I propose to take Questions Nos. 290 to 293, inclusive, together.
The Parliamentary Activities Allowance (formerly known as the Party Leader's Allowance) is provided for in the Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices Act, 1938, as amended, most recently by the Oireachtas (Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices) (Amendment) Act, 2014.
The allowance is paid to the parliamentary leader of a qualifying party in relation to expenses arising from the parliamentary activities, including research, of the party. Payments are made in respect of members of the party elected to Dáil Éireann and members elected/nominated to Seanad Éireann at the last preceding general election or a subsequent bye-election or, in the case of Seanad Éireann, nominated to it after the last preceding general election. The legislation also provides that payments may be made to a member of Dáil or Seanad Éireann who is elected other than as a member of a qualifying party i.e. an Independent member.
The conditions governing entitlement to payment of the allowance are set out in the Act. The primary restriction in the Act on the use of the allowance is that it may not be used in respect of election expenses. The allowance is non-taxable and is paid monthly in arrears into a bank account specified by the beneficiary of the allowance.
Currently, there are 14 qualifying Independent TDs and 12 qualifying Independent Senators in receipt of the allowance, payable at an annual rate of €37,037 for a TD and €21,045 for a Senator. The parties currently in receipt of funding under the allowance are Fine Gael, Labour, Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin, Socialist Party, People Before Profit and the Anti-Austerity Alliance party. If a person in receipt of the allowance as a qualifying Independent TD became a Minister s/he would continue to qualify for, and receive, payment as an Independent member.