, Newry and Armagh);
- Arlene Foster, Democratic Unionist Party (Fermanagh and South Tyrone);
- Tom Elliott, Ulster Unionist Party (Fermanagh and South Tyrone);
- Raymond McCartney (Sinn Fein, Foyle).
Those Assembly members represent the most far-flung parts of Northern Ireland, forcing long journeys to Stormont for which mileage is claimed.
Ms Foster has a ministerial car as part of her role as Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister but a large chunk of her expenses involved covering for a member of staff off sick for six months.
Mr Ramsey is understood to have claimed £11,000 in disability allowances relating to a hip replacement and back brace, which artificially inflated his figure.
The DUP has called for a reduction in the cost of running Stormont, pressing for a reduced number of departments and Assembly members.
Mr Kennedy claimed £90,800. That included paying two full-time and three part-time constituency staff, covering a maternity leave with temporary work and driving 90 miles a day from his constituency to Stormont and back.
Most of the money did not relate to mileage and he ran offices in Markethill and Tandragee, Co Armagh.
Mr Kennedy said: “I welcome the publication of these expenses on the basis of openness and transparency and I have nothing to hide.”
PA