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Local government in Northern Ireland

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Politics of the United Kingdom on the
Politics of Northern Ireland
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Assembly
Law
Northern Ireland in the UK
Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
Local government

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

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See also: List of districts in Northern Ireland by religion or religion brought up in and List of districts in Northern Ireland by national identity

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

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See also: Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom § Northern Ireland

This table shows number of councillors by party, election, and district, based on the three local elections that have occurred since local government reform in 2014-15.

'S.' denotes seats. '14', '19' and '23' denote the years 2014, 2019 and 2023. This table does not reflect any notional changes between the 2011 election and the 2014 election. 'Minor Nat.' includes independent nationalists and Aontú. 'Minor Un.' includes independent unionists, NI21 and UKIP. 'Minor Other' includes other independents and Labour Alternative.

Council Yr SF DUP APNI UUP SDLP TUV GPNI PBP Minor Nat. Minor Un. Minor Other Total Nat Total Unionist Total Other Total
S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ±
Antrim & Newtownabbey 14 3 Steady 14 Steady 4 Steady 13 Steady 4 Steady 2 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady 7 Steady 29 Steady 4 Steady 40
19 5 Increase2 14 Steady 7 Increase3 9 Decrease4 4 Steady Decrease2 Steady Steady Steady Steady 1 Increase1 9 Increase2 23 Decrease6 8 Increase4
23 9 Increase4 13 Decrease1 8 Increase1 7 Decrease2 1 Decrease3 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady 2 Increase1 10 Increase1 20 Decrease3 10 Increase2
Ards & North Down 14 Steady 17 Steady 7 Steady 9 Steady 1 Steady 1 Steady 3 Steady Steady Steady 2 Steady Steady 1 Steady 29 Steady 10 Steady 40
19 Steady 14 Decrease3 10 Increase3 8 Decrease1 1 Steady 1 Steady 3 Steady Steady Steady 2 Steady 1 Increase1 1 Steady 25 Decrease4 14 Increase4
23 Steady 14 Steady 12 Increase2 8 Steady 1 Steady Decrease1 2 Decrease1 Steady Steady 2 Steady 1 Steady 1 Steady 24 Decrease1 15 Increase1
Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon 14 8 Steady 13 Steady Steady 12 Steady 6 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady 2 Steady Steady 14 Steady 27 Steady Steady Steady 41
19 10 Increase2 11 Decrease2 3 Increase3 10 Decrease2 6 Steady Steady Steady Steady Steady 1 Decrease1 Steady 16 Increase2 22 Decrease5 3 Increase3
23 15 Increase5 13 Increase2 4 Increase1 6 Decrease4 1 Decrease5 1 Increase1 Steady Steady Steady 1 Steady Steady 16 Steady 21 Decrease1 4 Increase1
Belfast City 14 19 Steady 13 Steady 8 Steady 7 Steady 7 Steady 1 Steady 1 Steady 1 Steady Steady 3 Steady Steady 26 Steady 24 Steady 10 Steady 60
19 18 Decrease1 15 Increase2 10 Increase2 2 Decrease5 6 Decrease1 Decrease1 4 Increase3 3 Increase2 Steady 2 Decrease1 Steady 24 Decrease2 19 Decrease5 17 Increase7
23 22 Increase4 14 Decrease1 11 Increase1 2 Steady 5 Decrease1 1 Increase1 3 Decrease1 1 Decrease2 1 Increase1 Decrease2 Steady 28 Increase4 17 Decrease2 15 Decrease2
Causeway Coast & Glens 14 7 Steady 11 Steady 1 Steady 10 Steady 6 Steady 3 Steady Steady Steady 1 Steady 1 Steady Steady 14 Steady 25 Steady 1 Steady 40
19 9 Increase2 14 Increase3 2 Increase1 7 Decrease3 6 Steady Decrease3 Steady Steady 1 Steady 1 Steady Steady 16 Increase2 22 Decrease3 2 Increase1
23 12 Increase3 13 Decrease1 5 Increase3 4 Decrease3 3 Decrease3 2 Increase2 Steady Steady Decrease1 1 Steady Steady 15 Decrease1 20 Decrease2 5 Increase3
Derry City & Strabane 14 16 Steady 8 Steady Steady 2 Steady 10 Steady Steady Steady Steady 4 Steady Steady Steady 30 Steady 10 Steady 0 Steady 40
19 11 Decrease5 7 Decrease1 2 Increase2 2 Steady 11 Increase1 Steady Steady 2 Increase2 5 Increase1 Steady Steady 27 Decrease3 9 Decrease1 4 Increase4
23 18 Increase7 5 Decrease2 Decrease2 3 Increase1 10 Decrease1 Steady Steady 1 Decrease1 3 Decrease2 Steady Steady 31 Increase4 8 Decrease1 1 Decrease3
Fermanagh & Omagh 14 17 Steady 5 Steady Steady 9 Steady 8 Steady Steady Steady Steady 1 Steady Steady Steady 26 Steady 14 Steady 0 Steady 40
