Over €400k paid out in political pensions and lump sums

Political pensions and lump sums for former TDs, ministers and senators have cost nearly €2m every single month over the past year and a half, and it appears that the total amount paid out to former public representatives in this constituency amounts to around €400,000.

Former Fianna Fáil TD Peter Kelly received €23,564 while Labour Cllr, Mae Sexton currently receives €12,579 for her five year stint under the PD umbrella. Former Taoiseach Albert Reynolds received €149,740.29, while the ‘Mammy’ of Politics, Mary O’Rourke received €117,981.01, while Donnie Cassisy was in receipt of €11,505.90.

It is estimated that €32.7m has been spent by the Oireachtas and Department of Finance since January of last year on pensions for former politicians. Costs include the payment of more than €9.5 in lump sums to the record number of public representatives who retired after the last election, while a further €1.5m was paid out in termination lump sums and another €3.24m given in what is described as ‘termination payments’.

In total, once-off payments came to €14.35m with a further €12.68m paid on actual ongoing pension payments. A detailed breakdown of expenditure indicates that €371,234 has been paid out by the Oireachtas every single week since the start of 2011 while another €5.2m has been provided for during the same period in ministerial pensions. The Leader also understands that a further €515,540 was paid out in ‘severance’ payments.