Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD has tonight issued the following statement in relation to his wages and expenses to donegaldaily.com.
It comes as the party steps up the pressure on other TDs to take further pay cuts.
Deputy MacLochlainn’s statement in full:
Sinn Féin party policy as endorsed by our Ard Fhéis (Annual Conference) states that all Sinn Féin representatives elected to the Dáil, Northern Assembly, European Parliament, or Westminster Parliament receive the party wage based on the average industrial wage within their state of residence. All additional income they receive must be donated back to the party and/or invested in to the representative’s constituency service.
This policy is a well-known public commitment and it is regularly outlined by Sinn Féin leadership, elected representatives and election candidates.
In my case, all additional income that I receive is invested into my constituency service (the employment of an additional full time Constituency Secretary).
I am paid a standard TD’s salary of €92,672 gross per annum. After tax, USC, pension levy, and pension contributions, I receive into my bank account €44,241 net annually. As a Sinn Féin TD, I take home a salary of €29,900 net per annum or €575 net per week.
I receive a fixed amount of €34,850 per annum for travel and accommodation expenses. After the actual cost of my travel and accommodation is provided for, I deploy the balance along with the remaining amount from my wage to the salary of an additional full time constituency secretary.
In 2011, I received €21,416 for fully vouched office costs/ expenses, including the rent and utility costs of my two constituency offices in Buncrana and Letterkenny. Of that, I will have deployed €21,087.19 for which I have retained all invoices and evidence of expenditure and the remainder will be returned to the Oireachtas.
Finally, new TDs are allocated an office start up grant of €8,000 as a once off payment. I availed of €7,865.77 to fit out my two constituency offices for which I have submitted all invoices and evidence of expenditure to the Oireachtas.
So in summary, in line with stated Sinn Féin policy, I earn the average industrial wage. The expenses that I receive are the actual cost of my travel and accommodation and I donate the total balance back in to providing the best constituency service that any TD has ever provided in Donegal North East with two offices in Letterkenny and Buncrana open to the public from Monday to Friday.
Pádraig Mac Lochlainn, TD
