Omagh District Council

Coordinates: 54°36′00″N 7°17′53″W / 54.600°N 7.298°W / 54.600; -7.298

Omagh District

Coat of Arms
Area  1,130 km2 (440 sq mi) 
Ranked 2nd of 26
District HQOmagh
Catholic70.3%
Protestant27.4%
CountryNorthern Ireland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
EU Parliament Northern Ireland
CouncillorsMLAs
West Tyrone
Sinn Féin: 3
DUP: 1
SDLP: 1
UUP: 1
MPs
Pat Doherty (Sinn Féin)
Websitewww.omagh.gov.uk
List of places
UK
Northern Ireland
Public Services Centre, High Street, Omagh, January 2010
Strule Arts Centre, Townhall Square, Omagh, January 2010

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 is in the town of Omagh, which is the traditional county town of Tyrone. The council area is about 440 square miles (1,100 km2), making it the second largest local council area in Northern Ireland (by area) with a population of just over 50,000 (25,000 of which live in Omagh town). Apart from Omagh the area 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 consists 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 takes place annually in June. The current Chairman is Councillor Frankie Donnelly (Sinn Féin) and the Vice Chairman is Councillor Ross Hussey (UUP).

2011 election results

Party seats change +/-
• Sinn Féin 10 =
• Democratic Unionist Party 3 =
• Ulster Unionist Party 3 =
• Social Democratic and Labour Party 3 =
• Independent 2 =

2005 election results

Party seats change +/-
• Sinn Féin 10 +2
• Democratic Unionist Party 3 +1
• Ulster Unionist Party 3 =
• Social Democratic and Labour Party 3 -3
• Independent 2 =

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

Review of Public Administration

Under the Review of Public Administration (RPA), the council is 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 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.

Population:

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

Facilities

The council owns and runs the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh town centre.

See also

Local councils in Northern Ireland

References

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