NEW ROSCOMMON INDEPENDENT TD LUKE FLANAGAN IS GOING TO USE HALF HIS WAGES TO FUND PROJECTS IN HIS CONSTITUENCY, RATHER THAN GIVING IT BACK TO THE TAXPAYER, ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE IN TODAYS IRISH INDEPENDENT. MR FLANAGAN SAYS  HE WILL GIVE UP HALF HIS TD'S SALARY OF AROUND €93,000.

BUT HE WILL NOT BE HANDING IT BACK TO THE STATE BECAUSE HE SAYS IT WOULD ONLY BE PUMPED INTO THE BANKS. INSTEAD, HE WANTS TO USE IT FOR "RECREATIONAL FACILITIES" IN HIS ROSCOMMON-SOUTH LEITRIM CONSTITUENCY.

MR FLANAGAN ALSO SAID HE STILL BELIEVED STRONGLY THAT CANNABIS SHOULD BE LEGALISED.

HE BELIEVES THERE ARE TWO OPTIONS, “EITHER WE LEAVE IT IN THE HANDS OF THE CRIMINALS OR WE BRING IT INTO THE LEGITIMATE TAXED ECONOMY”.

MIDWEST NEWS HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CONTACT DEPUTY FLANAGAN SO FAR TODAY ABOUT HIS COMMENTS.