When will Assembly make a lasting impression?

Editorial Department • Published 20 May 2010 10:19 0 Comments

Those who claim that the Northern Ireland Assembly is dysfunctional will point to yet another fiasco unfolding at Stormont. After several years of controversial debates and the spending of at least £9 million of taxpayers money, it appears the main item under the Review of Public Administration, the restructuring of our local councils is in danger of not happening until 2015 if at all.

Everyone had thought the process was progressing well, the 11 new Council models were chosen, even if not to the agreement of everyone, and some of our long serving councillors were looking forward to severage packages. Could all the tension and heated debate between Fermanagh and Omagh councillors over the selection of the new south-west council as a result of the merger of Fermanagh and Omagh Councils all be in vain?

It does seem that the whole plan is in the air as the Minister in charge, Edwin Poots has met with disagreements among other Ministers in the Executive and is himself not happy with some council boundary changes in the East of the Province, principally around Lisburn and Castlereagh areas.

Because the timetable has slipped so much, it is doubtful whether all the necessary preparation and legal framework can be set up in time for next year's Council's elections to hand over to a new 11-model structure. Instead what is likely to happen is the continuation of the same 26 councils until 2015.

Even the new Education and Skills Authority designed to replace all the education and library boards has not been introduced, several years behind its original date.

After years of Westminster rule, local politicians criticised Direct Rule ministers for proceeding with plans to revolutionise certain aspects of local government and local authority. Now when the local politicians themselves have the opportunity to make a real impression at Stormont and help to save taxpayers millions in bureacracy, they fail to grasp the task confronting them.

"A real mess," was the reaction of one local councillor. Many others might go further.

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This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 20 May 10

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