Councillors in line for 5% pay hike agreed by NI Executive

Councillors in line for 5% pay hike agreed by NI Executive

2 April 2025

NEWRY, Mourne and Down councillors are in line for a five per cent pay increase.

The hike has been agreed by the Northern Ireland Executive and is effective from the start of this month.

Currently, individual councils are responsible for setting the rate to be paid, within limits set by the Department for Communities. 

The system resulted in councillors across the province’s 11 local authorities being paid a different remuneration, with legislation set to be amended to permit the Department for Communities in future determine the rate of the basic allowance to be paid to all councillors.

News of the pay increase was confirmed last week by Stormont communities minister Gordon Lyons.

A report prepared for the government department said a survey of councillors revealed that 84% believed a maximum of £17,030 was inadequate, while a working group recommended an annual wage of £21,935.

But the government department rejected this figure and has instead agreed to increase the rate to £18,329.

The £17,030 was viewed by elected representatives as a “barrier to entry for those considering entering politics as a councillor”.

The last time local councillors’ allowances were reviewed was in 2013.

Mr Lyons said he is pleased that the Executive has unanimously agreed to the proposals he brought forward on councillors’ pay.

He said he needed to balance any increase in the basic allowance for councillors against the cost to ratepayers in what is an extremely challenging financial climate.

“I need to ensure that increases in rates bills are kept to the minimum,” he said.

“Against a back of wider public sector settlements generally in and around this level, I am content that this 5% increase for councillors is justified, given the volume and complexity of council duties, the hours required to carry them out, and the fact that the role and responsibilities of councillors was last reviewed in 2013.”

Mr Lyons said he accepts that responsibility for setting the amount of the allowance actually paid to councillors should be removed from councils and instead set by his department.

He added: “It is reasonable that councillors, across all council areas, should be paid the same amount of basic allowance.”