Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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Question 193: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the plans he has for councillors to receive [i]pro rata[/i] service increments in line with similar awards made to Senators on whom the allowance is based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24127/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The Representational Payment (RP) for councillors was introduced with effect from 1 January 2002 and was the first ever such recognition of councillors' service and commitment to their communities. Under the Local Government (Representational Payment for Members) Regulations, 2001 (S.I. No. 552 of 2001), the RP for county and city councillors is specifically related to the basic amount of a senator's salary and is currently €17,175 per annum. As such, there is no linkage to the long service increments payable to senators, who accrue the necessary service. While I have no proposals to amend the current situation in regard to the RP, I should point out that all councillors have benefited from the recent review of the financial supports payable to them. The review resulted in significant improvements in these supports, all of which took effect from 1 January 2007.