One in five local or city councillors who is entitled to unemployment or disability benefit does not properly declare their council earnings, according to new research.

Of the 1012 councillors who get some form of benefit (some 10% of the total), 195 did not declare their political income, leading to overpayments totalling €300,000. Of them, 85 were fined because the sum involved was higher than €6,000 and nine have been formally cautioned.