YESTERDAY THE DEPARTMENT of Finance announced that it was to close a loophole that would have allowed ministers avoid paying water charges on their second homes.
The existence of the loophole, which would have allowed ministers claim expenses on the charges, was called “sickening” by Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty.
While those in the government who claim the dual abode allowance is confidential, the Oireachtas Register of Members’ Interests is not.
It is a declaration of all outside interests made by all members of the Oireachtas.
Here’s who it suggests could have claimed expenses on their second set of water charges.
Enda Kenny
Away from his primary residence, the Taoiseach registered three properties in 2013; an office with an apartment in Castlebar, farmland in Mayo and a Dublin apartment.
Simon Coveney
The Agriculture and Defence minister declared a property in Cork’s Rochestown area, which he is letting.
James Reilly
The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs declared a number of sites and property. These included sites in Dublin and Meath, a commercial development in Lusk, Co Dublin, a holiday home in Doonbeg, a nursing home in Tipperary and an undeveloped commercial site in Swords.
Charlie Flanagan
Flanagan declared a Dublin 4 apartment that he rents and a holiday home in Sligo.
Alan Kelly
Kelly registered a house in Walkinstown, Dublin, that he co-owns with his wife and rents out.
Joan Burton, Brendan Howlin, Frances Fitzgerald, Jan O’Sullivan, Alex White, and Pascal Donohoe registered no extra property beyond a primary residence.
Michael Noonan registered farmland that is attached to his house and let out, Richard Bruton is a part owner of two farm and woodlands and Heather Humphreys owns some farmland in Monaghan.
The register doesn’t track residences that cabinet members are renting, so this list is not definitive, nor does it mean that any of the above mentioned ministers claim the second home allowance.
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