Press Releases

Press Release re expenditure of Exchequer funding received in 2008

Date Released: 23.06.2009

Political parties received a total of €13,742,203 in state funding for 2008, according to figures released today by the Standards Commission. The money was paid to the parties under the Electoral Acts and under the Party Leaders Allowance legislation.

Six parties (Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, Sinn Féin, Progressive Democrats and the Green Party) received funding of €5,609,962 under the Electoral Acts and €8,132,241 under the Party Leaders Allowance legislation. The attached table shows the amounts received by qualified political parties for 2008.

The funding is not subject to income tax and may not be used for electoral or referendum purposes. Qualified political parties must furnish Statements of Expenditure of the funding received to the Standards Commission.

Non-party members of Dáil and Seanad Éireann also receive funding under the Party Leaders Allowance legislation. The amount payable to each non-party member of Dáil Éireann during 2008 was €41,152 and the amount payable to each non-party member of Seanad Éireann during the same period was €23,383. The total paid to non-party members was €361,936. Non-party members are not required, however, to provide a Statement of Expenditure of the allowance to the Standards Commission, or to any other authority.

Details of the funding and how it was spent are contained in two reports published today by the Standards Commission. These reports are available on www.sipo.gov.ie.

1. Report to the Minister for Finance concerning Statements of Expenditure and Public Auditors' Reports, in respect of 2008, furnished under the Party Leaders Allowance Act.
2. Report to the Ceann Comhairle concerning Statements of Expenditure and Public Auditors' Reports, in respect of 2008, furnished under the Electoral Acts.

The Statements of Expenditure and Auditors' Reports furnished to the Standards Commission may be inspected and copied by members of the public at its offices at 18 Lower Leeson Street, Dublin 2. The information is also available in summary form on www.sipo.gov.ie.

Telephone: 01-639 5718 (Jacqueline Moore)

Fax: 01-6395684

E-mail: sipo@sipo.gov.ie

Website: http://www.sipo.gov.ie

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