To ask the Minister for Communities how her Department assesses the robustness of district rates struck by district councils.

District councils are separate legal entities and are statutorily responsible for setting the non-domestic and the domestic district rate for their district council area by 15 February each year.

However, as the setting of the district rates is a statutory function of councils, if the Department was concerned about any aspect of this process the Department could, under Part 14 of the Local Government Act (NI) 2014, sections 104 to 107, direct a council to make a report and return, and give the Department such information with respect to the exercise of the council’s functions as may be specified in the direction. The Department may also request an inquiry to be held or an investigation to be carried out under the above legislation.