Northern Ireland Councilors to Receive 5% Pay Increase

Northern Ireland Councilors to Receive 5% Pay Increase

Local councillors across Northern Ireland will receive a 5% rise in their basic allowance from next month following unanimous approval from the Executive. At present, individual councils are responsible for setting the rate to be paid, within limits set by the Department for Communities.

Minister's Announcement

The Minister also said that he will amend the legislation to permit his department in future to determine the rate of the basic allowance to be paid to all councillors. The Minister’s announcement is part of his department’s response to the recommendations of the Review of the Role and Responsibilities of Councillors in Northern Ireland report submitted to the Department for Communities last August.

Reactions and Recommendations

The report suggested increasing the basic allowance, which was last reviewed in 2013, to meet the challenging roles undertaken by councillors. The increase was proposed to achieve equity across all councils in Northern Ireland.

Communities Minister's Statement

Communities Minister Gordon Lyons expressed his contentment with the decision, emphasizing the need to balance the increase with the financial burden on ratepayers amidst a challenging economic environment. He highlighted the complexity of council duties and the necessity to revisit the allowances reflecting 2013 values.

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