Press Releases

Press Release re expenditure of Exchequer funding received in 2009

Date Released: 18.05.2010

Political parties received a total of €13,603,264 in state funding for 2009, 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.

Five parties (Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, Sinn Féin and the Green Party) received funding of €5,438,385 under the Electoral Acts and those five parties along with the Progressive Democrats received €8,164,879 under the Party Leaders Allowance legislation. The attached table shows the amounts received by qualified political parties for 2009.

The funding is not subject to income tax and may not be used for electoral or referendum purposes. The level of funding is linked to pay increases in the civil service; however, the legislation which governs the funding is silent on pay decreases. Qualified political parties must furnish to the Standards Commission Statements of Expenditure of the funding received.

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 2009 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 €306,000. 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 2009, furnished under the Party Leaders Allowance Act.

2. Report to the Ceann Comhairle concerning Statements of Expenditure and Public Auditors' Reports, in respect of 2009, 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 - 6395718 (Jacqueline Moore)
Fax: 01- 6395684
e-mail: sipo@sipo.gov.ie

Back to contents