Citation and commencement
1.—(1) The Order may be cited as the Local Government (Boundaries) Order (Northern Ireland) 2012.
(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), this Order shall come into operation on the day on which an election under section 11(1) and 11(1A) of the Electoral Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1962(1) is first held after the making of this Order.
(3) For the purpose of all proceedings preliminary to or, relating to an election to be held on or after, that day, this Order shall come into operation on 1st December 2012.
(4) For the purpose of making and levying of rates, as provided in Part II of the Rates (Northern Ireland) Order 1977(2), this Order shall come into effect on 1st April 2015.
Local government districts, boundaries and wards
2.—(1) The names of the 11 districts into which Northern Ireland shall be divided for the purposes of local government shall be as set out in Schedule 1.
(2) Each district shall comprise the area designated on the maps by reference to the name of the district and demarcated by a red line.
(3) The 11 districts shall be divided into wards which shall bear the names set out in Schedule 2; and each such ward shall comprise the area designated on the maps by reference to the name of the ward and demarcated by a blue line.
(4) Where a boundary of a district or ward is shown along a road, railway line, path, stream, river or similar topographical feature, it shall be treated as being along the centre line thereof unless otherwise stated on the maps.
(5) The wards constituted by this Order shall have the boundaries thereof mered by the Department of Finance and Personnel.
(6) In this Article the expression “the maps” shall be construed in accordance with Article 3.
Maps
3. The maps referred to in this Order are the volumes of maps, showing the local government districts of Northern Ireland and the wards into which those districts are divided, each of which volume has been marked— “MAPS REFERRED TO IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT (BOUNDARIES) ORDER (NORTHERN IRELAND) 2012” and signed and sealed with reference to this Order and deposited at the office of the Department of the Environment at Goodwood House, 44-58 May Street, Belfast, BT1 4NN.
Revocation
4. The Local Government (Boundaries) Order (Northern Ireland) 1992(3) is revoked.
Sealed with the Official Seal of the Department of the Environment on 30th November 2012
Ian Maye
A senior officer of the
Department of the Environment