Electoral Act, 1923

Payment of Returning Officers expenses.

25.—(1) The returning officer at a Dáil election shall be entitled to his reasonable charges, not exceeding the sums specified in the scale of maximum charges framed under this section in respect of services and expenses of the several kinds mentioned in the said scale which have been properly rendered or incurred by him for the purposes of or in connection with the election.

(2) The amount of any such charges shall be paid by the Minister for Finance out of the central fund or the growing produce thereof on an account to be submitted to him in accordance with regulations to be made by him under this section, but the Minister for Finance may, if he thinks fit, before payment apply to any County Court having jurisdiction in the constituency to which such account relates for the taxation of the account, and such court shall have jurisdiction to tax the account in such manner and at such time and place as the court thinks fit, and finally to determine the amount payable to the returning officer.

(3) On the request of the returning officer for an advance on account of his charges the Minister for Finance may, if he thinks fit, and on such terms as he thinks fit, make such an advance.

(4) Where an application is made for the taxation of a returning officer's account, the returning officer may apply to the court aforesaid to examine any claim made by any person against him in respect of matters charged in the account; and the court, after notice given to the claimant and after giving him an opportunity to be heard and to tender any evidence, may allow or disallow or reduce the claim objected to, with or without costs, and the determination of the court shall be final for all purposes and as against all persons.

(5) The Minister for Finance shall prescribe a scale of maximum charges for the purposes of this section and may revise the scale as and when he thinks fit, and may also make regulations as to the time when and manner and form in which accounts are to be rendered to him for the purpose of the payment of the charges.