No decision on council cuts

Stormont executive to decide over councils

A decision on whether the number of local councils in Northern Ireland is going to be reduced may not be taken until 2004.

The first and deputy first ministers confirmed on Wednesday the forthcoming review of public administration would take 18 months to complete.

"Firm conclusions are unlikely to emerge before the end of 2003," First Minister David Trimble told the Committee of the Centre at Stormont.

There had been speculation that the 26 local councils could be reduced to 15 or less.

But Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan told the committee there was no "blueprint", and the review was being approached with an open mind.

David Trimble: No decision before 2004

One of the aims of the exercise is to try to cut down the costs of bureaucracy, but it emerged on Wednesday that the review itself could end up costing £3m, in spite of an earlier estimate of £2.5m.

Concern was expressed by committee member Ken Robinson of the Ulster Unionist Party that the results of the review would be leaked in advance.

Mr Trimble admitted that some information "probably" would leak.

Although the final recommendations may not be made until 2004, there will be an interim report in the spring of next year.

The fundamental review will consider the future of the province's 26 councils, five education boards and four health boards.

The executive said it would examine the many layers of local government and administration to see if they could be made more efficient.

There may also be a rationalisation in the overlap between different bodies.