The commuter belt TDs2016 who claim €25K tax free as their travel allowance

…and they only need to live 25km from the Dáil to qualify!

TWELVE TDs are each being paid more than €25,000 in travel expenses per year – which includes a generous allowance for overnight accommodation – despite living a relatively short commute to Leinster House.

The politicians all live within a 60km radius of the Dáil, travelling to Dublin from commuter towns such as Greystones, Co. Wicklow; Navan, Co. Meath; Drogheda, Co. Louth and Newbridge, Co. Kildare. But while many of their constituents take the bus or train to work each day at their own expense, the TDs are paid a tax-free sum of €25,295 each to cover the cost of their travel and accommodation.

That allowance is calculated on the basis of 150 overnights paid at civil service rates, according to a statement from the Department of Public Expenditure. It also includes travel to and from work and whatever additional travel they undertake in their constituency or nationally as TDs.

However, unlike their political colleagues from counties such as Kerry, Mayo and Donegal, the 12 TDs do not face lengthy drives back home and, for the purpose of Dáil expenses, are all categorised as ‘Band 1’ – living just 25km-60km from the Dáil.

In the latest publication of Dáil expenses for April, they are listed as receiving €3,803.75, which includes monthly travel and accommodation of €2,107 and a further payment to cover the costs of public representation.

Labour TD Brendan Ryan qualifies for Band 1 expenses as he lives in north county Dublin. However, he has opted to take a lower monthly amount and was paid €445 less than the others in April.

Four other politicians also live in Band 1 areas but have all been appointed ministers or ministers of State and will be paid expenses under a different system.

One of the Band 1 TDs, Fianna Fáil’s Frank O’Rourke, has already been the subject of controversy for claiming the full amount.

He lives 25.5km from the Dáil in Celbridge, Co. Kildare – just 500 metres above the threshold for Band 1 expenses. If he lived 1km closer to Leinster House, he would be paid €16,000 less each year.

The other 11 TDs all live in the commuter belt counties of Wicklow, Kildare, Meath and Louth.

They include five Fianna Fáil TDs: Pat Casey, Co. Wicklow; Shane Cassells, Co. Meath; Fiona O’Loughlin, Co. Kildare; James Lawless, Co. Kildare and Thomas Byrne, Co. Meath.

Three Fine Gael TDs are also listed in Band 1, including former minister Fergus O’Dowd, Co. Louth; Martin Heydon, Co. Kildare and Bernard Durkan, Co. Kildare.

Two Sinn Féin TDs – Peadar Tóibín, Co. Meath and Imelda Munster, Co. Louth – are listed in the same band, while Social Democrat Stephen Donnelly lives near Greystones, Co. Wicklow. The Irish Mail on Sunday contacted each TD in Band 1 to ask if they thought the travel and accommodation allowance was too high.

Mr Byrne, who lives 52km from Leinster House, said: ‘The allowances apply to all TDs and relate not only to our commute but to all travel and accommodation expenses incurred in the course of a TD’s constituency and national responsibilities. I will comply in full with whatever expense regime the Oireachtas introduces.’

Mr Durkan, who lives 32km from the Dáil, said he regularly travelled around the country on party business. He said: ‘I don’t look for special arrangements. Whatever the band is, I didn’t set the band. It’s not my manufacture.’

He said the rate of expenses for Dublin TDs is too low and puts pressure on them to cover their political costs. ‘Any changes that might be made [should] benefit them. They are disadvantaged, there is no doubt about it.’

Ms O’Loughlin, who lives 49km from Dublin, said she would comply with whatever expense regime is in place. ‘I am on the road seven days a week and often find that plans change at the last minute, which brings extra expenses when trying to book accommodation at short notice.’

Ms Munster, said: ‘Yes it is a generous allowance but that is the one that has been set down and currently in place. Sinn Féin believes all expenses should be fully vouched and have called for change in this process. Sinn Féin has submitted motions to reduce salaries of TDs and senators.’

Chartered accountant and campaigner on political expenses Enid O’Dowd, said: ‘I can’t understand why the allowance includes a generous overnight rate when so many of them have a normal commute.’

In a statement, the Oireachtas said the allowance also allows for constituency travel. It said TDs could give back part of their allowance if they wished.

‘The generous overnight rate doesn’t make sense’

THAT 12 TDs are being paid more than €25,000 per year in travel expenses, despite living within a 60km radius of Leinster House, will merely compound the cynicism surrounding our politicians.

To heap insult upon injury, one of them – who lives only 32km from the Dáil – responded to our query about his exorbitant expenses by saying: ‘It’s not my manufacture.’ After all, what he charges simply to get to work is, for many of his constituents, an annual wage.