Local government in Northern Ireland

Local government in Northern Ireland is divided among 11 single-tier districts known as 'Local Government Districts' (abbreviated LGDs) and formerly known as district council areas (DCAs).^[1] Councils in Northern Ireland do not carry out the same range of functions as those in the rest of the United Kingdom; for example they have no responsibility for education, road-building or housing (although they do nominate members to the advisory Northern Ireland Housing Council). Their functions include planning, waste and recycling services, leisure and community services, building control and local economic and cultural development. The collection of rates is handled centrally by the Land and Property Services agency of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Local government districts

The 11 districts were established in 2015.^[1] Basic geographical statistics are shown below. Previously (between 1972 and 2015) the country was divided into 26 smaller districts.

District	Council	Type	Population (2022)^[2]	Density (/km²)	Density (/mi²)	Area (km²)	Area (mi²)	No. on map
Antrim and Newtownabbey	Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council	District, borough	146,148	256	660	571	220	3
Ards and North Down	Ards and North Down Borough Council	District, borough	164,223	358	930	458	177	2
Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon	Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council	District, borough	220,271	165	430	1,332	514	6
Belfast	Belfast City Council	District, borough, city (1888)	348,005	2,617	6,780	133	51	1
Causeway Coast and Glens	Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council	District, borough	141,316	71	180	1,980	760	8
Derry and Strabane	Derry City and Strabane District Council	District, borough	150,836	122	320	1,237	478	10
Fermanagh and Omagh	Fermanagh and Omagh District Council	District	116,994	41	110	2,836	1,095	11
Lisburn and Castlereagh	Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council	District, borough, city (2002)	149,915	298	770	504	195	4
Mid and East Antrim	Mid and East Antrim Borough Council	District, borough	139,200	133	340	1,045	403	7
Mid Ulster	Mid Ulster District Council	District	151,001	83	210	1,823	704	9
Newry, Mourne and Down	Newry, Mourne and Down District Council	District	182,634	112	290	1,628	629	5

Composition of district councils

Based on the 2023 Northern Ireland local elections.

Name	SF	DUP	APNI	UUP	SDLP	TUV	GPNI	PBP	PUP	Ind.	Total
Antrim & Newtownabbey	9	13	8	6	1	—	—	—	—	3	40
Ards & North Down	—	14	12	8	1	—	2	—	—	3	40
Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon	15	13	4	6	1	1	—	—	—	1	41
Belfast	22	14	11	2	5	1	3	1	—	1	60
Causeway Coast & Glens	12	12	5	4	3	2	—	—	1	1	40
Derry & Strabane	18	5	—	3	8	—	—	1	—	5	40
Fermanagh & Omagh	21	6	2	7	3	—	—	—	—	1	40
Lisburn & Castlereagh	4	14	13	6	2	—	—	—	—	1	40
Mid & East Antrim	4	13	7	8	—	6	—	—	—	2	40
Mid-Ulster	19	11	—	2	5	—	—	—	—	3	40
Newry, Mourne & Down	20	5	5	1	8	—	—	—	—	2	41
Total	144	120	67	53	37	10	5	2	1	23	462

Last updated 21 May 2024

History

The current pattern of 11 local government districts was established on 1 April 2015, as a result of the reform process that started in 2005.

The previous pattern of local government in Northern Ireland, with 26 councils, was established in 1973 by the Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 and the Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1972 to replace the previous system established by the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898. The system was based on the recommendations of the Macrory Report, of June 1970, which presupposed the continued existence of the Government of Northern Ireland to act as a regional-level authority.^[3]

From 1921 to 1973, Northern Ireland was divided into six administrative counties (subdivided into urban and rural districts) and two county boroughs. The counties and county boroughs continue to exist for the purposes of lieutenancy and shrievalty.^[4] This system, with the abolition of rural districts, remains the model for local government in the Republic of Ireland. (See also List of rural and urban districts in Northern Ireland for more details)

Elections

Councillors are elected for a four-year term of office under the single transferable vote (STV) system. Elections were last held on 18 May 2023. To qualify for election, a councillor candidate must be:

at least 18 years of age, and
a Commonwealth of Nations or European Union citizen

In addition, they must either:

be a local elector for the district, or
have, during the whole of the 12-month period prior to the election, either owned or occupied land in the district, or else resided or worked in the district

Combinations

The districts are combined for various purposes.

