The cost of politics
Following the money behind political power
Each year, tens of millions of euros are spent on TDs, Senators, ministers, political parties, and their staff. This hub tracks how much is claimed, by whom, and under which public funding schemes.
Total cost of the Houses of the Oireachtas between 2015 and end of 2023
€1,146,000,000
This figure includes staff salaries, political allowances, member expenses, secretarial support, printing, IT, premises, pensions, and all administrative costs of running the Oireachtas.
€488,750,000
The amount of this €1.15 billion which was spent on the salaries, expenses, and allowances of TDs and Senators.
474
The number of staff currently employed by TDs, Senators, and Political Parties whose wages are fully paid from state funds.
Total State Funding of Political Parties since 2015
€185,545,656
Since 2015, when Ireland introduced state funding of political parties, Irish politics has become nearly entirely reliant on that money.
84.3%
The proportion of the overall funding of political parties that comes from taxpayers since 2015.
Total State Funding of TDs between the election of 2016 and end of 2023
€406,733,000
This figures includes TD's salaries and all allowances and expenses they have claimed over the period. As can be seen from the figures below TDs recieve more in allowances and expenses than in their base salary.
€140,757,000
Salaries
€196,429,000
Secretarial Allowances
€69,547,000
Expenses and Allowances
Parties
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