THE chairman of Fermanagh District Council has expressed the hope that whatever changes lie ahead for local government, that Fermanagh would keep its own unique identity.

Councillor Fergus McQuillan (pictured far left) was speaking during a visit to the Townhall on Tuesday by a team from the Review of Public Administration as part of a listening exercise it is undertaking.

The review team is meeting with groups and organisations such as the Council and the Western education and health boards, that have a key interest in the review.

The review of public administration is a massive task, marking the first shake-up in local government since 1972. The review’s remit includes the 26 District councils, four health boards, five education boards, government agencies and numerous other public bodies.

“It is very important to remember that over the past 30 years local government has been the only democracy which this part of the country has known. In the darkest days of what we refer to as the Troubles, it was the strength of our local government that kept the wheels in motion and it is very important that this is not forgotten and that proper recognition is given to to the work that was done through all those years,” said Councillor Fergus McQuillan.