Donations drop

THE amount of donations declared by politicians dropped substantially last year, following the record sums brought in during the general election year of 2002.

TDs, Senators and MEPs disclosed donations worth just under €41,828 - down by 90% from the €468,760 declared in 2002. The 2002 figures are the lowest value since disclosure obligations were introduced in 1998.

According to the figures published yesterday by the Standards in Public Office Commission, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern disclosed the largest donation of €12,000 for the use of his constituency office at St Luke’s in Drumcondra, which is owned by Fianna Fáil’s Dublin Central organisation.