Eurostat NUTS level 3

In the Eurostat Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics (NUTS), Northern Ireland is divided into five parts at level 3

	Name	Area	Population (2011)	% of population
UKN01	Belfast		280,962	15.5
UKN02	Outer Belfast	Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Lisburn, Newtownabbey, North Down	391,560	21.6
UKN03	East	Antrim, Ards, Ballymena, Banbridge, Craigavon, Down, Larne	439,682	24.3
UKN04	North	Ballymoney, Coleraine, Derry, Limavady, Moyle, Strabane	288,138	15.9
UKN05	West and South	Armagh, Cookstown, Dungannon, Fermanagh, Magherafelt, Newry and Mourne, Omagh	411,893	22.7

Former education and library boards

There were five education and library boards (ELBs) in Northern Ireland.

As part of the Review of Public Administration process, the library functions of the ELBs were taken over by a new body, the Northern Ireland Library Authority (branded Libraries NI) in April 2009.^[5]

The education and skills functions were centralised into a single Education Authority for Northern Ireland in April 2015.^[6]

The boards were as follows:

	Name	Area
1.	Belfast
2.	North Eastern	Antrim, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Larne, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newtownabbey
3.	South Eastern	Ards, Castlereagh, Down, Lisburn and North Down
4.	Southern	Armagh, Banbridge, Cookstown, Craigavon, Dungannon and South Tyrone, Newry and Mourne
5.	Western	Derry, Fermanagh, Limavady, Omagh, Strabane

Former health and social services boards

There were four health and social services boards which were replaced by a single Health and Social Care Board in April 2009.^[7]

The former health and social services boards were as follows:

	Name	Area
1.	Eastern	Ards, Belfast, Castlereagh, Down, Lisburn, North Down
2.	Northern	Antrim, Ballymena, Ballymoney, Carrickfergus, Coleraine, Cookstown, Larne, Magherafelt, Moyle, Newtownabbey
3.	Southern	Armagh, Banbridge, Craigavon, Dungannon and South Tyrone, Newry and Mourne
4.	Western	Derry, Fermanagh, Limavady, Omagh, Strabane

Reform

In June 2002, the Northern Ireland Executive established a Review of Public Administration to review the arrangements for the accountability, development, administration and delivery of public services. Among its recommendations were a reduction in the number of districts.^[8] In 2005 Peter Hain, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, announced proposals to reduce the number of councils to seven.^[9] The names and boundaries of the seven districts were announced in March 2007.^[10] In March 2008 the restored Northern Executive agreed to create eleven new councils instead of the original seven.^[11]^[12] The first elections were due to take place in May 2011. However, by May 2010 disagreements among parties in the executive over district boundaries were expected to delay the reforms until 2015.^[13] In June 2010 the proposed reforms were abandoned following the failure of the Northern Ireland Executive to reach agreement.^[14]^[15] However, on 12 March 2012, the Northern Ireland Executive published its programme for government, which included a commitment to reduce the number of councils in Northern Ireland to 11.^[16]

