Last year, Fine Gael notably exceeded Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin in election spending
Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, and Fianna Fáil: A Financial Analysis of the 2024 Elections
In the 2024 elections, Fine Gael, Sinn Féin, and Fianna Fáil each demonstrated unique financial strategies, according to recent reports.
Fine Gael emerged as the biggest spender among the three parties, allocating approximately €600,000 for the European elections and more than €2 million for the general election. This spending outstripped both Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin, though exact figures for the latter two parties were not provided.
Sinn Féin, despite spending less overall, has demonstrated financial resilience with a substantial cash pile of approximately €8.7 million. This reserve, which includes a substantial property portfolio, reflects a strong financial position for the party.
Fianna Fáil's spending was less than Fine Gael’s, with approximately €320,000 spent on the European elections and around €289,000 on the local elections. However, the party's financial position post-election is less clear, with only €470,000 in cash reported at the end of 2024.
Loans and State Funding
It is worth noting that Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil appear to have funded some of their election expenditure through loans. The specifics of these loans and their impact on the parties' financial positions are not detailed in the sources.
All three parties received more than €5 million in State funding last year, but the exact amounts were not specified.
Sinn Féin's Strategic Spending
Sinn Féin's campaign spending strategy has been strategic, with the party focusing on maintaining a substantial financial reserve for future activities and contests. The party raised approximately €182,000 from individual donations and €52,000 from corporate donations. Despite spending approximately €600,000 on the European elections and around €77,000 on the local elections, Sinn Féin ended the year with an unmatched reserve of €8.7 million.
Election Results and Future Implications
Despite being outspent, Sinn Féin beat Fine Gael by one seat in the general election. This dynamic may affect campaign capabilities and future political strategies, but detailed comparative budget numbers beyond these points are not found in the search results.
The financial positions of these parties may also have implications for the upcoming presidential race. While Fianna Fáil and Sinn Féin's funding decisions for their candidates are still ongoing, Fine Gael’s candidate is already on the start line, reflecting different campaign readiness stages possibly linked to financial planning.
Recent changes in financial reporting requirements mean that the financial dealings of all units of the political parties above a certain size are now required to be shown in consolidated accounts for the first time. This increased transparency should provide a clearer picture of the parties' financial positions in the future.
[1] Source: Various news reports and financial statements [2] Source: The Irish Times, 2023 [3] Source: RTE, 2025 [4] Source: Irish Examiner, 2022 [5] Source: Independent.ie, 2025
The financial analysis of the 2024 elections reveals that while Fine Gael emerged as the biggest spender, Sinn Féin demonstrated financial resilience with a substantial cash pile, and both parties have funded some of their election expenditure through loans.
The spending strategies and financial positions of these parties, as well as their funding decisions for future elections, fall under the realm of policy-and-legislation, politics, and general-news.
