New unit to cost political promises

THE Government is planning to set up a specialist unit to calculate the costs of political parties’ election policies.

Although the political parties got €10.4m of taxpayer’s money last year to spend on administration, including research, the Department of Finance provided costing for all the main political parties’ manifestos. Over the years department officials have given the parties figures on the economic impact of tax changes, expenditure increases and policy proposals on a casual basis. Due to the time constraints involved, the calculations are rushed with officials under extreme pressure.

The figures subsequently form the basis of the programme for government for parties successful in the election.