Co-ordination of Legislative Programme
Lead responsibility within government
Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) - Central Unit
Background
Seven pieces of primary legislation are required to implement RPA decisions announced by the Secretary of State on 22 November 2005 and 21 March 2006.
The first piece of legislation divides Northern Ireland into 7 districts for the purposes of local government and defines these by reference to the former 26 districts. It also enables the appointment of a Local Government Boundaries Commissioner and sets out the procedure to be followed by him in establishing the boundaries of the 7 local government districts and the number of wards.
A further four pieces of required legislation will deal with major restructuring and modernisation arrangements for Health and Social Services, Education and Skills, Local Government and Libraries.
A sixth will cover the transfer of a range of functions to the seven new councils.
The seventh will deal with residual issues relating to public bodies whose functions are not transferring to local government; it will also remove existing nomination rights to the boards of public bodies so that all such appointments are made in accordance with public appointment guidelines.