John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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284. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reasons for his decision to increase the spending limits for local election candidates; the information he considered before making this decision; the extent of any consultations or research he conducted before reaching his decision; and the total number of candidates who spent in excess of €12,000 at the 2019 local elections. [23793/24]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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Section 12A(1)(a) of the Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999 sets out the aggregate total of election expenses which may be incurred by candidates at a local election. In addition, section 19C(1) of the Act provides that the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage may by order vary, among other matters, the amounts set out in section 12A having regard to the change in the Consumer Price Index since those amounts last came into operation.

In advance of the 2024 local elections and having engaged with the Association of Irish Local Government, a review was undertaken of the spending limits that apply at the local elections. The review was undertaken in accordance with the requirements of section 19C of the Act, having particular regard to the meaning of change in the Consumer Price Index as set out in that Act.

Over the period since the spending limits were last revised (i.e. May 2014 to January 2024), the change in the Consumer Price Index was examined and was found to have increased by 18.4%. Given the aggregate increase in the consumer price index since 2014 was significant and material, and in recognition that candidates will likely incur additional expenditure when contesting this year’s local elections due to said change in the Consumer Price Index, I increased the spending limits in accordance with the provisions of section 19C of the Act.

The Local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999 (Variation of Monetary Amounts) Order 2024 (S.I. No. 134 of 2024) raised the three bands to €15,350, €13,600 and €11,500 respectively. My Department does not maintain figures for the number of candidates who spent in excess of €12,000 at the local elections held in 2019.