19 15 Decrease2 5 Steady 1 Increase1 9 Steady 5 Decrease3 Steady Steady Steady 4 Increase3 Steady 1 Increase1 24 Decrease2 14 Steady 2 Increase2
23 21 Increase6 6 Increase1 2 Increase1 7 Decrease2 3 Decrease2 Steady Steady Steady 1 Decrease3 Steady Decrease1 25 Increase1 13 Decrease1 2 Steady
Lisburn & Castlereagh 14 Steady 20 Steady 7 Steady 8 Steady 3 Steady 1 Steady Steady Steady Steady 1 Steady Steady 3 Steady 30 Steady 7 Steady 40
19 2 Increase2 15 Decrease5 9 Increase2 11 Increase3 2 Decrease1 Decrease1 1 Increase1 Steady Steady Decrease1 Steady 4 Increase1 26 Decrease4 10 Increase3
23 4 Increase2 14 Decrease1 13 Increase4 6 Decrease5 2 Steady Steady Decrease1 Steady Steady 1 Increase1 Steady 6 Increase2 21 Decrease5 13 Increase3
Mid & East Antrim 14 3 Steady 16 Steady 3 Steady 9 Steady 1 Steady 5 Steady Steady Steady Steady 3 Steady Steady 4 Steady 33 Steady 3 Steady 40
19 2 Decrease1 15 Decrease1 7 Increase4 7 Decrease2 1 Steady 5 Steady Steady Steady Steady 3 Steady Steady 3 Decrease1 30 Decrease3 7 Increase4
23 4 Increase2 14 Decrease1 7 Steady 8 Increase1 Decrease1 5 Steady Steady Steady Steady 2 Decrease1 Steady 4 Increase1 29 Decrease1 7 Steady
Mid Ulster 14 18 Steady 8 Steady Steady 7 Steady 6 Steady Steady Steady Steady 1 Steady Steady Steady 25 Steady 15 Steady 0 Steady 40
19 17 Decrease1 9 Increase1 Steady 6 Decrease1 6 Steady Steady Steady Steady 2 Increase1 Steady Steady 25 Steady 15 Steady 0 Steady
23 19 Increase2 11 Increase2 Steady 2 Decrease4 5 Decrease1 Steady Steady Steady 3 Increase1 Steady Steady 27 Increase2 13 Decrease2 0 Steady
Newry, Mourne & Down 14 14 Steady 4 Steady 2 Steady 3 Steady 14 Steady Steady Steady Steady 2 Steady 2 Steady 1 Steady 30 Steady 8 Steady 3 Steady 41
19 16 Increase2 3 Decrease1 2 Steady 4 Increase1 11 Decrease3 Steady Steady Steady 3 Increase1 1 Decrease1 1 Steady 30 Steady 8 Steady 3 Steady
23 20 Increase1 5 Increase2 5 Increase3 1 Decrease3 8 Decrease4 Steady Steady Steady 2 Decrease1 0 Decrease1 0 Decrease1 30 Steady 6 Decrease2 5 Increase2
Total 14 105 Steady 130 Steady 32 Steady 88 Steady 66 Steady 13 Steady 4 Steady 1 Steady 9 Steady 13 Steady 1 Steady 180 Steady 244 Steady 38 Steady 462
19 105 Steady 122 Decrease8 53 Increase21 75 Decrease14 59 Decrease7 6 Decrease7 8 Increase4 5 Increase4 15 Increase6 10 Decrease3 4 Increase3 179 Decrease1 213 Decrease31 70 Increase32
23 144 Increase39 122 Steady 67 Increase14 54 Decrease21 39 Decrease20 9 Increase3 5 Decrease3 2 Decrease3 10 Decrease5 7 Decrease3 3 Decrease1 193 Increase14 192 Decrease21 77 Increase7
Council Yr S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± S. ± Total
SF DUP APNI UUP SDLP TUV GPNI PBP Minor Nat. Minor Un. Minor Other Total Nat Total Unionist Total Other

History

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Main article: Reform of local government in Northern Ireland

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

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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:

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

The results of the three elections held since the introduction of the 11 new districts in 2014-15 are as follows.

Combinations

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The districts are combined for various purposes.

Eurostat NUTS level 3

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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

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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

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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

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Main article: Reform of local government in Northern Ireland

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]

See also

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Tables relating to the old 26 council system

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Notes

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References

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  1. ^ 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).
  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
  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.
  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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