Kerry Fine Gael TD, Brendan Griffin has confirmed this week that, if re-elected, he hopes to continue a long-standing arrangement with a Kerry Primary School to donate half his TD’s salary to employ an additional teacher at the school.
Deputy Griffin’s act of altruism has ensured the additional teacher has been employed for a fourth academic year through donations from his salary of over €200,000 since the year he was elected in 2011.
Keeping a Pledge
Deputy Griffin has worked for half salary since his first day in the Dáil in March 2011, keeping a pledge that he made prior to the last election in solidarity with the people of Kerry during the economic crisis.
‘Deputy Griffin’s act of altruism has ensured the additional teacher has been employed for a fourth academic year through donations from his salary of over €200,000 since the year he was elected in 2011.’
From March 2011 to June 2012, Deputy Griffin was making the salary donation directly to the Department of Finance, but since June 2012, has been donating directly to the school to allow an additional teacher to be employed for the children of the school.
Waived €200,000 in Salary
In total, Deputy Griffin has waived over €200,000 in salary during his first Dáil term, the only TD in Ireland to make such a commitment.
Deputy Griffin says that he now plans to continue the current arrangement with the school beyond the general election if re-elected to Dáil Éireann.
“This arrangement is making a positive difference to the children of the school. I hope to be able to continue the arrangement beyond the election if re-elected.”
