Up to €3.3m to be spent on referendum info packs

Watchdogs overseeing the Seanad referendum battle have welcomed the fact that there will not be “confusing” material put out by the Government during the campaign.

The Referendum Commission is budgeted to spend up to €3.3m of taxpayers’ money sending information packages about the proposed shut-down of the Seanad to some 2m homes ahead of the Oct 4 national poll.

The Government has come under fire in the past for using public funds to push its own agenda in referendum campaigns.