The government has paid €3.2m in unemployment benefit money over the past three years to local authority executive board officials who have lost their job because of council mergers.

The Telegraaf bases its claims on questions to 34 councils involved in mergers since 2011. In total, 55 aldermen and 11 mayors have benefited from the special benefit for local government officials.

The most expensive merger was the creation of Súdwest-Fryslân in 2011 out of five smaller councils. The bill for 13 officials reached €950,000, the paper said.

The government wants to reduce the current number of local councils – around 400 – with local bodies governing at least 100,000 people.

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Home affairs minister more flexible on merging councils