The Northern Ireland Office, the Whitehall department running the province's affairs while the Assembly is suspended, set out the way forward last week on strengthening the authority of local councils.
There are 26 councils in Northern Ireland controlling only five per cent of public expenditure, compared to English authorities, which control around 40 per cent.
Children's social services are provided by four unelected health and social services boards, leaving councils with authority only over leisure, some economic development and tourism. Education and housing are also undertaken by unelected quangos.
Ian Pearson, local government minister at the Northern Ireland Office, wants to slash the number of councils to fewer than 10 and give these beefed-up authorities control over education and housing.
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