Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Perfect. People want to know how much has been spent to date to meet Irish Water's set-up costs. Consumers are concerned that they will face higher water charges on foot of these start-up costs.

The Minister has taken some important steps to ensure the funding of political parties is a more transparent process and to make politicians more accountable to the electorate. The Electoral (Amendment) (Political Funding) Act 2012, which introduced measures to require political parties to disclose to the Standards in Public Office Commission details of the funding they have received above certain limits, has gone some way to make the public funding of political parties more accountable. The maximum donation that can be accepted by an individual elected representative or a candidate has been reduced from €2,539 to €1,000. The maximum donation that can be accepted by a political party has been reduced from €6,349 to €2,500. I think this will help to restore the electorate's faith in the political system in Ireland.

The 10% reduction in the party leaders' allowance is another important aspect of the Bill. The allowance in question is in place to assist political parties and Independent Deputies who were elected as Independents with their parliamentary-related activities. It helps them to carry out their duties fully and represent their constituents properly. It is important that the allowance is being reduced at a time when the public service has been cut and many people throughout the country have lost their jobs.

As the Minister is aware, the Independent Deputies who comprise the Reform Alliance were expelled from the Fine Gael Party for voting against the Government on an issue of conscience which we believed to be of significant importance. We kept our party's promise to the electorate even though we were aware of what the repercussions of doing so would mean for us as individuals. As Independents, we are not entitled to receive the party leaders' allowance as Deputies who were elected as Independents do. The Fine Gael Party is continuing to enjoy the benefit of allowances in respect of seven former members - five Deputies and two Senators - whom it has seen fit to expel and who now comprise the Reform Alliance in the Oireachtas. I would like the €300,000 in question to be returned and used, like other taxpayers' funds, for proper purposes such as the restoration of the moneys that have been taken from children's, disability and other services. That would be only right and proper. When he spoke last Thursday, Deputy Naughten suggested that this money should "be returned to the Exchequer" and used in areas where is it is much more needed, for example, to provide respite care or help with the medical costs of children with disabilities.

St. Michael's House, which is a vitally important resource in my constituency of Dublin Bay North, is crying out for funding and support. It helps 1,600 people with intellectual disabilities and their families. It has been struggling to provide the same level of service, year-on-year, as a result of the cuts in its budget. The money given to the Fine Gael Party - my allowance and that of my Reform Alliance colleagues - could be put to much better use by St. Michael's House or a similar facility that has suffered as a result of the recent economic collapse. It is upsetting to receive e-mails from constituents who are anxious that the St. Michael's swimming pool in Belcamp Park is no longer open to users on Saturdays. Those who use the pool greatly benefit from availing of this outlet. This purpose-built facility, which was designed for people with disabilities, gives children a chance to socialise. No other pool in my area can meet the needs of those who use it. Parents have raised concerns with me about the fact that this facility now has to close every Saturday, which is the most suitable day for families to go to the pool because of parents' work responsibilities during the week.

The Fine Gael Party is being allowed to continue to draw down the allowances I have mentioned and use them for its own research purposes. As Deputy Naughten and Creighton have pointed out previously, an extremely concerning article appeared in the Sunday Independent on 19 January last. The newspaper claimed to have spoken to a senior Fine Gael Party source who admitted that all steps would be taken to ensure a former member of the party will not be re-elected at the next general election. A senior party source told the newspaper that Fine Gael intends to help potential candidates "in every way and resource them" adequately. It is shocking that a political party is using public funds to block the re-election of a former member of that party.

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