Junior ministers 'cannot afford' to stay overnight in Dublin hotels

Junior ministers who are paid up to €159,622 a year  are complaining they have to pay to stay in Dublin during the week, compared to TDs who receive allowances to cover the costs

TDs, especially those from those constituencies furthest away from Leinster House, can almost double their salary in expenses and allowances they receive. This is not extended to ministers. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

A growing number of the Government's 20 junior ministers say they cannot afford to stay in Dublin overnight because of their pay rates, which is impacting on their ability to do their jobs.

Junior ministers — who are nominally paid up to €159,622 a year — are complaining they have to pay to stay in Dublin during the week, compared to TDs who receive generous allowances to cover the costs.