Press Releases

Press release regarding political parties returns 2006

Date Released: 21.06.2007

Exchequer funding received and spent by political parties in 2006

• under the Electoral Acts and
• under the Party Leaders Allowance legislation

Figures released today by the Standards Commission show that qualified political parties received €12,727,987 in direct funding from the Exchequer during 2006.

Six qualified parties (Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour, Sinn Féin, Progressive Democrats and the Green Party) received funding of €5,210,706 in respect of 2006 under the Electoral Acts. The same six parties together with the Socialist Party qualify for funding under the Party Leaders Allowance legislation and received payments of €7,517,281 in respect of 2006. Table A gives a breakdown of the funding received by qualified political parties in respect of 2006.

Exchequer funding received under either the Electoral Acts or the Party Leaders Allowance legislation 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 Éireann and Seanad Éireann also receive funding under the Party Leaders Allowance scheme. The total amount paid to non-party members of Dáil Éireann during 2006 was €514,158. The total amount paid to non-party members of Seanad Éireann was €104,970. Non-party members of Dáil or Seanad Éireann are not required to furnish to the Standards Commission a Statement of Expenditure in relation to the allowance.

Details of the Exchequer funding received by qualified political parties and how it was spent are contained in two separate reports published today by the Standards Commission and available on www.sipo.gov.ie. These reports are:

1. Report to the Minister for Finance concerning Statements of Expenditure and Public Auditors' Reports, in respect of 2006, furnished under the Party Leaders Allowance legislation by qualified political parties. Table 1 of this report provides details of the funding received in respect of 2006 while Table 2 shows how the funding was used.

2. Report to the Ceann Comhairle concerning Statements of Expenditure and Public Auditors' Reports, in respect of 2006, furnished under the Electoral Acts by qualified political parties. Table 1 of this report provides details of the funding received in respect of 2006 while Table 2 shows how the funding was used.

 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 the Standards Commission's website http://www.sipo.gov.ie.

Table A: Total Exchequer funding of qualified political parti es in 2006 under the Electoral Acts and the Party Leaders Allowance

Issued by the Standards in Public Office Commission on 21 June 2007

Fax: 01-6395684
email: sipo@sipo.gov.ie
Website: http://www.sipo.gov.ie

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