The taxpayer has forked out almost €100,000 for the provision of secretarial services to two former taoisigh already this year.
Payments totalling €98,231 were made by the Department of the Taoiseach on behalf of Enda Kenny and Bertie Ahern during the first seven months of 2021.
Supports for the retired politicians had been ended in 2012 by then leader Mr Kenny as the Celtic Tiger crash hit hard.
However, five years later, they were signed back into place by Leo Varadkar, who was told the estimated annual cost would be in the region of €300,000.
So far this year, the costs have not reached that level. A detailed breakdown of the records, released under freedom of information law, shows secretarial assistance for Mr Ahern amounted to €44,722. Another €53,509 was paid out for Mr Kenny.
All payments were made to Tech Skills Resources Ltd, which provides HR and staffing solutions to a wide variety of companies.
Under the current system, support can be provided in six different ways to former taoisigh.
They can receive briefing material on Government policy and secretarial support from a staffer who is not allowed to engage in constituency or party-political work.
A State car can be provided up to five times a year for “important State functions”, while VIP facilities can be used at Dublin Airport with “support when travelling abroad” from local embassies and consulates also available.
The department said it had received no correspondence in the first half of 2021 seeking use of a State car from any of the former taoisigh.
Asked to comment on the cost of providing services for former officeholders, the department did not respond.
