07 May 2004
The number of Northern Ireland's local authorities is set to be cut from 26 to a maximum of nine as a result of the first proposals emerging from the province's Review of Public Administration.
Ian Pearson, the minister with responsibility for the review, said he would move ahead with measures to reduce the number of councils, increase their powers and create coterminous boundaries for devolved bodies.
The current 26 councils cover a population size similar to that covered by just Birmingham and Glasgow in Britain. They hold very limited powers and are responsible for only 4% of Northern Ireland spending.
There will also be a reduction in health service bodies, but it is unclear whether this will involve the abolition of the existing four regional health and social services boards. The five education and library boards might also be axed.
Pearson said: 'Improving the quality of public services should be the prime consideration for reform, and that people feel that there are too many bodies at present and a lack of effective co-ordination and collaboration between service providers.'
Proposals canvassed include one 'super council' and a series of smaller ones, or five or more larger bodies with increased powers. Heather Moorhead, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Local Government Association, welcomed the announcement. 'We could see much more normal local government, which is something we haven't known before in Northern Ireland,' she said.
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