Ministers cost €27m since election

The majority of TDs cost the taxpayer more than half a million euro each in pay and expenses in under four years, while TDs who are also ministers have received, on average, €631,000.

Top earner is Taoiseach Enda Kenny who was paid more than €780,000 in TD’s salary, Taoiseach’s allowance, and expenses from the general election in March 2011 to December 2014.

However, nine ministers also broke the €700,000 barrier. In descending order they were: Simon Coveney, Jimmy Deenihan, Leo Varadkar, Phil Hogan, James Reilly, Michael Noonan, Brendan Howlin, Joan Burton, and Eamon Gilmore.