I refer to your front-page article on Sunday, 26 April. There is a serious misinterpretation of the councillors' gratuity scheme which is reiterated in your headline and your story. No retiring councillor will be getting a gratuity of €70,000 or anything approaching it.

If you read your own story again, you will see that the formula allows for a gratuity payment of €3,400 per year for each year since May 2000. There is a smaller amount of €700 per year allowed for each year of service prior to that up to a maximum of 20 years. Where you have made the mistake is to multiply €3,400 by 20 which gives you your figure of approach €70,000. This cannot happen as the maximum amount payable is 9 x €3,400 = €31,000 plus whatever number of €700 per year of service to a maximum of 20 years. Your article needs to be corrected as it gives a misleading impression. The Dept of the Environment (Press Office) at the Custom House who devised and regulate the scheme will be able to clarify precisely the CORRECT calculations.

Liam Kenny, Director,

Association of County & City Councils,

Office Unit 10 Manor Mills,

Maynooth, Co Kildare.