The Government has decided to increase spending limits for Dáil candidates by nearly 20 per cent in the upcoming general election in line with changes in inflation since 2001.
The revised limits, published by the Minister for the Environment Dick Roche last night, are: €30,150 per candidate in a three-seat constituency, €37,650 in a four-seat constituency and €45,200 for each contestant in a five-seat constituency.
The old limits were €25,394.76 per candidate in a three-seat constituency, €31,743.45 in a four-seat constituency and €38,092.14 per individual in a five-seat constituency.
The sums available to candidates in each constituency are considerably less than allowed by the thresholds monitored by the Standards in Public Office Commission because up to one-half of the budget is allocated to party headquarters spending.
The Electoral Act, 1997 limited the expenditure allowed to candidates, and allows the Minister to increase the limits "in line with movement in the Consumer Price Index".
All candidates, successful or unsuccessful, will be able to recoup a maximum of €8,000 from the exchequer if they attract more than one-quarter of the quota. They will also be entitled to recoup €500 election fees.
The spending limits cover money spent during the course of the campaign, though they do not cover spending on posters in the weeks, and months before the election is called. Some candidates have already erected billboards, while others are holding off as they believe that Taoiseach Bertie Ahern will stick to his declared timetable. Most politicians in Leinster House believe that the election will be called on May 17th or 18th, though it is possible, but unlikely, that it could be called in June.
The commission has warned candidates that spending prior to the formal opening of a campaign will be counted in the official spend if it is used during the campaign itself.
The only way to avoid having to account for the cost of billboards, for instance, would be "to remove them prior to the dissolution of the Dáil", the commission has told candidates. However, other pre-campaign election spending will not be counted in the official campaign spend.
