A new £30 million support scheme to keep rates bills down is to be introduced when the councils are formed next year.

The scheme delivers direct support to both domestic and non-domestic ratepayers who would otherwise have faced sudden and excessive increases in their rate bills because of the differences that currently exist between the rates set by the existing councils.

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There are over 500,000 ratepayers in Northern Ireland and the scheme will benefit upwards of 200,000 of them, domestic and non-domestic, who are located in areas where district rates are relatively low. Discounts will be automatically applied to the district rate shown on the rate bill from next year for the life of the scheme and therefore there is no need for anyone to claim it.

(CD/MH)