The changing face of Local Government in Northern Ireland

Environment Minister Arlene Foster on 31st March 2008, made a statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly giving further detail on the future shape of local government.

The Minister announced that the current 26 local government districts will be rationalised to create 11 new local government districts, using the model referred to as 11 b, which was canvassed in the March 2005 RPA consultation document. This number of new districts will allow new council areas to deliver important services to communities in an efficient and effective manner.

Northern Ireland’s vision for local government is of a strong, dynamic local government creating communities that are vibrant, healthy, prosperous, safe and sustainable and have the needs of all citizens at their core.

The Minister added “In order for local government to fulfill its role as leader and shaper of communities, a range of functions will be transferred to the new local councils. These include aspects of planning, as well as rural development, the public realm aspects of local roads functions, urban regeneration and community development, a range of housing related functions, and local economic development and tourism.”

While local Council boundaries will change, the underlying geography will not.  Geographic Information knows no boundaries and we believe that LocalViewNI provides a mechanism whereby local identities can be maintained as Councils merge and integrate services across new administrative areas.