Laois General Election candidates will have thousands less to spend than in 2020

General Election spending limits for Laois and all constituencies change for the first time in nearly 20 years

Laois General Election candidates will have thousands of euro less to spend than their counterparts in 2020 race because they are competing for fewer seats.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, announced in recent days that he has made an order increasing the spending limits and the reimbursement amount that will apply to candidates standing at future Dáil elections. It's the first change made in almost 20 years.

However, the creation of a new Laois three-seat constituency means that politicians contesting in the county will have €6,300 less to spend than five years ago.

Due to inflation, the 2024 spending limit for those running in a three-seat constituency is raised to €38,900. However, in 2020, the spending limit was €45,200 in the Laois-Offaly constituency because candidates trying to be elected in a bigger constituency.

If Laois was still united with Offaly, candidates would have been able to spend €58,350 in their attempts to win one of the five seats on offer. A limit of €48,600 would apply if Laois was a 4-seat constituency.

Election spending incurred by a candidates must must be reported to the Standards in Public Office Commission within 56 days of polling day. The spending limits at a Dáil election apply to all expenses incurred and payments made in providing property, goods or services which are used for electoral purposes during the period commencing on the date of the issue of the writ and ending on polling day, both dates inclusive.

Under the Act, expenses incurred by a candidate at any time before the date of the issue of the writ at a Dáil election must also be accounted for in the election expenses statement if the expenses relate to property, goods or services for use at the election during the election spending period.

The Electoral Act 1997 (Variation of Monetary Amounts) Order 2024 also increases the reimbursement amount raises the reimbursement amount to €11,200.

Under the Electoral Act 1997, a candidate who is successfully elected may be reimbursed his or her actual expenses. Similarly, an unsuccessful candidate whose votes exceed one quarter of the quota in his or her constituency may be reimbursed his or her actual expenses incurred. MORE BELOW PICTURE.

Incumbent Laois Offaly TDs Sean Fleming, who is running in 2024, and Charlie Flanagan, who is retiring, at the 2020 General Election count. Pic: Alf Harvey

These changes have regard to changes in the Consumer Price Index since the figures were last revised in early 2007. Since the last revision, there has been an aggregate change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of 29.1%.

Minister O’Brien explained why the change have been made.

“It has been more than seventeen years since the spending limits and the reimbursement amount at Dáil elections were last revised. The data shows that inflation has increased significantly over that period.

“The cost of typical goods and services that make up an election campaign are included in the preparation of the Consumer Price Index, items such as stationery, printing, transport, postage etc. The ability to conduct an election campaign is an important part of the democratic process, and, in light of inflationary pressures, there is strong a case for the spending limits to reflect the current costs associated with campaigning.”

Arrangements are now being made to publish the Electoral Act 1997 (Variation of Monetary Amounts) Order 2024 and to make it available on www.irishstatutebook.ie

Candidates declared so far in Laois are Willie Aird, Sean Fleming, Elaine Mullally, Rosie Palmer.