Political parties receive €6.5m of taxpayers’ money
Political parties received more than €6.5m in funding from Irish taxpayers last year, according to figures released today by the Standards in Public Office Commission.
Fianna Fail, as the largest party, received almost €2.4m, while Fine Gael received more than €2.3m.
The Labour Party received around €1.2m, the Progressive Democrats around €300,000, the Green Party €180,000 and Sinn Fein €125,000.
The funding is distributed under the Electoral Acts 1997 to 2001 and the legislation governing party leaders’ allowances.
The level of taxpayers’ money to be handed out to politicians this year is expected to be significantly higher due to increased funding under the Electoral Acts which came into force last November.
