10 March 2025

SDLP Leader of the Opposition Matthew O’Toole MLA has said the party could not in good conscience support an increase in the regional rate above inflation.

He said the Executive had failed to demonstrate the need for the increase or explain how the money raised would be used.

South Belfast MLA Mr O’Toole said:

“The Executive parties today pushed through an above-inflation increase in household rates in the absence of clear pledges on how the money will be used to improve public services. This is despite the fact that the First Minister said last year it would be wrong to force higher charges on the public while public services were in such a poor state.

“Executive parties voted through a five per cent increase in the domestic regional rate and a three per cent increase in the non-domestic rate. This was first mooted in the draft Budget in December and then agreed by the Executive in January - without any formal debate in the Assembly.

“If the Executive wants to increase costs for the public then the least they could do is explain clearly why and how this money, however modestly, will be used to deal with the multitude of challenges facing our public services. The SDLP Opposition will always stand up for families struggling with increasing costs across the board and hold the Executive accountable for their broken promises.”