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Executive agrees key priorities for government | Executive agrees key priorities for government |
(40 minutes later) | |
The Northern Ireland Executive has finally agreed its programme for government. | The Northern Ireland Executive has finally agreed its programme for government. |
Ministers completed the long-awaited document at around midnight at Stormont Castle on Wednesday. | Ministers completed the long-awaited document at around midnight at Stormont Castle on Wednesday. |
The Executive is pledging to provide one year's free pre-school education for all children in Northern Ireland. | The Executive is pledging to provide one year's free pre-school education for all children in Northern Ireland. |
It also promises to provide loans to small and medium sized firms and intends to double glaze all housing executive homes. | It also promises to provide loans to small and medium sized firms and intends to double glaze all housing executive homes. |
The programme features more than 70 commitments. | The programme features more than 70 commitments. |
It is believed ministers have agreed a job creation target higher than the 21,000 figure in an early draft. | It is believed ministers have agreed a job creation target higher than the 21,000 figure in an early draft. |
Despite opposition from SDLP minister Alex Attwood and Ulster Unionist minister Danny Kennedy, the executive has decided that 11 rather than 15 new councils will replace the existing 26. | Despite opposition from SDLP minister Alex Attwood and Ulster Unionist minister Danny Kennedy, the executive has decided that 11 rather than 15 new councils will replace the existing 26. |
It is believed there will be an election in 2014 but the councils will not become fully operational until the following year. | It is believed there will be an election in 2014 but the councils will not become fully operational until the following year. |
The first and deputy first ministers are due to make a statement on the programme for government and investment strategy at a special assembly sitting on Thursday. | The first and deputy first ministers are due to make a statement on the programme for government and investment strategy at a special assembly sitting on Thursday. |
The minister for enterpise will make a statement on the economic strategy. | The minister for enterpise will make a statement on the economic strategy. |
An early draft of the programme, leaked to the BBC, indicated jobs and economic recovery were top of the agenda. | An early draft of the programme, leaked to the BBC, indicated jobs and economic recovery were top of the agenda. |
It also proposed moving 114,000 people off benefits and into jobs by March 2015. | It also proposed moving 114,000 people off benefits and into jobs by March 2015. |
The executive delivered its budget in the spring, but the programme for government that sets out its priorities has taken longer. | The executive delivered its budget in the spring, but the programme for government that sets out its priorities has taken longer. |
The investment strategy is being adjusted following the Irish government's decision to postpone the £400m which it had promised to build the A5 dual carriageway. | The investment strategy is being adjusted following the Irish government's decision to postpone the £400m which it had promised to build the A5 dual carriageway. |
On Wednesday afternoon, the first and deputy first ministers welcomed an agreement that the Education and Skills Authority should go ahead by July next year. | |
The new single education authority is an organisation-in-waiting and will replace the existing education and library boards across Northern Ireland. | |
It is understood that under the programme for government, an advisory group will be set up which will report to Education Minister John O'Dowd on making progress towards shared education. |