COUNTY councillors receiving tens of thousands of euros in expenses are also receiving significant sums from other state bodies, figures just released reveal.

One of the top earners in this regard is the chairperson of Mayo Co Council, who received a total of 62,139 in expenses last year but also earned a total of 29,779 in fees and expenses from Údarás na Gaeltachta for the 23 months up to November 2001.

Cllr Tadhg Ó Cuinn from Belmullet's total expenses from the council includes 9,193 in relation to his membership of the Western Health Board and special allowances alloted to him in his role as chairman of the local authority.

But Ó Cuinn is also an elected member of the board of Údarás na Gaeltachta.

The latest figures released under the Freedom Act in November 2001 show that he earned a total of £23,302 (29,779) in fees and expenses in the 23 months between December 1999 and November 2001. This included a computer allowance of £1,300 to which all board members are entitled.

However, Ó Cuinn was not the only member of Mayo County Council to figure on the most expenses list. His Fianna Fáil colleague, Jimmy Maloney received 75,056, making his expenses bill the highest in the country. Maloney, from Foxford, is a farmer and businessman and has been a councillor for over a decade.

Others who featured prominently on the list were Paul Desmond (Lab), Cork, 74,618;

Francis Conaghan (FF), Donegal, 69,255; Paul O'Donoghue (FF), Kerry, 68,658; Jim Reilly (FG), Kildare, 63,779; Michael O'Regan (FF), Galway, 62,139;

Richard Nagle (FF) Clare, 62,086; and Vivian O'Callaghan (FF), Cork, 60,837.