The President’s €317,000 Allowance

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This afternoon.

Áras An Uachtaráin published ‘The Presidency in Review, 2011-2018’ outlining the work and expenditure of the office over the past seven years.

It includes a breakdown of how President Michael D Higgins’ office spent the presidential allowance of €317,000 per year.

Read in full here

Previously: The President’s €317,000 Top-Up ‘Allowance’

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41 thoughts on “The President’s €317,000 Allowance

  1. Rob_G

    So, if I am reading it correctly, the money seems to have been spent in performing the role of president, and not on dog grooming or whatever.

    1. Cian

      That is in the “Hospitality & Entertaining[3]” section above

      [3]Entertainers’ fees and related fees

  2. Eoin

    Clicked on the “read in full here” link, and it’s that one page above and a second page with a few statistics on number of visits, number of visitors. That’s it for €2 million of our money.

    Is the above good value for money? Is there waste? Was the money spent in a transparent manner? Were contracts awarded based on objective criteria? Were third parties able to bid for the provision of services?

    You will have no idea whatsoever from that analysis above and well Michael Higgins knows it.

    Also, is Michael now greenlighting Freedom of Information requests? I’d bet he isn’t.

    1. rotide

      “Is the above good value for money?”

      Yes it is. I’ve been to the Aras a couple of times and the events that the president puts on are brilliant , inclusive functions that allow people from all walks of life to see the place and feel part of the presidency and Ireland.

      Also, your attempt to frame this as a purely Michael D thing rather than ‘every president’ is pretty transparent. Maybe stick to obsessing about other things.

      1. Eoin

        You say, in your best Quad-Erat-Demonstrandum voice:

        “Is the above good value for money?”

        Yes it is. I’ve been to the Aras a couple of times and the events that the president puts on are brilliant , inclusive functions that allow people from all walks of life to see the place and feel part of the presidency and Ireland.

        [ENDS]

        Well that clears that up then, totally. After all, the Irish health service is good value for money as I have been to a hospital a couple of times and the service was brilliant, inclusive which caters for all walks of life, allowing them to experience our health service.

    2. Rob_G

      “Is the above good value for money? Is there waste? Was the money spent in a transparent manner? Were contracts awarded based on objective criteria? Were third parties able to bid for the provision of services?”

      I don’t know. I doubt it is Michael D. ringing around picking the caterers though; I imagine it is some civil servant.

    3. Rep

      ” is Michael now greenlighting Freedom of Information requests? I’d bet he isn’t.”

      I presume he isn’t either as I would imagine he has nothing to do with Freedom of Information requests. Do you think he mows the lawn as well?

      1. Eoin

        Does Michael mow the lawn? No, but if Michael notices the lawn isn’t cut, then he’ll tell someone to cut it.

        Ditto, the person handling his FOI requests. Michael could just tell that person not to rely on the exemption in the FOI Act that relates to presidential records.

  3. Eoin

    Also, remember that analysis above is of the so-called 1938 allowance.

    In addition to that., the President costs around €3 million EVERY SINGLE YEAR, which also includes gifts, hospitality, travel, entertaining.

    1. Cian

      The president spends €1.2m per year paying centenarians’ bounty… we could stop that immediately. Why reward someone for being 100 – it will just encourage more people to live longer. And it is mostly the wimin that get it. disgraceful!

  4. Emily Dickinson

    I don’t understand why things like state dinners aren’t accounted for in the normal Aras budget.

    1. Rob_G

      Renaming the budget line ‘the Áras catering and hospitality budget’ would have saved a lot of guff and hot air, that is for sure.

  5. rotide

    I’m just waiting for the first ‘snout in trough’ reference to complete the BitternessBingo card.

  6. Tom

    Sickening level of corruption. Gemma would have cleaned that place right up.

    She seemed to drop off the radar. Why don’t you guys mention get any more?

  7. Cloud

    I got to visit the Aras for culture night a few years ago. Can confirm the Food, Beverages, Hospitality and Entertainment were top-notch,

  8. A Person

    I second that. She was pushed on here as a saviour, got lots of air time, when no other candidate did. How come not here anymore? Is she too right ring now?

    1. Rob_G

      In any other election, it would never have come up as an issue; it’s only because of this clown-show election with all of the Dragons and novelty candidates vying for the ‘lowest common denominator’ vote.

  9. Junkface

    His spending bill isn’t so bad when you consider that the cost of polishing door knobs in Cork for the royal visit was €6000 or something.

    1. Andyourpointiswhatexactly?

      Ah gwan away outta dat. Typical Dubs picking on the poor country yokels. Brasso isn’t chape, you know.

  10. Wellness

    Regarding the “inhouse events ” expense, can we get a costing as per nature of event ? The cynic in me would suggest that many of these events are organised for the locals, to ensure that Higgins Junior will eventually get the nod when she runs for Labour in GE.

  11. Wellness

    I see 52 ‘themed’ garden parties were held and 114 receptions from 2011-2018. If the nature of these garden parties and receptions were disclosed, I would be happy to kill the cynic in me. Although, his house in Galway which is currently occupied by his son, has been “upgraded” by the taxpayer, so perhaps I will keep the flames of my inner cynic burning for just a tad longer.

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