New figures show 146 Irish judges claimed more than €1.6 million between them in travel, subsistence and judicial attire costs in 2011, a drop of a third in the total cost of judges’ expenses claimed in 2008.
Last year, 64 District Court judges claimed €955,889 between them; 38 Circuit Court Judges received €551,724; 36 High Court judges claimed €119,550 and eight Supreme Court judges received €9,766.
Although the figures, provided by the Courts Service, do include a breakdown of the travel and subsistence expenses claimed by each judge, they do not identify the individual judges by name.
The figures reveal those judges with the three highest expense claims were District Court judges, with the highest figure claimed by an individual judge totalling just over €50,000. The next two highest figures claimed stood at €40,841 and €38,115 respectively.
A Courts Service spokesman said the cost of judges’ travel and accommodation had dropped by a third since 2008, adding the savings had been achieved at a time when there was a 40 per cent increase in court business.
“The savings are as a result of a general 25 per cent reduction in travel and subsistence rates and a general reorganisation of court venues in districts across the country – the first in 40 years – which resulted in far less travel within large court districts,” he said.