Political parties received €12m from taxpayers
Taxpayers funded political parties to the tune of almost €12m in 2005, figures revealed tonight.
The Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) said Fianna Fáil was the largest beneficiary at €4,597,103 followed by Fine Gael on €3,137,147 and Labour on €1,942,564.
Junior Government partners the Progressive Democrats received €907,479 followed by the Green Party at €670,337, Sinn Féin at €606,002 and the Socialist Party at €58,759.
The total Exchequer funding for each party is calculated from the monies received under the Electoral Acts and the Party Leaders’ Allowance.
Sipo also said that four of the qualifying 13 political parties disclosed political donations totalling €142,917. Each party must disclose donations over the €5,078.95 threshold.
Fianna Fáil disclosed the highest at €76,498 followed by the Green Party at €30,600, Sinn Féin at €30,000 and the Socialist Party at €5,819.
The donations were received from the parties’ elected representatives in each case, Sipo said.
Independent TDs in the Dáil also received €467,273 in Exchequer funding under the Party Leaders’ Allowance while their colleagues in the Seanad collected €96,054.
