Northern Ireland parties received just over 拢800,000

Image caption, The lion's share of public funds went to the DUP and Sinn F茅in

Northern Ireland's political parties received just over 拢800,000 in donations and from public funds between July and December 2017.

The figures have been released by the Electoral Commission for the first time under new legislation.

The lion's share of public funds went to the DUP and Sinn F茅in.

The DUP received 拢200,000 up until September 2017 and 拢87,000 up to December, Sinn F茅in got 拢195,000 up to September and a further 拢136,000.

Nine parties report

The figures show Sinn F茅in MLAs made a large number of donations to the party.

The DUP'S sole donation came from Gross Hill Properties Ltd who donated just under 拢5,000 to the party.

The Alliance Party received two donations of 拢7,500 from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust.

The SDLP received 拢24,400 from public funds in July to September 2017, and 拢27,100 in donations and from public funds between October and December.

The UUP received 拢24,200 in July to September, and the same in October to December.

The Green Party received 拢11,400 from public funds in July to September, and 拢13,300 in October to December.

The TUV received 拢6,700 in public funds from July to September, and the same amount in October to December.

Gerry Carroll, the People Before Profit MLA, donated to his own party, which received a total of 拢13,100 in donations and public funds in July to September and 拢6,750 in October to December

The details also show the Conservatives received a donation of just under 拢8,000.

Nine political parties reported accepting a total of 拢832,489.

Image caption, During the European referendum, the DUP took out a pro-Brexit wraparound ad in the Metro

Green Party leader Steven Agnew said the figures made "fascinating reading".

The North Down MLA said: "What is clear is that there is a phenomenal disparity in the amounts of public funding that are going to various parties."

The Transparency of Donations and Loans etc. (Northern Ireland Political Parties) Order 2018 now allows the commission to publish information about donations and loans reported by Northern Ireland political parties and other regulated entities from 1 July 2017 onwards.

At a House of Commons debate on 7 March, Labour and the SNP objected to the order because the government set July last year as the date after which all donations and loans of more than 拢7,500 should be made public.

'Controversial'

The opposition parties argued it should have been backdated to 2014, which would have included party donations made during the EU referendum campaign of 2016.

That includes a controversial 拢435,000 donation to the DUP from a group of pro-union business people called the Constitutional Research Council (CRC).

The CRC is chaired by Richard Cook, a former vice-chairman of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party.