Political parties net €12m from taxpayers in 2004

POLITICAL parties received over €12 million of taxpayers’ money last year, new figures have shown.

Qualifying parties are given cash from the public purse to pay for parliamentary activities, internal administration, research, training and policy formulation. They cannot spend the money on elections.

According to the Standards in Public Office Commission, seven parties qualified for funding in 2004, and received €12.22m between them from the Exchequer.