President Andrew Deeks claims over €90,000 in travel expenses between 2016-2018
Figures released under the Freedom of Information act to The University Observer detail the travel expenses of UCD President Andrew Deeks between 2016-18. They reveal that overall he has claimed €92,753.88 in travel related expenses in this time period.
€59,575 was spent on flights over the two years, with €6,613.24 being spent on taxis. Public transport was by far the least popular mode of transport, with only €75 claimed of which all is from the period 2017/18. Deeks also claimed €23,783.25 on hotels and accomodation during the same period, with €1382.72 spent on meals and hospitality.
UCD made headlines last year when it was revealed that it had spent nearly €1m on business class and premium fare flights for academics and senior officials in a single year. UCD spends more money on flights than any other Irish university according to the figures released last year.
The University Observer has been reporting on the expenses incurred to UCD from the President’s office. Last year a Freedom of Information request revealed that over €150,000 had been spent since 2017 to date on events held in the President’s private residence, University Lodge. Professor Deeks earns €190,233 a year, according to a 2018 Irish Times article.