Worth every penny

[stiffler]

£1,000 expenses a week for MLAs


Northern Ireland's MLAs are claiming nearly £1,000 on average each week in expenses, BBC News can reveal.
Expenses claimed since 8 May now total almost £2m, working out at £928 each week (or £132.60 each day) per member.

Five MLAs have claimed over £28,000, including the DUP's Ian Paisley Jnr and independent Dr Kieran Deeny.

Gerry Adams and Gerry Kelly's expenses have increased dramatically, with the Sinn Fein pair claiming almost £35,000 between them since the end of June.

When BBC News revealed the first set of expenses from the new Stormont administration in July, Mr Adams had claimed just £881.15 and Mr Kelly £4,155. Their expenses now total £17,612 and £22,343 respectively.

Overtaken

SDLP Foyle MLA Mary Bradley had been Stormont's biggest expenses recipient, but has since been overtaken by Upper Bann DUP MLA Stephen Moutray.

Mr Moutray has claimed £33,522 since 8 May compared to Mrs Bradley's £32,053.

The MLA claiming the third biggest expenses is the UUP's George Savage (£31,060), also an Upper Bann representative.

Mr Savage is followed by Ian Paisley Jnr (£29,800) and Dr Deeny (£28,185)

Among the lowest expenses recipients are DUP West Tyrone MLA Allan Bresland (£2,185) and Sinn Fein's Caral Ni Chuilin (£4,420) and Caitriona Ruane (£4,399).

A spokesman for the Assembly said the figures may "include some claims for expenses incurred between 1 April 2007 and 7 May 2007 but paid after restoration".