Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 560: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he is taking to allow local county and city councillors to become full-time elected representatives with the appropriate representational allowance, in view of the number of meetings held during normal working hours which they are required to attend, which in fact discriminates in favour of self-funded, self-employed or flexitime workers as opposed to councillors who are employees or in full-time positions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17260/08]

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 561: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the steps he will take to ensure that more young and not so young councillors here do not step down in view of the fact that they have to decide between trying to represent their communities fully and fulfilling their council duties and try to earn a living and pay a mortgage and survive. [17261/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 560 and 561 together.

Over the past decade the financial supports framework for councillors has been substantially improved to reflect the nature of their role. These improvements include the introduction of the annual Representational Payment (RP), currently €17,175 for county and city councillors; a Retirement Gratuity up to a maximum of four times the RP; enhanced annual expenses allowances; annual allowances of €6,000 for Chairs of Strategic Policy Committees and County/City Development Boards and an annual mobile telephone allowance up to a maximum of €600. Separately, councillors can also be reimbursed for expenses in relation to attendance at conferences and seminars as well as receiving expenses in respect of their membership of other bodies such as Vocational Education Committees, Regional Assemblies and Regional Authorities. In addition, my Department, in consultation with the elected members associations, has promoted and supported on an ongoing basis training and development programme for councillors.

As set out in the recently published Green Paper on Local Government — Stronger Local Democracy — Options for Change, justifying a move to a full-time councillor system (which is not commonplace in other jurisdictions) might require a severe reduction in overall councillor numbers. I look forward to a lively and informed debate on this and other issues in the Green Paper over the coming months.