Vol. 543 No. 2
100 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government the progress made in his discussions with representative organisations for local authorities regarding the introduction of salaries for members of local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26666/01]
The Local Government Act, 2001, allows for the introduction of a salary type payment of local authority members by way of regulations made with the consent of the Minister for Finance. In this context I received a joint submission from the Association of Municipal Authorities of Ireland, the General Council of County Councils and the Local Authority Members Association and last week met a joint deputation. The associations elaborated on their submission and a useful exchange of views took place as regards the proposal and related matters. The views of the associations, together with available funding and other relevant factors, will now form the backdrop to the design and implementation of the new system.
Together with the current annual allowance and other initiatives such as the new legislative framework, SPCs with directors of service, comprehensive training-information programme, what is intended is an overall package of measures which is balanced and reasonable, to better assist councillors in their work, and without losing sight of the element of voluntary public service long associated with the role of councillor.
