Sir, – Why has the State not provided permanent accommodation for sitting TDs for the period of their tenure in Dáil Éireann?
I can come up with no logical reason why this has not been done.
The cost annually to the taxpayer of TD’s “Travel and Accommodation” allowance is, apparently, approximately €7.5 million.
At a cost of €300,000 per apartment/house, over a six-and-a-half year period, the State could provide self-catering accommodation for all 166 TDs with no further cost to the taxpayer except maintenance, which would definitely cost less than €7.5 million annually. With the current low cost of property in midrange Dublin, this would represent excellent long-term value for the taxpayer.
Of course, not all TDs would even require provision of accommodation as they live within reasonable commuting distance of Dáil Éireann, reducing the initial outlay even further.
On the subject of “compensation” for travel to and from Dáil Éireann, quite simply there should be none for commuter distance TDs. Long-distance TDs could perhaps submit a receipt for a return journey to and from Dublin once a week.
No other job in Ireland pays for its workers to travel to their workplace. Dáil Éireann is the workplace of TDs and their business is dealing with national issues. Individuals seeking election are obviously aware they will be working in Dublin when they decide to run for our national assembly.
In the current economic climate, anywhere the State can obtain better value for the taxpayer has to be considered. Provision of State-owned accommodation in Dublin for sitting TDs would be an easily implemented and logical measure. – Yours, etc,