Presidential candidates can now be reimbursed up to €250k for election expenses

Eva Osborne

An order increasing the maximum amount of election expenses that can be reimbursed to a candidate at a presidential election from €200,000 to €250,000 has been signed by Minister for Housing and Local Government James Browne.

Election expenses are reimbursed to a candidate at a presidential election who is elected or, if not elected, the total of their votes exceeds one quarter of the quota.

Section 21A of the Electoral Act 1997 provides that the maximum amount of election expenses that can be reimbursed to a candidate at a presidential election is €200,000.

However, under the Act, the minister may vary the amounts having regard to changes in the Consumer Price Index.

A review of the amounts typically takes place in advance of each election.

Applying the CPI increase since the amount was last revised resulted in a potential increase to €252,700 which has been rounded down to €250,000.

Section 53 (as amended) of the Electoral Act 1997 provides that spending by a candidate at a presidential election shall not exceed €750,000.

It is not proposed to increase the spending limit, so it will remain at €750,000.