Spending limits and reimbursement amount for Dáil candidates

New spending limits and reimbursement amounts apply to candidates in Dáil elections. These changes were given effect through the Electoral Act 1997 (Variation of Monetary Amounts) Order 2024, announced on Monday 21 October 2024.

Election spending incurred by a candidate at a Dáil election must be below the following limits:

• €38,900 in a 3-seat constituency
• €48,600 in a 4-seat constituency
• €58,350 in a 5-seat constituency

These spending limits apply to all expenses incurred and payments made in providing property, goods or services which are used for electoral purposes during the period commencing on the date of the issue of the writ and ending on polling day, both dates inclusive.

A statement of election expenses must be reported to the Standards in Public Office Commission within 56 days of polling day.

• A candidate who is successfully elected may be reimbursed the actual expenses they incur, up to a maximum of €11,200.
• An unsuccessful candidate whose votes exceed one quarter of the quota in his or her constituency may be reimbursed his or her actual incurred expenses, up to a maximum of €11,200.

Read the Electoral Act 1997 (Variation of Monetary Amounts) Order 2024.