€61,000 travel expenses for TDs, senators

TDs and senators claimed over €61,000 on food, drink, taxis, and entertainment while outside Ireland on official parliamentary business last year

Figures from the Houses of the Oireachtas show 91 members of the Dáil and Seanad took part in foreign travel in 2014 to attend conferences and meetings of international bodies at a total cost of over €227,000.

The bill for the taxpayer included expense claims totalling €61,406. Two senators — Terry Leyden and Jim D’Arcy — claimed over €5,000 each.