Cost of running referendums adds up to €135m

Ireland's enthusiasm for referendums and elections comes at a cost – almost €135 million since 2000.Figures released by Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe show this year's general election cost €26.8 million.

Of the referendums since 2000, the most expensive was for the first Lisbon Treaty in 2008 which cost a record €22.2 million, while the least expensive was an abortion-related poll on the Protection of Human Life in Pregnancy in March 2002, which cost €10.8 million.

Fianna Fáil local government spokesman Barry Cowen asked in a written parliamentary question for details of the cost of each referendum held in the State since 2000, and the elections and byelections.

Mr Cowen said on Friday that he wanted placed on the public record the actual costs “rather than figures being bandied about to make a particular argument”.

He cited recent debate on a referendum on the future of water services in which Minister for Local Government Simon Coveney suggested that such a referendum would cost about €20 million.

Mr Cowen said that people would now know the figures and costs involved, when making an argument. He added that the figures suggested an argument could be made for having a “referendum day” set aside every few years to decide on issues.

Since 2000 a total of 15 referendums have taken place. On four occasions more than one issue was decided. In June 2001 referendums were held on the same day on banning the death penalty, on the Nice Treaty, and on the International Criminal Court. They cost €11.1 million.

In 2011 the public voted in favour of reducing judges’ salaries and against giving extra legal powers to Oireachtas inquiries.

Two years later the electorate stunned Fine Gael by voting against the abolition of the Seanad while at the same time the public vote in favour of the establishment of a Court of Appeal. These cost €14.4 million.

And last year the same-sex marriage referendum was passed while the public rejected a proposal to reduce the age of eligibility to run for the presidency, currently set at 35 years. The cost of running these two referendums was €15 million.

The 2016 general election cost €26.8 million, which Mr Donohoe said related mainly to “returning Officer costs for the conduct of the poll and count, reimbursement of candidate expenses and also postal expenditure for the delivery of candidate election material and polling cards”.

Since 2010 there have been eight Dáil and two Seanad byelections, which cost the State an estimated €3.7 million.

The most costly byelection took place in October 2014 in Roscommon-South Leitrim when Independent Michael Fitzmaurice was elected to succeed Independent Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan who had been elected to the European parliament. Running that election cost the State €564,000.

Referendum Cost

June 2001 Prohibition of Death PenaltyInternational Criminal Court Treaty of Nice €11.1m

March 2002 Protection of Human Life in Pregnancy €10.8m

October 2002 Treaty of Nice €15.0m

June 2004 Citizenship *

June 2008 Treaty of Lisbon €22.2m

October 2009 Treaty of Lisbon €17.5m

October 2011 Houses of Oireachtas Enquiries Judges Remuneration *

May 2012 Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union €14.8m

November 2012 Children €12.8m

October 2013 Abolition of Seanad, Court of Appeal €14.4m

May 2015 Marriage Equality Bill & Age of Eligibility for Election to Office of the President €15m

*2004 * 2011 Department of Public Expenditure and Reform says no separate figures available for these referendums because they were combined with European and local elections in 2004 and presidential and byelection in 2011