Councillors in Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Green Party who are being asked to back the programme for government are in line for a pay rise of just under €8,000 next year as part of the deal. The unpublished report by senior counsel Sara Moorhead recommends a salary increase of just under €8,000 for local authority members. Local authority members are currently paid around €17,000 per annum, with the proposals in the Moorhead report understood to recommend this be increased to around €25,000 under a new public sector pay deal. The programme for government, negotiated and agreed by the three parties this week, also commits to examining devolution of more powers to local authorities to strengthen and enhance local democracy. "Tailored and appropriate training" should also be provided to local authority members, and councillors should be enabled to access research and training to support them in their duties, the document states.

Source: Irish Independent June 17, 2020 01:36 UTC