Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the amount paid to each quantifying party leader in respect of Deputies belonging to his or her party and to each independent Deputy under Section 1 of the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Office) (Amendment) Act 2001, for the period of time between the commencement of the 31st Dáil and 25 February 2012; the specific number of payments made to each qualifying party leader and to each independent Deputy under the terms of Section 1 of the aforementioned act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44617/12]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Party Leader’s Allowance is provided for in the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) Act, 1938, as amended by the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act, 2001.

The allowance is paid to the parliamentary leader of a qualifying party in relation to expenses arising from the parliamentary activities, including research, of the party. Payments are made in respect of members of the party elected to Dáil Éireann and members elected/nominated to Seanad Éireann at the last preceding general election or a subsequent bye-election or, in the case of Seanad Éireann, nominated to it after the last preceding general election. The conditions governing entitlement to payment of the allowance are set out in the Act. The primary restriction in the Act on the use of the allowance is that it may not be used in respect of election expenses.

Under the legislation, the amounts paid to the parliamentary leader of a qualifying party are calculated on the following basis:

*The legislation provides that, in the case of a qualifying party forming part of the Government, the combined allowances due in respect of TDs of that party are reduced by one third.

The legislation also provides that payments may be made to a member of Dáil Éireann, who at the last preceding general election or at a subsequent bye-election was elected as a member other than as a member of a qualifying party. Such qualifying Independent TDs are entitled to an annual rate of €41,152. A similar provision in the Act provides for an annual payment of €23,383 for Independent Senators.

The total amounts of the allowances paid to 25 February 2012 and number of payments made in respect of each party and each Independent TD and Senator is at Appendix I. Payments specified in respect of qualifying members of Dáil Éireann are for the period 25 February 2011 to 25 February 2012, with the next payments falling due on the 28 February 2012. Having regard to members of Seanad Éireann, in the case of elected members, the allowance was payable from 26 April 2011; for members nominated by the Taoiseach, the allowance was payable from 20 May 2011. The allowances are generally payable monthly in arrears into a bank account specified by the beneficiary of the allowance.

*Members of Dáil Éireann - Total amount paid for the period 25 February 2011 to 25 February 2012.

Members of Seanad Éireann – Total amount paid for the period 26 April 2011 to 25 February 2012 in the case of elected members and from 20 May 2011 to 25 February in the case of members nominated by the Taoiseach.