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Stormont: otto milioni di sterline in rimborsi spese

Why MLAs’ expenses topped £8m last year

StormontAssembly members claimed nearly £8m in expenses last year, it was revealed last night.

The average per person in 2008/09 was around £74,000, with SDLP member Pat Ramsey claiming the largest amount.

The figure included expenses for travel, offices and food, allowed under the rules. This is on top of salaries worth £43,101 a year.

The top five expenses bills were:

  • Pat Ramsey (SDLP, Foyle)
  • Danny Kennedy (Ulster Unionist Party, Newry and Armagh);
  • Arlene Foster, (DUP, Fermanagh and South Tyrone);
  • Tom Elliott, (UUP, 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. Mr Kennedy said: “I welcome the publication of these expenses on the basis of openness and I have nothing to hide.”

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René Querin

Di professione grafico e web designer, sono appassionato di trekking e innamorato dell'Irlanda e della sua storia. Insieme ad Andrea Varacalli ho creato e gestisco Les Enfants Terribles.

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