TDs claim €155k in expenses in 10 months

Longford/Westmeath's four TDs claimed almost €155,000 in expenses between the last week in February and the end of December last year.At a time when most of their constituents are tightening belts and the ECB, EU and IMF troika are effectively running the country, the news that our political representatives are still enjoying such seemingly generous expenses packages - which include transport, accommodation, and office costs - might sit uneasily with many citizens.Fine Gael's Nicky McFadden had the largest expenses claim of the four Longford/Westmeath TDs. The Athlone-based deputy claimed €49,143.75, or almost €5,000 a month, on expenses over her first 10 months in the Dáil. Deputy McFadden is one of the minority of deputies that opted for the vouched expenses option.Deputy Robert Troy (FF), who has the second highest expense claim in the constituency, is another who opted for vouched for expenses. The Ballynacargy TD claimed €48,643.52 (€4,888.84 a month between March and December) last year, €1,500 more than the average amount claimed by his 18 party colleagues in the lower house.Just across the Longford border, Lagan native James Bannon's expenses for the first 10 months of the 31st Dáil were €40,542.72, or €3,997 a month. Deputy Bannon choose the unvouched for expenses option.Bottom of the expenses table in Longford/Westmeath is former junior minister Willie Penrose. The Labour veteran, who lost the party whip after resigning from the cabinet in protest at the closure of Columb Barracks, claimed just €15,757.15.However, it should be noted that during his time in the Housing Department, Deputy Penrose would have claimed his travel expenses through his department.