Violet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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218. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the purpose and dispensation schedule for the parliamentary activities allowance for members of Dáil Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61400/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Parliamentary Activities Allowance (formerly known as the Party Leader's Allowance) is provided for in the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938 (the Principal Act) 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 in relation to expenses arising from the parliamentary activities 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 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 by-election was elected as a Member other than as a member of a qualifying Party – i.e. an Independent Member. A similar provision in the Act provides for an annual payment for Independent Senators.

Section 3 of the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act, 2014, amended the Principal Act by inserting section 10H which lists the different categories of expenditure that are regarded as expenses arising from parliamentary activities.

The current annual rates payable with effect from 1 Oct 2022 are calculated on the following basis.  Payments are made monthly.

Note: 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.