Vol. 512 No. 8
87 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the plans, if any, he has to improve the level of expenses given to members of local authorities; if he has considered the introduction of a new pay structure and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27386/99]
Local authority members' expenses were comprehensively reviewed in 1998, following which significant improvements to the expenses system were made. There are no proposals at the present time to review the position further.
It is my intention that a modest salary will be introduced for local authority members. The Local Government Bill currently being drafted, will, inter alia, provide the necessary statutory framework to allow for its introduction.