Notes

References

^ ^a ^b "A Beginners Guide to UK Geography (2023)". Open Geography Portal. Office for National Statistics. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023. In Northern Ireland, a total of 26 LGDs were established in 1996. This number was reduced to 11 from 1 April 2015. These districts form the single tier of local government in Northern Ireland. Local government districts were formerly known as district council areas (DCAs).
^ "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
^ "Report of the Review Body on Local Government in Northern Ireland 1970". CAIN Web Service – Conflict and Politics in Northern Ireland (University of Ulster). Her Majesty's Stationery Office. June 1970. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
^ The Northern Ireland (Lieutenancy) Order 1975 (S.I. 1975 No.156)
^ Campbell officially launches a new era in libraries NI-Libraries.net, 2 April 2009; Retrieved 23 July 2013 Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Education Authority". Education Authority NI.
^ "Health and Social Board". Retrieved 19 March 2018.
^ "Review of Public Administration". Northern Ireland Executive. Retrieved 8 July 2010.^{[dead link]}
^ "Major reform of local government". BBC News. 22 November 2005. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
^ Revised Recommendations for new council boundaries unveiled (Press Release) Office of the Local Government Boundaries Commissioner, 30 March 2007 Archived 7 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
^ "NI councils reduced from 26 to 11". BBC News. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2018.
^ Foster announces the future shape of local government NI Executive, 13 March 2008 Archived 25 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine
^ "Plan to cut Northern Ireland councils may be delayed until 2015". Belfast Telegraph. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
^ "The executive fails to agree a deal on council reform". BBC News. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
^ "Local Government Association Incensed as Minister Stops the Reform Process". Northern Ireland Local Government Association. 15 June 2010. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
^ "Priority 5: Delivering High Quality and Efficient Public Services; Key Commitments" (PDF). Programme for Government 2011–15. Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.

External links

Local councils in Northern Ireland NI Direct (Archived)
NI Local Government Association
Review of Public Administration NI
Local Government Boundaries Commissioner for Northern Ireland (Archived)
Local Government DOE NI (Archived)
Macrory Report CAIN Web Service (University of Ulster)
Local Government (Boundaries) Act (Northern Ireland) 1971 CAIN Web Service (University of Ulster)
Northern Ireland Councillor's Handbook Local Government Staff Commission for Northern Ireland (Archived)
Map of all UK local authorities Office for National Statistics, 2009

[ONS_Geography_Guide-1] "A Beginners Guide to UK Geography (2023)". Open Geography Portal. Office for National Statistics. 24 August 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2023. In Northern Ireland, a total of 26 LGDs were established in 1996. This number was reduced to 11 from 1 April 2015. These districts form the single tier of local government in Northern Ireland. Local government districts were formerly known as district council areas (DCAs).

[2] "Mid-Year Population Estimates, UK, June 2022". Office for National Statistics. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.

[3] "Report of the Review Body on Local Government in Northern Ireland 1970". CAIN Web Service – Conflict and Politics in Northern Ireland (University of Ulster). Her Majesty's Stationery Office. June 1970. Retrieved 16 September 2011.

[4] The Northern Ireland (Lieutenancy) Order 1975 (S.I. 1975 No.156)

[5] Campbell officially launches a new era in libraries NI-Libraries.net, 2 April 2009; Retrieved 23 July 2013 Archived 29 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine

[6] "Education Authority". Education Authority NI.

[7] "Health and Social Board". Retrieved 19 March 2018.

[8] "Review of Public Administration". Northern Ireland Executive. Retrieved 8 July 2010.^{[dead link]}

[9] "Major reform of local government". BBC News. 22 November 2005. Retrieved 19 March 2018.

[10] Revised Recommendations for new council boundaries unveiled (Press Release) Office of the Local Government Boundaries Commissioner, 30 March 2007 Archived 7 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine

[auto-11] "NI councils reduced from 26 to 11". BBC News. 13 March 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2018.

[12] Foster announces the future shape of local government NI Executive, 13 March 2008 Archived 25 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine

[13] "Plan to cut Northern Ireland councils may be delayed until 2015". Belfast Telegraph. 7 May 2010. Retrieved 24 May 2010.

[14] "The executive fails to agree a deal on council reform". BBC News. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.

[15] "Local Government Association Incensed as Minister Stops the Reform Process". Northern Ireland Local Government Association. 15 June 2010. Archived from the original on 17 February 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2010.

[pfg2015-16] "Priority 5: Delivering High Quality and Efficient Public Services; Key Commitments" (PDF). Programme for Government 2011–15. Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 15 June 2012.

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Local government in Northern Ireland

Local government districts

Composition of district councils

History

Elections

Combinations

Eurostat NUTS level 3

Former education and library boards

Former health and social services boards

Reform

See also

Tables relating to the old 26 council system

Notes

References

External links

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