About

About

Organisational Information

Who we are

The President’s Establishment consists of a team of civil servants and personal appointees of the President.  

Who we work with

Áras an Uachtaráin and the Office of the President are supported by a number of Government Departments and State Agencies. With staff based at Áras an Uachtaráin, the OPW, the Defence Forces and An Garda Siochána also support the work of the President.

What it costs

The direct costs of the Office of the President in 2019 were €3.6m.

This figure includes the payment of €1.26m Centenarians Bounty to 481 Irish citizens at home and abroad who reach the age of 100 years. The cost of the 26 staff at Áras an Uachtaráin was €1.71m.

The Appropriation account, audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General and published every year like every Department’s accounts, provides details of the costs of running the President’s Office. It also includes details of costs incurred by other Government Departments and State Bodies who provide support and ancillary services to the President’s Office.

The provision of these support services to the President’s Office (e.g. Garda Security, OPW maintenance of the Áras etc.) are matters for the professional judgment of these Departments and agencies. The President’s Office has no control over decisions on the scale of expenditure involved.

Total gross expenditure in 2018 was € 3,499,000 of which € 1,093,000 was on the Centenarian Bounty and € 1,717,000 on salaries. 

Total gross expenditure in 2017 was € 3,609,000 of which € 1,071,000 was on the Centenarian Bounty and € 1,675,000 on salaries. 

Total gross expenditure in 2016 was € 3,608,000 of which € 1,096,000 was on the Centenarian Bounty and € 1,677,000 on salaries. 

Further details are available on the website of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

Office of the President

Costs for 2019 (€)

Department and other State Bodies who provide support to the Office of the President

Costs for 2019 (€)

Purpose

Salaries, wages and allowances

(26 Staff Members)

1,724,000

Office of Public Works

797,000

1,097,000

201,000

  • OPW staff costs
  • Property Maintenance
  • Electricity & Gas

 

Centenarians Bounty

(481 citizens at home and abroad who reach the age of 100 years)

1,258,000

Garda Siochana

200,000

Transport costs: drivers, fuel and maintenance

 

Travel and subsistence

87,000

Dept. of Defence

422,000

Defence Forces personnel attached to Áras an Uachtaráin

 

Training and Development and incidental expenses

327,000

Dept. of Foreign Affairs

364,000

Costs associated with Presidential Travel Abroad

Postal and telecommunications

64,000

Central Fund

899,000

  • 1938 Allowance
  • Pensions for former Presidents
  • President’s salary

Office machinery and other office and related supplies

195,000

Office of the Minister for Finance

13,000

 

Appropriations-in-aid

-78,000

Superannuation and Retired Allowances

784,000

 

 

 

National Shared Services Office

3,000

 

TOTAL

3,577,000

TOTAL

4,780,000

 

Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015

​​The Lobbying Act 2015 provides that state bodies publish a list of designated public officials. The designated public officials for the President's Establishment are:

Secretary General: Orla O'Hanrahan
Deputy Secretary General: George Burke