NI Assembly members to get pay rise

Northern Ireland Assembly office allowances are to increase by £22,000 (€32,200), sources confirmed last night.

Northern Ireland Assembly office allowances are to increase by £22,000 (€32,200), sources confirmed last night.

The 108 MLAs will receive £70,000 (€102,300) annually, and there will also be a review of salaries after Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain's intervention.

The Assembly's commission, which organises the running of the devolved legislature, is expected to consider the matter.

A Sinn Féin spokesman said they would be using the additional office costs for their constituencies.

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"Sinn Féin are not in favour of a review of MLAs' salaries at this time," he said.. "The Assembly has not been up and running for a considerable period, and it would be totally inappropriate to look at this so soon after the new Assembly has been formed.

"We need to show people who voted for the Assembly that we can deliver value for money."

The Assembly and power-sharing executives began work on May 8th after an agreement between the Democratic Unionists and Sinn Féin to enter government.