Irish political parties got €12.6m in State funding last year, according to figures from the Standards in Public Office Commission (SIPO).

The money was paid to the parties under the Electoral Acts, and Parliamentary Activities Allowance legislation.

Four parties - Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin and the Labour Party - got €5.5m.

Independent members of the Dáil received €563,866, while Independent members of the Seanad got €249,130.

This funding cannot be used for electoral or referendum purposes.

Meanwhile, the total amount of funding made available to party leaders stood at €7.117m.

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