Fine Gael TD Harrington got most in expenses

FINE GAEL TD Noel Harrington from Co Cork been paid the highest level of expenses by the Oireachtas since the 31st Dáil first sat in March.

The Cork South West deputy received more than €53,000 of the total of about €6 million shared by all TDs. Mr Harrington defended his expenses on the grounds that his constituency base was so geographically remote from Leinster House.

“I live 400km from Leinster House. When I’m travelling, I’m halfway to Dublin and still in Co Cork. My expenses are vouched. I’ve chosen to have them vouched. I run and manage two constituency offices that I have to pay rent for, and obviously there’s travel and subsistence,” Mr Harrington said.

The parliamentary standard allowance paid to TDs is made up of a travel and accommodation allowance and a public representation allowance. The first allowance covers the costs of travel to and from Leinster House, accommodation where applicable and constituency travel.

Travel allowances are based on the distance from Leinster House, with a series of bands of 30km. Ministers, Ministers of State and the Ceann Comhairle are not entitled to the travel allowance.

Mr Harrington is the only TD residing within band 12, which allows deputies living over 360km away to have €37,850 a year. His home is in Castletownbere and his constituency offices are in Bantry and Skibbereen.

The second part of the allowance can cover the rental and cleaning of constituency offices; mobile phone and landline calls, including line rental; office signage; “improvements” to office accommodation as well as electricity and gas bills relating to offices.

The public representation allowance can also be used for buying stationery and office furniture; leaflet and newsletter distribution; attendance at conferences and advertising “relating to the performance of his or her duties as a member”, according to Oireachtas guidelines.

TDs can opt for the public representation allowance to be vouched or unvouched. The minimum certified amount for unvouched expenditure is €15,000 and the fully-vouched maximum amount subject to audit is €25,700, with lower rates for Ministers. TDs must certify the monthly expenses paid to them at the end of the year and repay any unused amounts by the end of this month. Reconciliation then takes place by Oireachtas officials and a final statement of payment and repayment is to be published in March.

Labour TD Arthur Spring, of Kerry North-Limerick West, who was paid more than €52,000, said he would be giving the Oireachtas more than €10,000. His public representation allowance is vouched.

“I ran the leanest operation I could. Because of the way the system works, I will be giving back a cheque for more than €10,000. I most certainly will not be the second-highest,” Mr Spring said.

From Tralee, Co Kerry, Mr Spring lives within band 10, which entitles members based 300-360km from Leinster House to €36,350 annually.

Mr Harrington’s constituency and party colleague Jim Daly from Clonakilty, Co Cork, who was also paid more than €52,000, also lives within travel band 10. “I’ve got two constituency offices, one in Clonakilty and one in Skibbereen, and all those expenses are vouched. I’m the second furthest away [from Leinster House],” Mr Daly said.

No expenses were recorded for Labour TD Eamonn Maloney. “His view is that since he lives in Dublin and doesnt have a constitutency office he doesnt need expenses,” a Labour spokesman said.

A review of the expenses system is under way. A Department of Public Expenditure and Reform spokeswoman said: “The Oireachtas Joint Administration Committee is commencing work in the coming weeks on formulating Oireachtas members’ input to the review and will follow this up with this department.

The expenses come on top of an average TD’s salary of €92,672.