LIMERICK’S Mayor has given the thumbs up to a proposed €8,000 pay rise for local councillors.
Mayor Michael Sheahan (FG) a veteran of local politics, told the Limerick Post he hopes that if the proposal is passed it will encourage more young people and more women to take the political road.
“If there was some sort of attractive remuneration, it might encourage more people to become involved in politics,” he explained.
“It might encourage young people and particularly women, who may be put off by the financial implications of taking time out of work at a time in their careers when finances can be tough, to get involved.”
The government is shortly to get an independent review of the remuneration offered to local representatives.
Currently, councillors are paid a basic salary of around €17,000, with unvouched expenses up to €2,667 and vouched expenses of €5,000.
Mayor Sheahan said that while people elected to the council don’t do the job for the money “it would be good if there was a better financial incentive to get a wider representation.
“This is a fair proposal and it has been carefully and fully researched by someone with no political axe to grind.
“We were lucky to get a good influx of new young councillors but the questions is, will they stay? They bring a fantastic new perspective to the work we do and councillors do work long hard hours.”
Councillors who work in the public service are given paid time off to attend monthly meetings but those working in the private sector have to do so mostly on their own time.
