Omagh District Council Explained

Official Name:Omagh District
Country:Northern Ireland
Static Image Name:Odc crest of arms.jpg
Static Image Width:150
Static Image 2 Name:Omagh in Northern Ireland.svg
Area Total Km2:1,130
Area Footnotes:
Ranked 2nd of 26
Statistic Title:District HQ
Statistic:Omagh
Statistic Title1:Catholic
Statistic1:70.3%
Statistic Title2:Protestant
Statistic2:27.4%
Councillor1:MLAs
West Tyrone
Sinn Féin: 3
DUP: 1
SDLP: 1
Councillor2:MPs
Órfhlaith Begley (Sinn Féin)
Hide Services:yes

Omagh District Council was a local council in Northern Ireland. It merged with Fermanagh District Council in April 2015 under local government reorganisation to become Fermanagh and Omagh District Council.

Its headquarters was in the town of Omagh, which is the traditional county town of Tyrone. The council area was about 440sqmi, making it the second largest local council area in Northern Ireland (by area) with a population of just over 50,000 (25,000 of whom lived in Omagh town). Apart from Omagh the area of the former District Council contains smaller towns including Drumquin, Dromore, Trillick, Fintona, Beragh, Carrickmore and Sixmilecross.

The council was established in 1973 and originally had 20 councillors but following a review of local government boundaries in the early 1980s, the number of councillors was increased to 21. Omagh District Council consisted of three electoral areas: Omagh Town, Mid Tyrone and West Tyrone.[1] In the last elections in 2011 members were elected from the following political parties: 10 Sinn Féin, 3 Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP), 3 Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), 3 Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) and 2 Independents. The election of Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Council took place annually in June.

2011 election results

Party seats change +/-
10 =
3 =
3 =
3 =
2 =

2005 election results

Party seats change +/-
10 +2
3 +1
3 =
3 -3
2 =

In both the Westminster Parliament and the Northern Ireland Assembly, Omagh was completely contained within the West Tyrone constituency.

Review of Public Administration

Under the Review of Public Administration (RPA), the council was due to merge with Fermanagh District Council in 2011 to form a single council for the enlarged area totalling 2829 km2 and a population of 105,479.[2] The next election was due to take place in May 2009, but on 25 April 2008, Shaun Woodward, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland announced that the scheduled 2009 district council elections were to be postponed until the introduction of the eleven new councils in 2011.[3]

Population

The former council area (especially Omagh town) has seen significant growth in the past few years, with the population rising by the most in years. Many housing estates and shopping areas have sprung up in recent times as well.

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Population:

----The area covered by Omagh District Council had a population of 51,536 residents according to the 2011 Northern Ireland census.[4]

Facilities

The council owned and ran the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh town centre.

See also

Local councils in Northern Ireland

External links

54.6°N -7.298°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Local Councillors . Strabane District Council . 31 May 2008 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080616082812/http://www.omagh.gov.uk/local_councillors/ . 16 June 2008 . dead .
  2. Web site: Minister Foster announces decisions on Local Government Reform . DoE . 31 May 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080524030604/http://www.doeni.gov.uk/index/local_government/minister_foster_announces_decisions_on_local_government_reform.htm . 24 May 2008 .
  3. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7367253.stm Northern Ireland elections are postponed, BBC News, 25 April 2008, accessed 27 April 2008
  4. Web site: NI Census 2011 - Key Statistics Summary Report, September 2014. NI Statistics and Research Agency. 28 September 2014.