Ireland's political parties have disclosed donations of just over €166,000 for last year.

That's a fall of 3 per cent compared to the previous year, even though parties would have increased their spending for the local and European elections.

Fine Gael account for the lion's share of donations - receiving over €100,000 - with the Socialist Party next, at just over €30,000. The Anti-Austerity Alliance followed with €13,400.

Labour disclosed only €5,000 in donations, while Sinn Féin disclosed only around €1,500. For the third year in a row, Fianna Fáil did not have any donations which required disclosure.

The Standards in Public Office Commission says it has referred one party - Direct Democracy Ireland - to the Gardaí after it failed to file the required documents.

All donations exceeding €1,500 must be disclosed, and parties are forbidden from receiving more than €2,500 in one year from the same donor.