James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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218. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 729 of 17 January 2017, if he will confirm that this includes Independent Deputies now serving as Ministers or Ministers of State (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5069/17]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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219. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 729 of 17 January 2017, the maximum sum payable under that allowance in respect of Independent Deputies (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5070/17]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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220. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform further to Parliamentary Question No. 729 of 17 January 2017, if the expenditure records referenced in the reply are available for public inspection (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5071/17]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 218 to 220, inclusive, together.

As stated in my reply to question 729 on 17 January, all Independent Deputies bar one are in receipt of the Parliamentary Activities Allowance - this includes Ministers and Ministers of State elected to Dáil Éireann as Independent Members. I also stated in that reply that the annual rate of the allowance payable to an Independent Deputy is €37,037.

As regards the availability for public inspection of the statement of expenditure made to the Standards in Public Office Commission by Parties and Independent Members in receipt of the allowance, the legislation provides that the Commission must make a copy of each statement and auditor's report, together with the Commission's report on the statement, available for public inspection on its website and also at its principal office during normal working hours.