A list of the costs and allowances claimed by TDs and senators made public.
The amount of money earned by our politicians is often the subject of public comment. While many recruitment companies believe that the salaries of TDs are too low, the amount can increase significantly when expense claims are taken into account. The basic salary for a TD is £38,000.
The amount of money earned by TDs always attracts public comment.
The average amount of expenses paid to each TD was £24,000. Fine Gael TD Tom Enright topped the list for expense claims at £44,794 for the 12 months to April 1999. This was followed by Fianna Fáil's Eddie Wade at £44,778, Fianna Fáil's Batt O'Keefe at £44,227, Fianna Fáil's Sean Doherty at £42,915 and Fine Gael's Enda Kenny at £42,539. In total, 11 TDs claimed over £40,000.
A total of 23 TDs claimed more than their actual salary.
Ministers receive separate departmental expenses and are therefore at the bottom of the list. Joe Higgins of the Socialist Party made the lowest claim at £13,580. Also towards the bottom of the claims list were Seán Ryan, Róisín Shortall, Alan Dukes, Pat Rabbitte and Mary Hanafin.
The published expenses list is not confined to TDs. In the Seanad, almost half of all senators doubled their income with expenses and four of the top five claimants are Fianna Fáil senators. Top of the list is Rory Kiely at £41,774. Edward Haughey, Mary Jackman and Fergal Quinn were at the bottom of the expense list for senators..
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 5 September 1999. The reporter is Aengus Mac Grianna.
