Irish President Mary McAleese is to slash her household budget by almost €40,000, as the recession deepens.
Mrs McAleese has already taken a 10% pay cut in her €325,508 salary and is now targeting savings in day-to-day running costs at Aras an Uachtarain.
"It's nip and tuck everywhere, including walking around the Aras turning off lights," the President said.
"You can't be in a position of public leadership and be immune from what is going on around."
Although the state is constitutionally barred from cutting the President's allowance, Mrs McAleese told the Department of Finance in September 12.5% of the Aras budget will not be spent.
Some €317,435 a year is set aside for the President to fund receptions at the Aras, including dinners, lunches, visits by dignitaries and diplomats and special recognition days such as the Twelfth of July garden party.
About 15,000 invited guests attend the Aras each year.
The allowance, which has not increased since 1998, also helps cover the cost of the President's travel and hotel stays around the country.
In an unusual move Mrs McAleese announced a 10% pay cut last October - a day after the salaries of Government ministers were slashed in the budget.
Senior civil servants were also ordered to take a 10% wage cut in the harshest Budget Ireland had seen for a generation.
Although the judiciary cannot be forced to take a pay cut 72 of the country's 144 judges have signed up to take voluntary pay cuts.
The payments amount to just under €330,000.
© Press Association