Key Research Published By The Review Of Public Administration

14 January 2005
KEY RESEARCH PUBLISHED BY THE REVIEW OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
The Review of Public Administration has today published two research reports, which are part of the ongoing programme in support of the development of a future model of public administration for Northern Ireland.

Queen's University, Belfast, conducted the first research exercise. The objective was to identify new administrative areas in Northern Ireland using the existing 26 district council areas as building blocks.

The researchers developed a computer model to randomly generate maps according to agreed criteria. These criteria were that any new areas should be based on a maximum population of 300,000, should include the home AND workplace of as many people as possible, be as compact as possible and have the most even population balance. The research identified that configurations of six or seven administrative areas would be the most suitable models given the population spread, workforce patterns and natural geography of Northern Ireland.

This research report including the maps of the various configurations can be viewed on the RPA website www.rpani.gov.uk/research.htm

The University of Ulster conducted the second research exercise. The objective was to examine the underlying property wealth base that can be used by District Councils in raising locally based revenue through the system of domestic and non-domestic rates. The research uses the various configurations from the Queens University research. A sample of over 30,000 house sales over the past two years reflecting the housing market in Northern Ireland was used as a basis for the analysis.

Among the key findings of this research were:

There is a considerable degree of disparity in terms of the relative wealth of the existing 26 district council areas.

Dividing Northern Ireland into a few large district council areas produces a much lower wealth base in the south-west of the province than in other areas.

Dividing Northern Ireland into a larger number of areas (more than 10) does not improve the evenness of the wealth base available to district councils.

Two configurations one based on seven district council areas and one based on eight provided the most even distribution of property wealth.

This research report which includes maps of the various configurations can be viewed on the RPA website www.rpani.gov.uk/research.htm

NOTES TO EDITORS:

1. Chris Lloyd from the School of Geography at Queen's University, Belfast carried out the Social Geographic Analysis of Possible Configurations for Future Local Government Areas.

2. Dr William McCluskey, Dr Jasmine Lim and Peadar Davis from the University of Ulster carried out the Investigation Into The Underlying Property Wealth Base of Different Geographical Configurations Across Northern Ireland.

3. The Review of Public Administration was formally established by the Northern Ireland Executive in June 2002.

4. Its terms of reference are:
"In line with the political agreement of 18 December 1998, which sets out policy responsibilities, and reflecting the Executive's vision as described in the Programme for Government, to review the existing arrangements for the accountability, development, administration and delivery of public services in Northern Ireland, and to bring forward options for reform which are consistent with the arrangements and principles of the Belfast Agreement, within an appropriate framework of political and financial accountability."

5. For Media Enquiries contact Aine Gaughran on 028 9027 7606/07717732079.

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