He was educated at the North Monastery school and University College Cork, where he qualified with a diploma in Chemical Technology.
[2] At the 1987 general election, Fine Gael lost power and Allen was appointed opposition spokesperson for Health.
In 1994, Fine Gael returned to government and Taoiseach John Bruton appointed Allen as Minister of State at the Department of Education with special responsibility for Youth and Sport and at the Department of the Environment with special responsibility for local government reform.
In February 2002 Michael Noonan became leader of Fine Gael and Allen was appointed spokesperson for Tourism, Sport and Recreation.
Following this he was appointed opposition spokesperson for the Environment and Local Government under the new leader Enda Kenny.