28. Are there provisions for direct public funding to political parties?
Ireland
Electoral Act 1997, Section 16. 1.
The party is registered in the Register of Political Parties in accordance with section 25 of the Act of 1992 as a party organised (within the meaning of subsection (2)(a) of that section) in the State to contest a Dáil election; and 2. the total first preference votes obtained by candidates whose candidatures were authenticated by the party at the last preceding general election expressed as a percentage of total first preference votes obtained by all candidates at that election was not less than two per cent.
In addition, to the regular funding of parties, there is a system of election expense refunds for candidates.