11 New NI Councils?

Thursday 13 March 08

The Northern Ireland Executive has agreed on a compromise proposal to create 11 new councils, according to BBC

The current 26 councils system dates back to the 1970s but, after a review, former secretary of state Peter Hain opted to cut these to just seven.

Sinn Fein supported that plan but the other major parties said they would be too big to preserve local identity and backed a 15-council model. A Sinn Fein/DUP compromise of 11 new councils has been agreed.

Since the restoration of devolution, the shake-up in local government has been the responsibility of Environment Minister Arlene Foster.

Mrs Foster said: "It is a very good day, not just for local government, but for this executive as well."