Judges claimed more than €1.6 million in expenses last year, an 11 per cent decrease on the previous year.
Courts Service figures show that Judge Kevin Kilrane of the District Court had the largest claim of the year at €51,563.
Other judges among the top five claimants were Judge John J O’Neill, who received €41,075; Judge Gerard Furlong who received €40,214; Judge Séamus Hughes who received €37,593 and Judge Terence Finn who received €33,243.
District Court judges claim the highest amount in expenses of the judiciary as the court venues they preside over are more dispersed than court presided over by Circuit Court judges.
Judge Kilrane presides in the Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim areas while moveable judges such as Judge Furlong are likely to claim high expenses as they are required to preside at courts throughout the country.
Judge Finn presides in the South Tipperary/West Waterford area while Judge Hughes sits in district area nine that covers the Co Westmeath area.
Supreme Court
Judges in the Supreme Court and High Court claim comparatively small amounts in expenses as the majority of sittings are held in Dublin.
The expense bill for the High Court judges stood at €97,791 with the expenses claimed by the members of the Supreme Court last year totalling €4,129 while judges in the Court of Appeal claimed €4,426
Circuit Court judges claimed a total of €541,913 in expenses while District Court judges claimed €949,403.
The highest claimants in the Circuit Court were Judge John O’Hagan, who received €30,940, and Judge Brian O’Callaghan, who received €30,128.
The level of costs recouped by each judge are a direct reflection of the work, numbers of sittings and the locations he or she is required to attend.
Payments are made in accordance with rates agreed by the Department of Justice and Equality and sanctioned by the Department of Finance.
