Áras costs doubled since McAleese took office

THE cost of running Áras an Uachtaráin has more than doubled since President Mary McAleese took up residence in 1997.

Department of Finance figures show that the estimated yearly allocation to the President has risen from €928,000 in 1997 to an estimated €1,985,000 this year.

In 1990, when Mary Robinson took office, the presidential budget was just €341,000.

But the real cost of the presidency is much higher. When expenditure by other departments involved with the presidency is taken into account, the overall cost comes to more than €9 million.

The Taoiseach's Department; the Office of Public Works; the gardaí; the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs are budgeted to spend €7,394,000 on expenses they incur in relation to the Áras.

Gardaí will spend €432,000 in security and transport details for the President and her office, while the Office of Public Works, responsible for the upkeep of the Áras and its grounds, will this year spend almost €2.5 million.

President McAleese, who has just returned to Dublin this week after visits to Malaysia and Thailand, is to spend an estimated €155,000 on foreign travel a €38,000 increase on last year's total.

But one of the sharpest increases is to be found in domestic travel. The cost of travel around the country is expected to reach €25,000 triple last year's budget and more than twice the amount required five years ago when President McAleese first took up residence in the Phoenix Park.

There are no details of how much presidential haircuts or clothing may be costing, as they are filed under incidentals, but there are some figures contained in the estimates for the cost of the presidency.

"Most of the expenses are down to travel and staff costs," said a spokesperson for the President.

"As well, the President holds and attends an immense amount of functions and there are expenses that arise from that."

And the €9,000 for newspapers? "That's for daily newspapers, government publications and documents and other reading material that it's necessary for the President to have in the office," the spokeswoman said.