Members of the Oireachtas claimed almost £2.4 million in expenses in the six months from April 21st, 1999, to October 20th, 1999.
The latest details of the expenses of TDs and senators were released last night to the media under the Freedom of Information Act.
The 166 members of Dail Eireann claimed expenses totalling almost £1.6 million in the six-month period to October 20th, while 58 members of the Seanad received expenses payments of just over £800,000. In the 12 months from April 1998 to April this year Oireachtas members claimed in excess of £5.5 million in expenses.
The largest expense claims over the six months to October 20th were made by Mr Michael O'Kennedy of Fianna Fail. The Tipperary North TD received in excess of £33,000. He was followed by the Donegal South West Independent TD, Mr Tom Gildea, who claimed over £31,000.
The largest claim by a Fine Gael TD was made by Mr Padraic McCormack from Galway West (£26,794). Mr Brendan Howlin from Wexford made the largest claim (£22,526) among Labour Party TDs.
Oireachtas members can claim expenses under several categories. These include travel and subsistence; an annual £4,000 telephone allowance; a £5,444 once-off constituency maintenance grant; and foreign travel. The expenses are claimed in addition to the current basic salary of a TD, which is £38,095.
The latest information excludes the expenses of Government Ministers and Ministers of State as well as the additional allowances that the chairs of Oireachtas committees are entitled to claim.
The information relating to Mr Jim Mitchell of Fine Gael was edited in light of his application to the Information Commissioner for a review of details on his expenses file.
The release of the information led to "personal statements" by two Fine Gael senators, Ms Madeleine Taylor Quinn from Clare and Ms Mary Jackman from Limerick, along with Mr O'Kennedy.
Mr O'Kennedy, a former Fianna Fail minister, said arrears in claiming certain expenses gave a "distorted impression" of the money he had received. He also received an overpayment of £1,557 in expenses due to a clerical error in inputting his claim. This amount was refunded after he brought the matter to the attention of the Oireachtas Office.
Both Ms Taylor Quinn and Ms Jackman outlined reasons why they appeared as the largest two recipients of expenses in the Seanad.
Ms Jackman said that, due to arrears, her actual expenses in the last six months were £5,450 and not £25,000, as indicated by the information released by the Houses of the Oireachtas.
The press officer for the Oireachtas, Ms Verona ni Bhrionn, said the figures did not reflect what members were entitled to in expenses over the last six months but rather what they had actually been paid.
This was because the amounts paid to Oireachtas members include expense arrears for previous periods while some members may not yet have submitted claims for the money they are currently owed. As such the total figures for these TDs and senators may be understated.