TDs to cost taxpayers €160,000 next year

THE average TD will cost taxpayers more than €160,000 to fund next year.

The average salary for a Dáil deputy will rise from €100,000 this year to €103,518 in 2007.

This compares favourably to the average industrial wage, which currently stands at 602.35 a week, or approximately €31,322 a year, but TDs argue they work extremely long hours.