Parties receive lowest ever amount in donations

Political parties received almost €31,000 in donations last year - the lowest figure ever received, since a law requiring disclosure of donations was introduced in 1997.

Figures released by the Standards in Public Office Commission show only three political parties disclosed any donations in 2011.

The Socialist Party received €12, 649 in donations, Sinn Fein disclosed €12,000 and Fianna Fail received €6,348.

In a statement the Commission said that it will be referring a file to the Gardaí, over the Communist Party of Ireland's failure to furnish a statutory declaration.