Press release
Standards in Public Office Commission reports on State funding of political parties in 2021
From Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO)
Published on
Last updated on
From Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO)
Published on
Last updated on
25 August 2022: The Standards in Public Office Commission has today published two reports on the state financing of political parties and independent TDs and Senators during 2021.
In its first report, the Commission reports on expenditure of Exchequer funding to political parties. Parties may qualify for funding from the Exchequer under the Electoral Act 1997 (as amended) based on their percentage of the vote in the last Dáil election.
In 2021, seven political parties qualified for the funding: Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Green Party, Labour Party, People Before Profit/Solidarity, Sinn Féin and Social Democrats.
The parties received funding totalling just over €5.8 million under the electoral legislation in 2021. The funding may not be used for electoral or referendum purposes, and parties must report on how they spent the funds to the Commission.
Total expenditure reported for the year was just over €4.66 million. Any unused funding from the previous year may be carried over for use the following year, and accounted for in the year in which it is spent.
In its report, the Commission has once again raised concerns that there is no consequence for non-compliance of qualified parties who fail to comply with the reporting requirements and who do not qualify for funding in the following year.
Details of the funding, including how it was spent and accompanying statements, are contained in the report entitled Exchequer Funding of Political Parties in 2021, published today by the Standards Commission. The report is available here.
In its second report released today, the Commission reports on the expenditure of funding given to qualifying party leaders and independent members of the Oireachtas. Informally known as the “Parliamentary Activities Allowance”, a political party will qualify for payment under Parliamentary Activities Allowance legislation if they have registered in the Register of Political Parties and have had at least one member elected to Dáil Éireann or elected or nominated to Seanad Éireann at the last general election. Independent members of the Oireachtas are also eligible. Funding is provided under the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938.
In 2021, nine parties qualified for the allowance, namely: Aontú, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Green Party, Independents 4 Change, Labour Party, People Before Profit/Solidarity, Sinn Féin and Social Democrats. The total funding payable in 2021 to the parliamentary party leaders of these parties amounted to just over €7.6 million.
The funding payable to non-party members of the Dáil during 2021 amounted to €705,461.
The funding payable to non-party members of the Seanad during 2021 amounted to €189,878.
Total reported spending during the year, by both parties and independent members who submitted returns, amounted to just under €7.2 million.
Details of the funding and how it was spent, along with accompanying statements, are contained in the report, entitled Statements of expenditure of parliamentary activities allowances 2021. The report is available here.
The Standards in Public Office Commission is an independent, non-partisan body responsible for overseeing the Ethics in Public Office Acts, the Electoral Act 1997 (as amended), the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act 1938, and the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015.
The Standards Commission was established by the Standards in Public Office Act 2001.