In the Limerick East constituency Fine Gael's Kieran O'Donnell was the highest claimant, receiving €128,977, while in Limerick West Fianna Fail TD and assistant government whip John Cregan was awarded €178,381.

In total, the eight deputies across both Limerick constituencies received €975,674 since the 2007 election, which includes allowances for membership of Dail committees and mostly unvouched travel expenses.

When asked to comment on his expenses, Kieran O'Donnell said that as a first time TD he had incurred additional costs in setting up his full-time office in Limerick city. He added that as the party's deputy finance spokesperson, he was a member of two finance committees and had been travelling to Dublin frequently for meetings since the economic crisis took hold.

"I'm absolutely in favour ox expenses reform," he said. "Fine Gael have said before that all expenses should be vouched."

While the figures published in the Irish Independent show that TDs receive an average of €110,500 in allowances and expenses, Minister for Defence Willie O'Dea has claimed only €17,202. He told the Limerick Leader that he has always claimed "the bare minimum", though adding that a number of his expenses, including his ministerial driver, are covered by the Department of Defence budget.

He said that he is also in favour of further reform of how expenses are paid. "I think there should be more transparency and vouching for expenses. This is just one list, but I'd be concerned that if you look back there are some people, not just in Fianna Fail, who seem to be getting an inordinate amount of money in expenses, sometimes more than their salary."

Embattled Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue was ranked number one in the country for expenses and allowances, receiving €329,288 through his taxed allowance of €235,044 and untaxed expenses of €94,244 since he became chairman of the Dail in 2007.

In Limerick East, Labour Party health spokesperson Jan O'Sullivan received the second highest payment, €116,644. Former Justice Minister and Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan received €104,697, while Minister of State Peter Power was awarded €97,258. In Limerick West, Fine Gael's Dan Neville received €177,186, while Fianna Fail TD Niall Collins received €155,329.

Since the emergency Budget in April, the Government have moved to cut the amount TDs can claim for miscellaneous expenses, travel within their own constituencies, telephone costs and office administration allowances. Payments for a Dail committee chairman or a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission were also cut from €20,023 to €10,016 and €16,018 respectively.

However, further cuts in expenses are expected in the end of year Budget, as the Dail's 166 TDs have been awarded €18.35m on top of their basic salaries since the May 2007 election.