THE HOUSES of the Oireachtas Commission has offered to cut €4 million off TDs’ and Senators’ expenses bill in a bid to meet the Government’s demand for savings.
Under the plan agreed last night, TDs’ and Senators’ mileage rates would be cut by a quarter, while the number of Oireachtas committees – each of which offers paid posts – would be cut from 23 to 15. The plan now goes to Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan for consideration, but he has already rejected a plan produced last month that would have increased transparency around expenses, but not cut costs.
In a statement, the Houses of Oireachtas Commission said the cutbacks would save €4 million in a full year and reduce TDs’ and Senators’ expenses by 10 per cent.
Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue said the commission had agreed that “in light of the difficult economic situation facing the country at present, TDs and Senators had to play a leading role in finding savings in Government spending”.
The daily allowance of €61.53 paid to TDs and Senators who live within 15 miles of Leinster House is to be cut by an eighth, while the free postage allowance is to be cut by 400 envelopes a month.
Under existing rules, TDs and Senators can claim 78 cent for each kilometre up to 6437km, and 38 cent for each kilometre afterwards.
The 25 per cent cut in mileage rates will impact most heavily on members from remote constituencies, and commission members are already braced for complaints.
The new proposals will be added to, and not replace last month’s proposal from the commission which recommended an all-in allowance for members – but one paid only after it was proven that they turned up.
A special secretarial allowance for Ministers, which gave them extra secretarial help in their constituency office when backbenchers were awarded the services of a parliamentary assistant three years ago, is to be abolished outright.
The travel budget, which has funded overseas travel by Oireachtas committee over the years, is to be reduced sharply, sources said last night. It was cut earlier this year by 20 per cent and will now be halved further.
The new proposals will be presented to the Minister for Finance, who has ultimate responsibility for implementing changes to the current allowance system. However, it is not yet clear if he will accept them: “It would be easier if he told us what he wanted,” said one commission member last night.
Politicians had to have the resources necessary to serve their constituents: “The challenge for us is to do this in a wholly transparent and open way which can bring greater confidence to the system,” said Mr O’Donoghue.
Fianna Fáil TD Michael Mulcahy, a member of the commission, said: “I think that there was a need for the Oireachtas to show real leadership in this economic crisis.”
