To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel for his assessment of the increased rate payments which are likely to affect businesses and householders in Coleraine, as a result of local government restructuring from April 2015.

In terms of the effects of local government restructuring, given that Coleraine will be joining with Ballymoney, Limavady and Moyle Councils, all which have a higher district rate, it is likely that the convergence effects will increase rate bills. However, any such increase which occurs as a result of convergence will be phased in incrementally due to the support package agreed by the Executive which has a cost of up to £30m.

You should note however that a number of other factors may lead to changes to individual rate bills that will issue in April 2015 to individual householders and businesses. These include the level of district rates set by the councils next February, which will reflect their forthcoming spending plans, the changes occurring as a result of the non-domestic revaluation exercise and the future of the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme.