Members of the Seanad have reportedly requested that the Public Expenditure Minister allocates a one-off payment in funding to Senators to open personal offices in their home towns.
According to the article in today's Sunday Times, the request was submitted to Brendan Howlin and comes just six weeks before a referendum to determine the future of the Upper House.
The article reports that members of the Seanad have appealed to Brendan Howlin for the allowance which could cost as much as €300,000.
The Political Editor of the Sunday Times, Stephen O'Brien, said the request was not made on behalf of all Seanad members.
However Laois Labour Senator John Whelan has refuted claims that an application for funding has been made.
Speaking to Midlands Radio, he said, it is part of a blackening campaign ahead of the Seanad referendum:
