The Shortest Day
Well after our recent marathon budget and programme for government discussions we are all getting an early bath today, thanks to Sammy Wilson. His failure to get to the Chamber on time for the start of a debate on Youth Services this morning meant the business was lost. After a twenty minute adjournment, MLAs moved on to a discussion of migrant workers and human trafficking.
Apart from wanting more cash for youth services, Sammy Wilson supports their transfer to local councils. When the Review of Public Administration went for consultation in 2005 quite a few youth organisations took a contrary view. The Review eventually recommended youth services should stay with the department.
So far as the RPA is concerned we are still awaiting Arlene Foster's recommendations on the future number of councils. It had been expected that the minister would ditch the direct rule recommendation for 7 councils, increasing it to 11. Although some councils had expected the final recommendations to be ready by the end of January, this has slipped. Presumably there might be some attempt to reach consensus on a figure before a final recommendation is published.
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