Junkets and conferences damaging case for retention of town councils

The case against the abolition of some 80 councils across Ireland is being damaged by trips and conferences paid for from the public pocket, an Edenderry councillor has said this week. Labour councillor Declan Leddin described junkets and conferences as an "ongoing waste of taxpayer's money", and said the case for the retention of town councils is being damaged by continuing to use public money in this way. Just last month Edenderry councillors agreed a council representative will go to New York for St Patrick's Day. Cllr Leddin said he was unable to attend that meeting and vote on the issue due to family commitments, but is opposed to it. "I have since I was elected voiced concerns and publicly opposed such junkets and indeed in 2009 I tried to have the annual allocation for conferences redirected for more useful projects in Edenderry," he said. Do you agree with Cllr Leddin? Let us know your opinion with a comment below.