ALMOST half of all TDs and senators are turning down the chance to earn higher expenses by providing details of their office, telephone and advertising costs.
Instead, they opt to receive a lower, flat-rate amount, which means they do not have to reveal their exact constituency spending -- and can avoid the prospect of an audit by Oireachtas officials.
The Irish Independent can reveal that 71 TDs and 38 senators are opting for the flat-rate payments.
The revelation comes after senators Ivor Callely and Larry Butler resigned from Fianna Fail amid public anger about their mileage claims.
TDs can claim a maximum of €15,000 in office and constituency expenses, whereas those who provide receipts can claim €25,000. Senators can claim up to €9,250 in unvouched expenses, compared to €15,000 if they produce receipts.
However, politicians who claim the higher, vouched expenses run the risk of being audited by Oireachtas officials, who have pledged to check at least 10pc of all claims each year.
