Oireachtas authorities have said the abolition of the Seanad might NOT save 20 million euro a year.

It's told the Referendum Commission that although the Seanad costs 20 million a year, not all of that can be saved through abolition.

Leinster House authorities say the Seanad costs 8.8 million euro a year in 'direct' costs, but another 9.3 million in 'indirect costs' and 2 million in pensions.

It says not all of those costs may translate into savings if the Seanad is abolished.

Fine Gael has cited the 20 million euro figure as a key part of its campaign for abolishing the Seanad.