The Northern Ireland Assembly is scheduled to debate proposals for a pay rise of up to £7,000 for its politicians.

A report by the Assembly Commission is set to recommend initial increases of £5,000 after elections set for 2011, plus extra money for Assembly Members who hold ministerial posts or other special office at Stormont.

Sinn Fein has already said it will oppose the wage increase, but other parties have said the best long-term solution is to hand the issue of deciding pay levels to an independent body.

A cross-party report on proposals for the way forward is to be debated at Stormont's Parliament Building.

It has been reported that an Assembly Member's base salary of around £43,000 is recommended to rise to more than £48,000 after 2011.

The Senior Salary Review body proposed wage levels be brought into line with other devolved institutions, and should rise to 75% of an MP's salary.

Predicted annual increases in the salaries for members of the House of Commons could mean, however, that by 2011 the members of the Northern Ireland Assembly could see their pay jump to more than £50,000.

Salary increases are also proposed for Assembly Members who hold special political offices in Stormont.

The First Minister and Deputy First Minister, for example, could receive an extra £8,000 each with their salaries rising to nearly £80,000.

The annual pay of other Northern Ireland Executive ministers would rise from nearly £38,000 to at least £41,000. Ministerial salaries are received on top of Assembly member wages.