Councillors to receive wage increase and extra expenses payments

Elected councillors are to receive increased pay, renewed motor travel rates and additional expenses payments.

The Department of Housing, on behalf of the Minister of State for Local Government John Paul Phelan, has issued a circular to all local authorities outlining the revised payment scheme for councillors.

A new allowance, created for members of municipal districts and area committees worth €1,000 per annum, is being introduced to reflect additional work carried out by elected members.

Vouched annual expenses will be introduced allowing members to claim €5,000 per annum but each must produce evidence of where the money has been spent.

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There will be an option for councillors to stay on the fixed unvouched system.

Both provisions must be applied retrospectively to July 1st, 2017 and should be applied on a pro-rata basis thereafter.

In addition, a new vouched accommodation overnight rate is also being introduced to apply when elected members are required to stay overnight in Dublin.

The vouched costs of the Dublin accommodation up to a limit of the standard overnight rate plus the day rate for meals may be claimed.

In a significant boost for councillors, the annual travel rate for the annual expenses allowance will be revised with effect from January 1st, 2018 so as to align it with the general travel rates set by the Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform Paschal Donohoe.

In response, Senator Victor Boyhan praised Mr Phelan, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy for acknowledging the additional workload faced by councillors.

These payments are long overdue, Mr Boyhan said.