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

203. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the annual amount paid to each qualifying party leader and each Independent TD and Senator under section 1 of the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act, 2001 for the period of 1 January 2011 to date; the frequency and number of payments made to each qualifying party leader and each Independent TD and Senator under the terms of section 1 of the aforementioned Act; the formula by which such annual payment amounts are calculated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28341/14]

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

The Parliamentary Activities Allowance is provided for in the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) Act, 1938, as amended, most recently by the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices)(Amendment) Act 2014.

The allowance is paid to the parliamentary leader of a "qualifying party", as defined in the legislation underpinning the allowance, 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. 

Under the legislation, the amount of the allowance is calculated based on the number of members elected at the time of election in accordance with the following tables.  The Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices)(Amendment) Act 2014 reduces the amount payable by 10%:

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 were paid an annual rate of €41,152, up to the 30th of June 2014.  This rate is reduced to €37,037 from 1 July 2014.  A similar provision in the Act provides for an annual payment, amounting to €23,383 up to 30 June 2014, and €21,045 from 1 July 2014, for Independent Senators.  Payments in respect of the allowance are made monthly in arrears.  The amounts paid from 1 Jan 2011 to date are below:

Senators :

TDs :