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| Executive agrees key priorities for government | Executive agrees key priorities for government |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| The executive has committed itself to creating more than 25,000 jobs over the next four years. | The executive has committed itself to creating more than 25,000 jobs over the next four years. |
| The figure is contained in the programme for government which MLAs are currently debating. | The figure is contained in the programme for government which MLAs are currently debating. |
| It was printed through the night after a late night executive sitting. | It was printed through the night after a late night executive sitting. |
| It promises to raise £300m through foreign direct investment; aid small and medium sized businesses through a £50m loan fund; and cut the number of local councils to 11 by 2015. | It promises to raise £300m through foreign direct investment; aid small and medium sized businesses through a £50m loan fund; and cut the number of local councils to 11 by 2015. |
| In all there are more than 70 commitments, many of which are not new. | In all there are more than 70 commitments, many of which are not new. |
| The executive ministers also committed themselves to increasing visitor numbers to 3.6m by 2013 and to supporting 200 projects through a Creative Industries Innovations Fund. | The executive ministers also committed themselves to increasing visitor numbers to 3.6m by 2013 and to supporting 200 projects through a Creative Industries Innovations Fund. |
| They also pledge to provide one year's free pre-school education for all children in Northern Ireland and to double glaze all housing executive homes. | They also pledge to provide one year's free pre-school education for all children in Northern Ireland and to double glaze all housing executive homes. |
| 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 have made statements on the programme for government and investment strategy at a special assembly sitting on Thursday. | The first and deputy first ministers have made statements on the programme for government and investment strategy at a special assembly sitting on Thursday. |
| Mr Robinson said: "It is a statement that we in Northern Ireland are prepared to take responsibility for our future, it is a statement that we are prepared to modernise and reform, and most importantly it is a statement that Northern Ireland is moving forward as one community. | Mr Robinson said: "It is a statement that we in Northern Ireland are prepared to take responsibility for our future, it is a statement that we are prepared to modernise and reform, and most importantly it is a statement that Northern Ireland is moving forward as one community. |
| "Through this programme for government we will seek to rebuild and rebalance our economy and we will seek to address the legacy of division that lingers from the past." | "Through this programme for government we will seek to rebuild and rebalance our economy and we will seek to address the legacy of division that lingers from the past." |
| However, he added: "It is the delivery on the ground, not the words in the document, on which we will all ultimately be judged." | However, he added: "It is the delivery on the ground, not the words in the document, on which we will all ultimately be judged." |
| Mr McGuinness said a number of sites associated with the Troubles would be put to new use, including developing the Maze prison site, regenerating Londonderry's former military sites of Fort George and Ebrington and progressing the plan to see schools from different sectors share the Lisanelly military site in Omagh. | Mr McGuinness said a number of sites associated with the Troubles would be put to new use, including developing the Maze prison site, regenerating Londonderry's former military sites of Fort George and Ebrington and progressing the plan to see schools from different sectors share the Lisanelly military site in Omagh. |
| "The good news is that all of these projects and initiatives which promote sharing of space are working in the same direction as the tide of history," he said. | "The good news is that all of these projects and initiatives which promote sharing of space are working in the same direction as the tide of history," he said. |
| "They reflect a new dispensation at a political level." | "They reflect a new dispensation at a political level." |
| Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster will also make a statement on the economic strategy. | Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster will also make a statement on the economic strategy. |
| 'Eye-catching' | 'Eye-catching' |
| BBC NI Political Editor Mark Devenport said: "In terms of eye-catching initiatives, there is a guarantee of free pre-education places for nursery school children. There is no grand move on education. We do have an advisory group on making progress towards increasing shared education. | BBC NI Political Editor Mark Devenport said: "In terms of eye-catching initiatives, there is a guarantee of free pre-education places for nursery school children. There is no grand move on education. We do have an advisory group on making progress towards increasing shared education. |
| "We have a housing pledge together with good times for double-glazing salesman. That will mean a boost for the construction industry but also in terms of fuel poverty, it will cut the price of heating homes for executive tenants." | "We have a housing pledge together with good times for double-glazing salesman. That will mean a boost for the construction industry but also in terms of fuel poverty, it will cut the price of heating homes for executive tenants." |
| He said there was an expectation that about 30,000 new jobs could be created. | He said there was an expectation that about 30,000 new jobs could be created. |
| "They can make a promise in terms of how many jobs can be promoted or created but you rarely see a promise in terms of bringing down the unemployment rate because they don't know what is happening in the wider economy and how many jobs will be lost in that period of time," he said. | "They can make a promise in terms of how many jobs can be promoted or created but you rarely see a promise in terms of bringing down the unemployment rate because they don't know what is happening in the wider economy and how many jobs will be lost in that period of time," he said. |
| 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 legislation to provide for an Education and Skills Authority should be in place 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. | The new single education authority is an organisation-in-waiting and will replace the existing education and library boards across Northern Ireland. |
| Education Minister John O'Dowd has told the Association of Education & Library Boards the Education Skills Authority will officially take up its role in April 2013. | Education Minister John O'Dowd has told the Association of Education & Library Boards the Education Skills Authority will officially take up its role in April 2013. |
| He said all necessary legislation will be in place by July next year. | He said all necessary legislation will be in place by July next year. |