What rates pay for
Rates fund public services in Northern Ireland, both regional and local. Your rates bill includes the regional rate and the district rate.
Regional rate
The regional rate is set annually. The rate applies in each council area in Northern Ireland. This pays for services including:
- education
- emergency services
- health care
- law and order
- roads
- social services and community development
All ratepayers contribute towards public services. There is no specific amount linked to availability or usage of any particular public service.
District rate
Each council sets an annual district rate for their area in Northern Ireland. This pays for local services including:
- arts, events and recreation
- building control
- leisure/community centres
- environmental health
- tourism
- waste management
You can get more information about your district rate and what it pays for in your area by contacting your council.
The Regional and District Rates are published at Rate Poundages.
How rates contribute to public spending
The rates you pay make a vital contribution towards critical frontline public services such as health, education, justice and other regional services.
The following table shows the distribution of central government expenditure between the departments for 2024/25.
| Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) | 4% |
| Department for Communities (DfC) | 6 % |
| Department for the Economy (DfE) | 5% |
| Department of Education (DE) | 19% |
| Department of Finance (DoF) | 1% |
| Department of Health (DoH) | 51% |
| Department for Infrastructure (DfI) | 4% |
| Department of Justice (DOJ) | 8% |
| The Executive Office (TEO) | 1% |
| OTHER | 1% |
| TOTAL | 100% |