Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will clarify the terms of circular letter ref. W02/07 regarding expenses of local authority members on river basin district advisory councils; if it is mandatory for local authorities to pay such expenses to members who attend a river basin district advisory council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15510/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I have, in the circular letter referred to, directed that travel and subsistence allowances at standard rates are payable in relation to attendance by members of local authorities at meetings of a River Basin District Advisory Council. Such allowances are payable with effect from the date of appointment of the member to the Advisory Council and are additional to the annual expenses allowances otherwise payable to elected members of local authorities. Payment can be made by the appointing local authority or, with the agreement of the relevant local authorities, by the Advisory Council.

Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if local authorities may pay overnight and travelling expenses to chairpersons of joint policing committees which have been established in certain local authorities on a pilot basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15511/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Councillors receive a fixed annual allowance which covers expenses incurred by them in attending meetings associated with their council business, including meetings of Joint Policing Committees. Separate expenses may not be paid in regard to matters covered by the annual allowance. The annual allowance (including the meetings' indices element of the allowance) and other financial supports payable to councillors were significantly increased with effect from 1 January 2007, following a review. In addition to the annual allowance, councillors may also receive ad hoc travel and subsistence expenses in respect of attendance at such events as conferences and training courses of relevance to their local authorities. Local authorities are responsible for the administration of the expenses system for councillors in accordance with the Local Government (Expenses of Local Authority Members) Regulations 2006.