At least £36.8 million will be necessary to provide the Northern Ireland Assembly with the property, staff and resources needed to conduct business, the cross-party Shadow Assembly Commission has told members.
A commission report outlining the projected spending for 19992000 was passed without objection in a vote yesterday but not before some members had voiced concern at the level of spending, which represented a £23 million increase on initial estimates compiled last August.
Presenting the report, Mr Peter Robinson (DUP, East Belfast), one of six members of the commission including the Initial Presiding Officer, said deficiencies in the initial projection of £13.3 million had led to the discrepancy between the two estimates.
"The original estimate was devised by officials following the false scent of the Northern Ireland Forum and made little or no provision for the key functions of a legislative Assembly," he said.
Mr Robinson said it was initially believed that a staff of 130 people would be needed to support the Assembly post-devolution. However, recent estimates suggested that a staff of almost 400 would be necessary. Every effort would be made to advertise these vacancies, he added.
The deputy leader of the DUP also said start-up costs and nonrecurring costs such as training and the provision of infrastructure would be included in the allocation. If the funding provisions were too large, then savings would be made, he said.
Mr Cedric Wilson, of the Northern Ireland Unionist Party, said the cost of running the 10 government departments, estimated at £90 million, was not included and would have to be added to the cost of running the Assembly. All additional funding would be taken from the total budget allocated for Northern Ireland by the British government, he said.
Additional funding would also be needed to run the central offices of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, and a "large amount" would be needed to fund the civic forum.
Mr John Fee (SDLP, Newry and Armagh) defended the £36 million allocation. "It is a high price but that is an accurate reflection of the price of representative democracy," he said.
The chamber also unanimously supported a motion to accept the recommendations of the Senior Salaries Review Body in setting the wages and granting pay rises to Assembly members and ministers.
"Having 20 years' experience at Westminster and having watched colleagues there grapple with this issue, I strongly urge members not to indulge in the profanity of setting their own wages," Mr Robinson said. Mrs Eileen Bell (Alliance, North Down) said the commission had successfully dealt with the key priorities to allow a smooth devolution. The commission also examined the catering contract awarded by the Assembly, the use of the Stormont estate as a concert venue, the provision of a library and the allocation of pensions.
Other areas identified for development include facilities to print and publish Assembly documents, childcare and the setting up of a gymnasium for use by members and staff.