S.I. No. 324 of 2009

OIREACHTAS (ALLOWANCES TO MEMBERS) AND MINISTERIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY OFFICES (AMENDMENT) ACT 1992 (CONSTITUENCY OFFICE ALLOWANCE) REGULATIONS 2009

Notice of the making of this Statutory Instrument was published in

"Iris Oifigiúil" of 21st August, 2009.

I, BRIAN LENIHAN, Minister for Finance, in exercise of the powers conferred on me by section 3(4) of the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act 1992 (No. 3 of 1992), hereby make the following regulations:

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act 1992 (Constituency Office Allowance) Regulations 2009.

2. The Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act 1992 (Allowances) (No. 2) Regulations 1992 ( S.I. No. 397 of 1992 ) are amended by substituting for Regulation 7 (substituted by the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act 1992 (Allowances) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 ( S.I. No. 102 of 2004 )) the following:

"7 (1) Where a member of Dáil Éireann incurs expenses-

(a) in establishing and equipping accommodation for his or her secretarial assistant elsewhere than in Leinster House, the Clerk of Dáil Éireann shall pay to the member a sum not exceeding €8,000 in final settlement of the expenses, and

(b) in maintaining such accommodation, the Clerk of Dáil Éireann shall pay to the member a sum not exceeding €8,000 in each year,

("constituency office allowance") following receipt of a claim for the expenses.

(2) A claim by a member for payment of a sum under this Regulation shall be made to the Clerk of Dáil Éireann in such form and contain such particulars (including vouchers and receipts) as the Minister from time to time directs.

(3) In this Regulation 'Leinster House' includes any office premises provided by the State in the vicinity of Leinster House for use by members of Dáil Éireann.".

3. The following are revoked:

(a) the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act 1992 (Allowances) (Amendment) Regulations 2003 (S.I. No. 112 of 203), and

(b) the Oireachtas (Allowances to Members) and Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Amendment) Act 1992 (Allowances) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 ( S.I. No. 102 of 2004 ).

GIVEN under my Official Seal,

5 August 2009

BRIAN LENIHAN

Minister for Finance.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Instrument and does not purport to be a legal interpretation)

These regulations amend the existing regulations which provide for the payment of constituency office allowances to Deputies. The setting-up allowance and the annual maintenance allowances are both being reduced to €8,000.