Spending limits of between €7,500 and €15,000 will apply to candidates in next June's local election, Minister for the Environment John Gormley has announced.
It is the first time that limits have ever been applied in local elections and the period covered will be the 60 days leading up to polling day, twice the period that applies in a general election. Legislation will be introduced between now and April to give effect to the announcement.
At a press conference in Government Buildings this afternoon, Mr Gormley said he was introducing the measure because in previous local elections when there were no limits, candidates were spending excessive amounts.
At least one candidate in the 2004 local elections in one of the Dublin local authorities spent in excess of €80,000 on his personal campaign.
"Others felt rightly that a level playing field did not exist," said Mr Gormley. "This measure introduces an element of fairness into the local elections," he said.
The spending limit for candidates for the 34 county and city councils will depend on the population of the electoral area in which they stand. Those in the most populated areas will be entitled to spend up to €15,000 with smaller limits of €13,000, €11,500, and €9,500 respectively applying to proportionately smaller electoral areas.
There will be a standard limit of €7,500 for all candidates contesting elections for the 80 borough and town councils.
Mr Gormley accepted that this measure would possibly suit the Green Party because it did not indulge in excessive spending.
Some 10 per cent of the money allowed for the candidate can be allotted for use by the party nationally. That can be varied upwards if there is written agreement between the candidate and the party.
Mr Gormley also published a report he commissioned on the establishment of an electoral commission in Ireland.
The preliminary report, written by members of the political department of UCD, recommends a commission that would be responsible for maintaining the electoral register and the register of political parties, for drawing up constituency boundaries, and administering the election.
It also recommended that a single body should combine the functions performed by the Standards in Public Office Commission and the Registrar of Political Parties, and tat this body would oversee party and election funding.
The Minister said that consultation would not take place on the report with a view to publishing legislation. The setting up of an electoral commission is included in the Programme for Government.
Sinn Féin spokesman on local government Martin Ferris has welcomed the decision to restrict spending in the local elections.
The North Kerry TD said: “Sinn Féin has previously proposed that measures be introduced to prevent those with money being able to distort the electoral process. This is a step in the right direction and on that basis is to be welcomed."
