Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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75. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if he will provide in tabular form the amount paid to each independent TD under the leader's allowance payment since 1997; if any Independent TD did not claim the full amount available; if this payment was ever taxable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5729/14]

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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The amounts paid under the party leader's allowance from 2001 to 2013 are set out in the following table.  The current data systems in use allow for detailed payment records in the manner requested by the Deputy from 2001, however this system does not permit detailing the payments to independent TDs prior to 2001.

Deputy Beverley Flynn waived her entitlement to the party leader's allowance from 2009 to 2011.  There have not been any other waivers by independent TDs in receipt of the allowance in the period referred to by the Deputy.

Under the legislation, the payment under the party leader's allowance is not subject to income tax.

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 Bill includes other necessary measures all of which will increase transparency and accountability in the use of the allowance.