DOZENS of jobs are expected to be shed at Stormont as new rules force MLAs to make cuts to backroom staff.
The expenses’ watchdog has tightened the regulations around party workers and capped the money available to assembly members for office and staff costs.
In the wake of the controversy around MLAs’ expenses claims and revelations about the number of family members working for some Stormont parties, the Independent Financial Review Panel (IFRP) overhauled the system ahead of the new mandate.
The watchdog announced its changes in March but they are just coming into effect, with the greatest impact on re-elected MLAs.
Because freshly elected Stormont representatives are starting from scratch, they don't have to reallocate their resources, but many of those who served in the previous mandate are being forced to make significant cutbacks.
The full implications of the IFRP's determination are not yet known, as many MLAs are still grappling with the details.
However, a number of Stormont sources have told The Irish News that staff redundancies are likely and that other workers will have their hours slashed.
Jobs at some of the parties' headquarters will also be affected, as the funds for posts like head of communications and policy adviser are reduced.
The expected lay-offs are over and above those resulting from the clampdown on employing relatives – or what the watchdog calls 'connected people'. The DUP was expected to be hit particularly hard by a new rule limiting to one the number of connected persons who can work for each MLA. In 2013, The Irish News revealed that 22 MLAs from Stormont's largest party employed either their own family members or colleagues' relatives.
The IRFP determination is also heralding changes to worker's conditions and in some instances, party employees may have to re-apply for their old jobs.
Elsewhere, the panel's latest determination puts a £8,500 cap on office rent claims, with lower amounts for offices shared with other politicians. Only one constituency office will be funded by the assembly, with all payments conditional on full compliance with new signage rules.
The IFRP argues that its new rules will enhance pay and conditions for backroom staff, while making savings of between £1.5 million–£2 million in the assembly’s budget over the next five years.
It also believes that the new rules will result in greater public confidence in Stormont's politicians.
Alliance has said its MLAs are unaffected by the changes, however, The Irish News has spoken to representatives from the other main parties, all of who voiced concern about job losses.
A Sinn Féin spokesman said the party was working to comply with the new regulations.
"We have concerns about the implications of these regulations for workers' rights," he said.
"Changes to maternity/paternity and sick leave are particularly concerning."
An SDLP spokesman said: "There is a reduction of funding available to the members to carry out their assembly business as a result of the changes which have been brought in.
"We’ll make a full assessment of the impact in due course."
