Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 385: To ask the Minister for Finance if his attention has been drawn to the use of the special secretarial allowance (details supplied); the action he has taken on this matter; if he will implement the recommendation of the Oireachtas Commission that the SSA be terminated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34554/09]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The nature of the Special Secretarial Allowance (SSA) scheme available to Members of the Oireachtas and the purposes to which it applies are set out as follows.

There are four options available to TDs under the SSA scheme as follows:

(i) a Parliamentary Assistant supplied and employed by the Oireachtas Commission, or

(ii) two TDs may opt to combine and have a higher level staff member supplied and paid for by the Oireachtas Commission, or

(iii) a fully vouched annual amount of up to €41,902 for employing a temporary staff member or for the purchase of secretarial equipment and services; or

(iv) a vouched annual amount of €11,591 for work or service done or the employment of a temporary person, plus an un-vouched annual amount of €8,888. Ministers may available of the options (iii) and (iv) above under the SSA scheme.

There are three options for Senators under the SSA scheme: either (i) Parliamentary Secretaries supplied and employed by the Oireachtas Commission; or (ii) a fully vouched annual amount of up to €20,546 for employing a temporary staff member or for the purchase of secretarial equipment and services; or (iii) a Parliamentary Secretary employed at 75% supplied and paid for by the Oireachtas Commission and an annual un-vouched amount of €6,666.

The Oireachtas Commission made proposals to me about the system of expense allowances payable to members of the Oireachtas including the application of the SSA scheme. The proposals were an attempt by the Commission to provide a more streamlined expenses system and the introduction of a single composite allowance in place of the existing separate allowances.

I have introduced enabling legislation which would allow the proposals of the Commission in regard to a composite allowance to be implemented. The Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act, 2009 provides for the introduction of a single composite allowance for Deputies and Senators to be known as the Parliamentary Standard Allowance.

However, I am of the view there is a need for further consideration and discussion of the proposed composite allowance before it is introduced in any regulations.