City councillors get €28,000 worth of laptops

Christmas came early for Galway City councillors who were gifted brand new computers and printers – paid for by you, taxpayers and ratepayers.

All 18 city councillors were presented with the latest in new computer technology – an individual laptop/tablet combination for each elected member.

Each city councillor was also presented with printers to accompany their new ‘toys’.

The machines were purchased so the Council can move towards ‘paperless’ meetings, which could save money in the long-run.

It is understood one of the 18 city councillors refused to accept the machines.

Coincidentally, councillors took delivery of the new laptop/tablet computers, and printers, in September, around the same time a majority of them voted not to lower the rate at which city homeowners would pay the Local Property Tax

And for the first time we can reveal the full cost to the taxpayer of Galway City Council purchasing 18 new computers, and 18 new printers.

Data released to this newspaper under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, reveals that more than €28,000 was spent to ensure city councillors have the latest computer technology.

The FOI revealed that each laptop/tablet combo machine cost €1,412. The total paid for the 18 machines was €25,416.

Meanwhile, FOI documents also reveal that each of the 18 printers purchased for each of the 18 elected representatives, cost €182. The total cost of 18 printers came to about €3,276.

The total amount spent on 18 printers and 18 computers came to €28,692, which includes VAT at a rate of 23%.

The City Council said that “no other hardware or software were purchased for the elected members”.

The company that supplied the computers to the City Council was Titan Communications and Networks; and the company that supplied the printers was Passax, the FOI documents confirmed.

The Council refused to release copies of the invoices.

“Supplier invoices are deemed to be commercially sensitive documents, however, in line with our legal obligations, confirmation of transactions greater than €20,000 is published on our website,” the City Council said.

A Council spokesperson said the machines were purchased as part of its e-government strategy.

The idea is that the council would move towards ‘paperless’ meetings and that all reports and agendas would be supplied via email, rather than paper, which is more expensive, the spokesperson added.