Seanad costing taxpayer €50,000 an hour

TAXPAYERS fork out nearly €50,000 for every hour the Seanad sits.

With many senators fighting a last-ditch battle to avoid its abolition, the figures are likely to increase pressure on the Government to fulfil its pledge to do away with the upper house.

The Seanad met for a total of 613 hours last year, and although its running costs are difficult to separate from the total €120 million annual bill for the operation of Leinster House, they are estimated at €30m. By that reckoning, the cost per hour to the taxpayer of the Seanad sitting is €48,939.