A number of TDs have raised the question of new allowances to allow them to purchase office equipment while they work from home during the Covid-19 outbreak. Here in Ireland, it is the Houses of the Oireachtas that would make the decision to offer a new allowance. Sources say the question of extra funding to pay for office equipment or laptops has been raised by a small number of TDs. “For many years now [25-plus years], TDs have been able to avail of a constituency office set up grant.”Due to public health guidelines, most TDs are working at home, with some representatives — mostly Dublin-based — able to make journeys to their Leinster House offices. Sinn Féin Dublin Mid-West TD Mark Ward said that while working from home is “not ideal”, TDs are “paid more than enough” and said that, if anything, TDs should take a pay cut.

Source: Irish Examiner April 15, 2020 05:03 UTC