Mary’s our most expensive president
Despite the largely ceremonial role of the office, the presidential costs have escalated sharply since Mary McAleese was inaugurated in November 1997.
Compared to the €3.3m cost of Mary Robinson's final year, the McAleese presidency is this year expected to cost the exchequer close to €8m.
With President McAleese expected to announce her intention to seek a second term tomorrow, the latest figures show the taxpayer paid €51.7m to fund her first term.
Apart from specific presidential allocations, the figure includes expenditure by government departments on everything from garda security to the upkeep of Áras an Uachtaráin by the Office of Public Works.
However, the costs also include some surprisingly high expenditure on several items among them a €215,000 bill for newspapers and photos.
According to Department of Finance figures, Mary McAleese spent €141,394 on photos and €74,394 on newspapers since 1998.
This year alone Áras an Uachtaráin will spend an estimated €15,000 on newspapers and books and €37,000 on photography.
Details of travel costs reveal foreign travel expenditure has gone up almost nine-fold since 1998 from €96,000 to €838,000.
"She does a lot more travel and had to attend things like the funeral of President Regan and the Queen Mother two years ago," a spokesperson for Mrs McAleese said.
President McAleese could have a rival for office when she announces her intentions tomorrow.
Dana Rosemary Scallon needs the backing of four county councils to secure a presidential nomination before October 1 and the first of these meetings is in Castlebar this afternoon.
Fine Gael whip Paddy McGuinness yesterday said he would ask his fellow party councillors to put a motion before the meeting to support Ms Scallon.
The only other possible candidate is an unnamed man who has been asked to run with the support of independent TDs.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
