A NEWLY elected county councillor has criticised the millions of euro in expenses provided to elected representatives to attend a variety of "frivolous" conferences and seminars every year.

Councillors across the country receive invitations to a wide variety of meetings which have recently included 'folklore recording' in Kerry and a 'traditional music summer school' in Roscommon.

However, Regina Doherty, recently elected to Meath County Council for Fine Gael, has called on local authorities to suspend the practice "with immediate effect".

"I don't believe that attending conferences, at a considerable sum to the taxpayer, is vital to the effectiveness of my role as a county councillor," she said.

"We all must take responsibility for every penny of taxpayer's money we spend and be guaranteed that it is an essential spend and that we get value for the money we spend."

Elected officials receive an expense allowance of thousands of euro each year to attend such conferences – the exact amount varies from one council to the next.

In the past, councillors have been accused of simply turning up at the conferences, signing in to receive their expenses, and leaving.

"An immediate motion should be passed that all non-essential expenditure by every TD, councillor, senator, every government department, every county council must stop with immediate effect," said Councillor Doherty.

Last March, Athy town councillor Paddy Wright called for a suspension of the practice, labeling the expense "a complete drain" on finances that could be better spent elsewhere.

His motion was defeated in a vote by six of his council colleagues.

"I am absolutely opposed to it. I always was in view of the cutbacks," he told the Sunday Tribune.

"They [councillors] spend thousands. They go down to them and they never ever bring back reports.

"My motion was voted down. In view of what was coming up [in the economy] I couldn't believe my ears. Obviously they enjoy the trips."

Environment minister John Gormley is currently considering a €2,000 spending cap on councillors travelling to conferences.

A source said the matter is being considered in the department with movement expected in the coming months.

It is anticipated that a spending cap could be put in place by the end of the year.