Ministers outside Dublin entitled to €3,500 in unvouched laundry expenses
Finance Minister Michael Noonan has revealed that Ministers from outside Dublin who need to stay in hotels while in the city are entitled to thousands of euros to cover their laundry bills.
Michael Noonan's admitted that Ministers and Junior Ministers are entitled to claim €3,500 in unvouched expenses for cleaning.
It is one of the many tax write-downs Ministers can claim under the second homes allowances.
The system has been in place since 1998 and has cost the public more than €1m, with between 14 and 19 Ministers claiming each year.
The information came to light after a parliamentary question was tabled by Sinn Féin's Finance Spokesperson Pearse Doherty.
"Anyone's who's been to Leinster House you'll know that when you come through the gate, in Kildare Street, there's a wee dry cleaning service.," he said.
"And I think it's about €13.50 for a suit to be dry-cleaned.
"A Minister would have to be changing three or four times a day..."
