TDs and senators will have to register their attendance in the Dáil and Seanad and will be forced to verify the majority of their expenses, under new rules to be introduced imminently.

The Department of Finance is finalising proposals for a major reform of the system of allowances and expenses for politicians, and the rules could be published as early as this week.

Under the proposals, politicians will be obliged to register their attendance at the Oireachtas in order to claim the relevant expenses. Finance officials are looking at a number of options, including the introduction of an electronic swipe card that would log attendance.

Another proposal being considered is to ask politicians to sign in and out when they enter and leave the Dáil or Seanad.

The rules will also limit the level of unvouched expenses that can be claimed by politicians.

Under the new system, politicians must provide paperwork such as receipts and invoices if they wish to claim work-related expenses, including mileage and overnight costs.

A spokesman for the Department of Finance confirmed that the proposals were at a final stage, and would be published shortly. It is expected that the proposals will be criticised by members of the Oireachtas, but Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan is determined to push ahead with them, in an effort to increase verification and transparency.

Lenihan is hoping to achieve savings of up to €4 million through the reform of the expenses and allowances systems. He has already cut expenses by 10 per cent and the mileage rate by 25 per cent.

Since the 2007 general election, TDs and senators have claimed €24 million in expenses and allowances, on top of their salaries.

Under the current system, members can claim up to ten different grants, allowances and expenses.