Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Here’s how much the Seanad received in expenses last year

The figures for Senators’ expenses for December allow us to build a full picture of the payments made to each member last year.

THE 60 MEMBERS of the Seanad were paid over €1.3 million in expenses last year, new Oireachtas figures have shown.

Data published by the Oireachtas this week, detailing how much each member was given in December, have enabled us to construct a full picture of what each member claimed last year.

Fianna Fáil senator Mark Daly was paid the highest expenses, being given €32,058 to cover the costs of travel, accommodation and to run his local office – though his expenses are explained by the length of his commute to Dublin from Kenmare, Co Kerry.

Donegal-based FF senator Brian Ó Domhnaill and Connemara-based Sinn Fein member Trevor Ó Clochartaigh received €31,029 each in expenses, as did Fine Gael’s Tom Sheahan.

Fianna Fáil’s Denis O’Donovan, who is the Seanad’s Leas-Cathaoirleach, receives the fifth-highest payment, though his allowance is greater because of his official Seanad duties.

Although the Seanad’s Cathaoirleach, Paddy Burke, is entitled to higher allowances than ordinary Senators, the details show that Burke waives this extra allowance and receives only the amount to which ‘ordinary’ senators from his area receive.

‘Part-time’

At the other end of the scale, independent senator Fiach Mac Conghail claimed the least expenses of any member, receiving exactly €3,000 between his appointment as a Taoiseach’s nominee in mid-May and the end of the year.

Another Taoiseach’s nominee, Martin McAleese, received €5,117.77. The husband of former President Mary McAleese, the senator declined any wage or expenses from his Seanad appointment until November 11 when his wife’s tenure ended.

The commuting distance for the three Sinn Féin members meant they had the highest average expenses, at €29,646 each, while the geographical spread for Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and Labour meant that those parties’ senators received an average of around €24,100 each.

The 12 non-party members received an average of €11,829 – largely thanks to the fact that the five independent members elected to the two University panels are based in Dublin and have lower limits for what they can receive.

Unlike the TDs’ expenses covered at length in the Dáil yesterday, an overwhelming majority of the members of the Seanad – which is constituted as a ‘part-time’ chamber – opt not to vouch for the expenses they receive.

This means that although they are entitled to the reimbursement of less expenses, their expenses are not subject to audit by the Oireachtas authorities.

10 of the 11 members nominated to the Seanad by Enda Kenny opt not to vouch for their expenses, with Mac Conghail the only member who vouches for the reimbursements he receives.

All the expenses come on top of each Senator’s basic annual salary of €65,621.

What you should know when reading the figures:

The total expenses for each Senator is in the furthest right-hand column of the spreadsheet. However, before you judge the individual member’s claims, there are a few important factors to bear in mind:

  • The maximum amount a Senator can claim can be affected by whether they vouch (provide receipts) for their expenses or not. In our spreadsheet, those who vouch expenses is marked with a ‘Y’. Those who claim unvouched expenses are marked with a ‘N’. Those who choose to vouch for their expenses are entitled to a higher rate of expenses.
  • The geographical distance a member lives from Leinster House will affect the amount they can claim. Those further from the Dáil can, naturally, claim more. That is why most Dublin-based members are in the lower end of expenses claims. The band number which is marked on our spreadsheet beside members’ names (eg, ‘D’ for those who state their residences are in Dublin, nos. 1-12 for the rest) show how far their residences are from the Dáil. The higher the number, the further they have to travel and the more they are entitled to claim. More data on the allowance can be found here.
  • Note: The figures released by the Oireachtas do not allow for the possibility that members may have returned some expenses which they did not actually incur. The Oireachtas intends to release “reconciled” figures, showing the extent of any refunds, in March.

In full: Our interactive spreadsheet of Senators’ expenses, from May 25 – Dec 31, 2011>

Read: Taoiseach, Noonan, Howlin among ministers claiming unvouched TDs’ expenses

More: Meet the only TD in Ireland who claims NO expenses

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
45 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan Kenny
    Favourite Alan Kenny
    Report
    Jul 6th 2011, 12:14 PM

    Plastic cards!!! About time, only in Ireland does a student ID look more official then the drivers licence

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niamh Ní Dhonnchú
    Favourite Niamh Ní Dhonnchú
    Report
    Jul 6th 2011, 12:50 PM

    @ Alan, very true! My friend was in the States and said they don’t accept our drivers license as ID. A joke!

