Proposed shake-up set to slash North’s public sector

A RADICAL reorganisation of the way the North is governed will reduce the number of public bodies across local government, health and social services and education from 67 to 20.

Northern Secretary Peter Hain claimed yesterday the plans could result in annual savings of £200 million (€292m).

With a population of 1.7 million, he said the North was over-governed and over-administered, with public expenditure nearly one-third higher than Britain overall.

Describing it as the biggest challenge to the North’s public sector in over 30 years, Mr Hain said: “The money released will stay in Northern Ireland and will be available for reallocation to frontline services.”

Under the proposals, the British government would:

* Reduce the number of local councils from 26 to seven, with 50 members each. This will cut the number of councillors from 582 to 350;

* Give councils increased powers, such as responsibility for local roads, economic development in their areas, planning and physical regeneration, and place a duty on them to develop and coordinate a planning strategy which meets their communities’ needs;

* Bring forward legislation after devolution preventing some politicians having more than one office as both a local councillor and Assembly member;

* Create a single Education Authority to replace the five education and library boards which manage schools, administer school transport and meals, assist research and provide recreational and youth service facilities. The new body will also be responsible for curriculum and teacher support;

* Establish a Strategic Health and Social Services Authority to take the place of the four boards and ensure services meet standards and resources are allocated effectively;

* Reduce the number of hospital and social services trusts from 18 to five.

Mr Hain said a further announcement would be made by the end of March on around 150 quangos and executive agencies operating within government departments. He expected this to include the transfer of more powers to the seven super- councils.

Trade unions fear major job cuts as a result of the reorganisation of public bodies in the province.

Unionist and nationalist parties were expected to study the blueprint closely for what the reorganisation would mean for them.

Meanwhile, the Sinn Féin leadership was last night accused of running a dictatorship after suspending a senior member over his opposition to party policy.

Francie Molloy, Dungannon District Council mayor is facing disciplinary action for stepping out of line.

He defied strategists by speaking out against Mr Hain’s proposals.

Mr Molloy last night said: “I’m not responding to the suspension because the suspension is based around an inquiry.

“I will be fighting that and the less I say the better.”

Sinn Féin refused to comment on the case, but rivals hit out at the decision.

Patsy McGlone, an SDLP representative in Mid Ulster, said: “The whole history of that organisation has been in the mould of a lack of freedom of speech.”