Oireachtas members across the Shannonside Northern Sound region claimed almost €140,000 in expenses for secretarial and public relations advice between last July and January of this year.
The special allowance can be claimed by any member of the Dail or Seanad to cover consultancy costs, public relations or I.T expertise. This information was obtained by Ken Foxe and the Right to Know campaign under Freedom of Information.
The figures show that between July last year and January this year when local TD's claimed a total of €114,711 for a variety of services.
Minister for Local Government Peter Burke claimed a total of €18,501, and Junior Minister Frank Feighan claimed a total of €22,841 for the services of Leitrim County Councillor Enda McGloin.
Fellow Sligo-Leitrim TD Marian Harkin claimed a total of €33,313 for a variety of services including 10,000 paid to Baseline Strategy for secretarial assistance.
Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys claimed a total of just over €27,000 ( €27,143) and Longford -Westmeath TD and of Minister of State Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment Robert Troy also claimed a total of €12,913 for public relations advice.
Local senators also availed of the special allowance - including Robbie Gallagher who claimed a total of €13,618
Senator Aisling Dolan claimed a total of €4,250 and Seanad colleague Joe O Reilly also claimed a total of €5,100 for Secretarial Assistance.