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Frank McMahon
    Favourite Frank McMahon
    Report
    Jul 6th 2011, 1:08 PM

    i think they should just ban driving under the influence of alcohol completely, get it over and done with

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Damian Rice
    Favourite Damian Rice
    Report
    Jul 6th 2011, 9:16 PM

    Good idea but not possible as even using mouthwash or having some sherry trifle would potentially mean you fail a zero level breath test.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jeff Ó Conrí
    Favourite Jeff Ó Conrí
    Report
    Jul 6th 2011, 12:19 PM

    Finally. It’s nice to see some initiative & solid action.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aisling Power
    Favourite Aisling Power
    Report
    Jul 6th 2011, 1:14 PM

    Newly qualified “R” drivers will have completed 12 mandatory driving lessons and passed the driving test like everyone before them, I don’t understand the need for restrictions.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Ó Dálaigh
    Favourite Brian Ó Dálaigh
    Report
    Jul 6th 2011, 2:04 PM

    The entire driving licence-driving education system in this country is a farce. I obtained my full driving licence after only 3 months on a provisional licence. My driving test was done in the daytime in near-perfect weather conditions. I passed with flying colours. Yet nowhere in my training did I learn how to drive in driving snow conditions, in torrential rain, in icy conditions, in thick fog, at night, or indeed in any combination. Too often I see drivers at night with either no lights on or full headlights coming straight at me. We need to have a proper training system put in place that teaches people how to drive in all weather conditions similar to what is done in Finland (where they have driving centres with roads that have simulated ice conditions, gravel tracks, etc.). “R” licences are a good idea too and certainly lower drink-driving limits, but not just applied to young people – they should be applied to everyone.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute gillian ryan
    Favourite gillian ryan
    Report
    Jul 6th 2011, 12:59 PM

    how can you have different punishments for the same crime?

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard M. Grant
    Favourite Gerard M. Grant
    Report
    Jul 6th 2011, 2:02 PM

    A lot of the ideas and initiatives are extensions or modifications to plans that were already in place; I do agree blood alcohol levels should be zero no exceptions and match that with a VRT & Tax exemption on vehicles for pubs who provide local transport. More fundamentally we need to start teaching people to drive in schools as a formal subject with the objective that everyone leaves secondary school with their full license on an ‘R’ plate.

    As part of the educational process young drivers need to learn about all aspects of driving from vehicle care & maintenance to driving in difficult conditions. Many young drivers dangerously modify vehicles which can affect the handling, stopping distance and safety features of a car and don’t understand the physics behind the changes or dangerous consequences as a result of poorly modified components.

    Maybe then we will see a radical change in driver behaviour and reduced road deaths amongst the most vulnerable demographic in our community. The last element we need is high visibility enforcement; we don’t have it and it needs to be introduced; round the clock checkpoints, mandatory breath testing, and car seizures for non-compliance with road traffic legislation. If we are serious we can reduce road injury & death, lower insurance premiums and be less nervous as our kids head towards driving age.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aisling Power
    Favourite Aisling Power
    Report
    Jul 6th 2011, 4:07 PM

    If a tester believes a person has passed the exam and is capable of driving in an educated, safe and responsible manner there should be no need for extra punishments. I agree with the extra penalty points for learner drivers as I think far too many people get their learners permit and head onto the roads with no training and in many cases no full licence driver.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lisa Saputo
    Favourite Lisa Saputo
    Report
    Jul 6th 2011, 6:01 PM

    The thing is people generally don’t do their driving test drunk or pick up their mobile in the middle of it. It’s these kind of behaviours that need to be eradicated from the driving mindset, doing a great U point turn during your test doesn’t mean you wont run someone over while using your phone while driving.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aisling Power
    Favourite Aisling Power
    Report
    Jul 6th 2011, 7:24 PM

    So someone who has their licence for less than 2 years should be punished more severely for drink driving than someone who has theirs for ten?

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Kelleher
    Favourite Brian Kelleher
    Report
    Jul 6th 2011, 6:12 PM

    Don’t see why they couldn’t just set the blood alcohol limit at 0mg/100ml, it’d be a lot simpler than creating three different classes of drivers and different laws for each. The clarity would have benefits in itself.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Damian Rice
    Favourite Damian Rice
    Report
    Jul 6th 2011, 9:20 PM

    Because it would mean potentially failing a breath test after you used mouthwash in the morning!

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Collie Woods
    Favourite Collie Woods
    Report
    Jul 6th 2011, 6:47 PM

    In Finland you have to be tested on a skid pan. And you don’t get to drive on public roads until you have your full licence. The licence test itself takes about 1 year that’s if you pass all the tests, if you fail one you have to start again from the beginning.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Emma
    Favourite Emma
    Report
    Nov 21st 2012, 11:24 PM

    Probably a little away from the topic but why not just make it a zero tolerance drink driving policy….it amazes me that all countries don’t have this?

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Oil Foster
    Favourite Oil Foster
    Report
    Jul 6th 2011, 8:00 PM

    The Road Safety Authority will be put in charge of the driving licence system and the testing of commercial vehicles for roadworthiness.

    So what will the staff who currently issue licences do?

    And we are still left with 2 vehicle testing organisations.

    What a waste of money!

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds