Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

They provide this public service in an admirable and hard-working manner.

The councillor is currently undervalued as we have all said. There is an increased workload on local councillors who are now expected to be available in the community on an almost 24-7 basis, 356 days of the year. The proposal that rural councillors receive an outright pay increase while their urban-based colleagues receive zero is ludicrously unfair. There is no justification for it. The Minister's assertion that it is clear and reasoned is also ludicrous. Hundreds of councillors and I disagree. Nobody could support the unfairness, inequality and lack of parity involved. It would be like me asking Members to support unfair measures in other occupations. We could not do so in all sincerity. It even makes less sense not to give the urban councillors of Dublin, Cork and Galway the increase given their higher cost of living, higher rents, parking charges, child care fees and household taxes. Funds to pay these increases need to be found by Government rather than by local authorities which have been stripped in the time of austerity.

Sinn Féin wants to see the terms and conditions of our councillors improved. They provide a vital public service and are at the coal face. In their own right, they are first responders to the many crises in their communities. We are happy to engage with whatever Minister, Department, committee or forum is required to play our part in delivering adequate remuneration for our colleagues. I hope the Minister listens to us and the councillors' forum on which I sit.