Environment minister Dick Roche will confirm the spending limit increase in the next fortnight. The announcement will coincide with the publication of strict new rules governing the use of Oireachtas facilities by sitting TDs and senators during the election campaign. The changes will mean many politicians will have to reimburse the Oireachtas between Euro3,000 and Euro5,000 for the use of public facilities during the campaign period.

Briefings on the new rules were held last week. The parties were told that outgoing Oireachtas members will have to include the salaries of their secretarial staff and parliamentary assistants, as well as the cost of using Leinster House computer facilities, in their spending allocations. The change arises from a 2002 Supreme Court judgement which agreed that public facilities available to outgoing TDs must be included in their spending declarations. This prevents incumbent politicians having an unfair advantage over other candidates.

Under the new regime, any work undertaken in the election campaign by Oireachtas staff working for outgoing TDs - and which is deemed to qualify as electioneering - will have to be declared.

The current legislation requires that all expenses used to promote the interests of a candidate or a political party must be publicly declared. However, the changes in relation to facilities available to TDs will not include ministerial perks including a state car and garda driver.