Eight members and staff of local authorities in Co Wicklow have been criticised for enjoying a "culture of foreign travel".
Five members of Wicklow County Council, accompanied by the county manager, Mr Eddie Sheehy, have just spent a week in Seminole County, Florida, and were on their way to New York, yesterday, for the St Patrick's Day celebrations. The trip is expected to cost about £25,000.
In a separate visit, the assistant county manager, Mr Hubert Fitzpatrick, is accompanying the cathaoirleach of Bray Urban District Council on a visit to Dublin, California, via New York. This trip is expected to cost about £5,000.
The members of Wicklow County Council in Florida are Mr Michael Lawlor (FF), Mr Pat Vance (FF), the council chairman, Mr Pat Doyle (FF), Mr George Jones (FG), and Mr John Byrne (Lab).
Ms Anne Ferris (Lab) is representing Bray Urban District Council in California. The Bray council hosted officials and elected representatives from California at the St Patrick's Day parade in Bray last year.
The trips have been criticised by Independent councillor for Arklow, Mr Nicky Kelly, who said the county council had pleaded poverty on a number of important schemes recently.
"People are walking through muck, and coffins are being buried in pools of water in St Gabriel's cemetery in Arklow because there is no money, while some elected members enjoy a culture of foreign travel," he said.