The Independent Remuneration Board (the Board), which is responsible for setting the salaries and pensions of Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), has made its determination on MLA pay for the current mandate.
Following a two-week consultation carried out with MLAs, the Assembly Commission and the Assembly Members’ Pension Trustees, the Board has confirmed the provisions in its draft determination issued on 19 February 2026.
From 1 April 2026, the salary for MLAs will rise from £53,000 to £67,200 per year (an increase of 26.8%). Alongside the revised salary, the Board has also confirmed the introduction of new financial sanctions which will apply if an Executive is not formed after the next Assembly election, or if at any point the offices of First Minister and deputy First Minister become vacant. Under these provisions, if an Executive is not formed following the next and subsequent elections – or if at any time the offices of First Minister and deputy First Minister become vacant – MLA salaries would be reduced by 10% after week six, a further 10% after week 12, and another 10% after week 18, should government formation not occur within the six-month statutory period.
Alan Lowry, Chairperson of the Board, said:
“Under our legislative framework and in carrying out our responsibilities, the Board is required to balance a number of issues – the importance and complexity of an MLA’s role, the financial viability of a political career and the levels of pay for political representatives in peer parliaments. We also have to reflect on achieving value for money and the broader economic conditions of Northern Ireland. After full consideration of the responses received, the Board is confident that the evidence underpinning its draft determination remains sound.
“We also reflected on correspondence from the public which was overwhelmingly critical of the draft determination. It is clear that the public have been frustrated by the ‘stop-start’ nature of government that has impacted the political institutions in recent years. That is why we are also confirming our proposals in imposing financial sanctions if the institutions should cease to function in their normal way.
“Much of the commentary around our draft determination has been critical, saying that this is not the right time to be tackling this issue. It is clear that the system for considering MLA pay has not been working properly for 10 years, and any delay would only further exacerbate the situation.
“Having taking this corrective measure, we can now move forward to a situation where any changes to MLA pay levels are likely to be more in line with normal inflationary trends.”
ENDS
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