Minister for State at the Department of Finance Brian Hayes has defended the expense claims of TDs, saying politics is not a cheap business.
Some €6m in expenses has been claimed by all TDs since the 31st Dáil first sat last March.
Fine Gael Deputy for Cork South West Noel Harrington has been paid the most, at €53,000, while Labour's Eamonn Maloney has been revealed as the sole TD not to claim any expenses.
Junior Minister Hayes today said the total paid out is a reduction on previous years.
He said the decision by Deputy Maloney not to submit expense claims is his own business.
"It very much depends on what your expenses are," he said.
"This is not a cheap business, and in a circumstance where the general bill has come down, it is only right that we should lead by example.
"I think the general expenses bill has come down by about 30% over the course of the last few years, and that's absolutely right."
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