Party is €1.7m in debt, but aims to raise election kitty

Fianna Fáil is €1.7m in debt but hopes to have up to €2m available for the 2014 local elections and the same again for the 2016 general election.

In each case, the €2m fund would be a combination of money raised by the party and bank borrowings.

Political parties are traditionally reluctant to provide information on their financial affairs.