IT IS supposed to be the only type of politics that does not pay.


Sitting on the local council, lobbying furiously for new traffic lights or pothole filler, is generally considered the domain of those who are merely civic-minded.


However, as €1.49 million worth of fees, expenses and overseas travel testifies, membership of a council can be financially rewarding.


Figures from Dublin City Council have show that the 55 political representatives sitting on that body each took home an average of €27,000 last year.


Councillors are entitled to a whole raft of different claims and each is paid what is known as a "representational payment" of €17,176.92 annually.


They can also claim expenses for attending meetings – sometimes just two or three a month – with payments of up to €8,406 each year.


Other entitlements include telephone expenses of up to €600 and a broadband refund of €360 to pay for web access in their homes.


Travel and subsistence for business overseas is also paid and in some cases can be up to €10,000 per year, figures from Dublin City Council show.


Members who chair committees or those who end up as either the lord mayor or deputy mayor are also entitled to extra allowances.


Lord mayor of Dublin Eibhlin Byrne was the top earner last year taking home €60,236 in pay along with the added benefit of residence at Dublin's best address, the Mansion House.


Byrne was paid €28,219 specifically for her work as lord mayor along with other standard payments made available to councillors.


She also claimed €6,193 in "travel and subsistence".


Former mayor Paddy Bourke ran a close second, taking home €47,706 in payments and expenses for his work during 2008.


Maurice Ahern, a brother of the former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, earned €32,278 last year for his work with Dublin City Council.


Sinn Fein's Christy Burke took home €32,278 and Fine Gael's Gerry Breen earned €33,357.


Councillor Deirdre Heney, who works as a personal assistant to junior minister Noel Ahern, earned €25,583, or the minimum entitlement without claiming expenses.