02/03/2015

New Government Departments Unveiled

Nine new government departments have been unveiled, replacing the current 12.

The new departments are:

• The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs

• The Department for Communities

• The Department for the Economy

• The Department of Education

• The Department of Finance

• The Department of Health

• The Department for Infrastructure

• The Department of Justice

• The Executive Office.

The Stormont House Agreement on 23 December 2014 included a commitment that the number of departments should be reduced from 12 to nine in time for the 2016 Assembly election, with the new allocation of departmental functions to be agreed by the parties.

(CD/JP)

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