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It's a development opportunity. Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland

How many ministers own a second home anyway?

Who’s going to have to cough up for a second set of water charges?

YESTERDAY THE DEPARTMENT of Finance announced that it was to close a loophole that would have allowed ministers avoid paying water charges on their second homes.

The existence of the loophole, which would have allowed ministers claim expenses on the charges, was called “sickening” by Sinn Féin’s Pearse Doherty.

While those in the government who claim the dual abode allowance is confidential, the Oireachtas Register of Members’ Interests is not.

It is a declaration of all outside interests made by all members of the Oireachtas.

Here’s who it suggests could have claimed expenses on their second set of water charges.

Enda Kenny

Cartrawler Jobs Announcement. An Taoisea Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland Mark Stedman / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Away from his primary residence, the Taoiseach registered three properties in 2013; an office with an apartment in Castlebar, farmland in Mayo and a Dublin apartment.

Simon Coveney

The Agriculture and Defence minister declared a property in Cork’s Rochestown area, which he is letting.

James Reilly

Fine Gael Think Ins Eamonn Farrell / Photocall Ireland Eamonn Farrell / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs declared a number of sites and property. These included sites in Dublin and Meath, a commercial development in Lusk, Co Dublin, a holiday home in Doonbeg, a nursing home in Tipperary and an undeveloped commercial site in Swords.

Charlie Flanagan

Flanagan declared a Dublin 4 apartment that he rents and a holiday home in Sligo.

Alan Kelly

Dail Scenes Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland Laura Hutton / Photocall Ireland / Photocall Ireland

Kelly registered a house in Walkinstown, Dublin, that he co-owns with his wife and rents out.

Joan Burton, Brendan Howlin, Frances Fitzgerald, Jan O’Sullivan, Alex White, and Pascal Donohoe registered no extra property beyond a primary residence.

Michael Noonan registered farmland that is attached to his house and let out, Richard Bruton is a part owner of two farm and woodlands and Heather Humphreys owns some farmland in Monaghan.

The register doesn’t track residences that cabinet members are renting, so this list is not definitive, nor does it mean that any of the above mentioned ministers claim the second home allowance.

Read: Ministers ‘can claim water charges as expenses on their second homes’

Read: Ministers WILL have to pay water charges for their second homes, afterall

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15 Comments
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    Mute Charles J. Ahern
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    Oct 2nd 2014, 7:47 AM

    Jaysus, James Reilly has done alright for himself!

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    Mute Emily Elephant
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    Oct 2nd 2014, 7:24 AM

    Pearse is dead right. Sickening that they could claim water on expenses. Ink toner is grand, though.

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    Mute charles
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    Oct 2nd 2014, 8:04 AM

    Ueeug

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    Mute talkingsense
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    Oct 2nd 2014, 10:17 AM

    Emily that can’t claim water expenses for their second and homes. That privilege is being removed.

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    Mute Steve Hardy
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    Oct 2nd 2014, 7:27 AM

    I’m sure Jerry knows a few safe houses if anybody needs a bed.

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    Mute Tordelback
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    Oct 2nd 2014, 7:57 AM

    Say what you like about our political elite, but that list makes one hell of a contrast with Cameron’s cabinet over the water. Only James Reilly even comes vaguely close, and as I recall he’s teetering on the edge of bankruptcy when his debts are considered.

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    Mute Paul Dunne
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    Oct 2nd 2014, 8:20 AM

    Sure didn’t ivor live in cork.

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    Mute Jason O Neill
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    Oct 2nd 2014, 8:37 AM

    Such shit needing places near were they work. Many people travel long distance for work and they rent not own a second home just to be close to work. Again the government tryin to get one up for themselfs. The lack of really helping the Irish people of this country. Just shows that coruption and greed is still here in this country.

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    Mute Lydia McLoughlin
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    Oct 2nd 2014, 8:12 AM

    Some of these are rented out so they can’t really be called dual abode!! Surely the dual abode could only have been claimed in the case of where is you live in Dublin during the week or over a shortish period and go home at the weekend say!!!

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    Mute Chris Mackey
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    Oct 2nd 2014, 9:14 AM

    most I would say but them didn’t Bertie not even won a bank a/c

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    Mute Alien8
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    Oct 2nd 2014, 8:10 AM

    Is the article related to expenses with maintaining av second home in Dublin? The majority of this list are Dublin based and cannot claim this tax exemption anyway. Apart from Kenny, surely there must be someone else affected by this change?

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    Mute charles
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    Oct 2nd 2014, 2:03 PM

    Wow. This thread got censored to bits

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