Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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323. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the total amount that will be spent on the Party Leaders' Allowance in 2014; the way this amount differs from 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4170/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The total amount paid under the Party Leader s allowance in 2013 to leaders of qualifying parliamentary parties and to qualifying independent members was €8.33 million. Following a review of the allowance and a consultation process with leaders of qualifying political parties, qualifying independent members and with the Standards in Public Office Commission, I published the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Bill 2013 in October 2013.  The Bill has passed all stages in Seanad Éireann and is currently in passage through Dáil Éireann. The Bill provides for a reduction of 10% in the rates of the allowance, representing an estimated full year Exchequer saving of €0.84 million. The date on which the reduction will come into effect is subject to the enactment of the Bill. On this basis, I cannot provide a precise figure for the amount payable in 2014 at this time.