The Size Of The Northern Assembly May Be 'Slashed'

First Minister Peter Robinson and deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness have announced plans to appoint a review panel to look at whether the size of the Assembly or the number of Government departments in the North should be slashed.

The First Minister and Deputy First Minister said they were planning to bring plans for the creation of an 'Efficiency Review Panel' to the Assembly shortly after Easter.

Its key role will be to examine efficiency and value for money in institutions such as the Assembly and the departmental structure.

In a joint statement, Mr Robinson and Mr McGuinness said the Executive was required under the Program for Government to review the overall number of Government departments by 2011.

They said the first task will be to examine the number and organisation of departments "in light of the present financial pressures and the implications of the Review of Public Administration (RPA) and to ensure that the departmental structure is best organised to deliver public services in an efficient manner."

"The Review Panel will report later this year. The review will be on the basis of both fairness and efficiency, taking account of the requirement to protect the safeguards which ensure the Executive is representative of the community and can participate and work together successfully in the operation of the institutions," they said.

The OFMDFM statement said that the St Andrew's Agreement had made provision for the ministers to appoint an Efficiency Review Panel, "to examine efficiency and value for money of aspects of the Strand One institutions."

"The First Minister and Deputy First Minister would put to the Assembly for approval proposals for the panel's remit, which might include the size of the Assembly and the departmental structure."

"The panel's report would be considered by the Executive and Assembly, and, where agreed changes required legislative steps outside the scope of the devolved institutions, by the British Government in consultation as appropriate with the Irish Government."

RPA was launched by the Executive in June 2002 to deliver wide-ranging modernisation and reform of health, education and local government. Its aim is to save cash by streamlining Government structures and plough the savings back into frontline services.