IT’S NOW exactly ten years since the creation of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC).

In April 2015, as part of a major shake up of local government across the North, Fermanagh District Council merged with Omagh District Council to form the ‘super council’ we have today.

Chaired by Cllr Thomas O’Reilly from Sinn Fein, with Cllr Paul Robinson from the DUP the vice chairman, the first chamber was made up of 17 Sinn Fein councillors, nine from the Ulster Unionist Party, eight from the SDLP, five from the DUP, and one independent.

To reflect the slightly higher population of the Fermanagh side of the council area, the 22 of the new councillors were elected from here in the county. The new council was also given new powers, such as in planning and parking.

The amalgamation was hugely controversial at the time and, for many in the community, remains so today.

The Council announced last week a series of events to “acknowledge the significant contributions of communities, partner organisations, elected members and Council staff in improving the wellbeing of its citizens and wider district over the past decade.”

These events, which will celebrate the Council under the banner ‘10 Years, Once Voice’, will take place throughout the rest of the year.

However, when the Council announced the programme online, the local public from both Fermanagh and Omagh took the opportunity to express their views on its success.

“I don’t think you’ll see many of your ratepayers celebrating this milestone,” said one local woman.

Another added, “Better to have never amalgamated, in my opinion.”

Many said they felt services had declined, pointing to issues with bin collections, with others pointing to the annual rise in rates.

However, current chairman Cllr John McClaughry has outlined a list of many achievements of the Council over the past decade, which he noted had been filled with challenges, not least the Covid pandemic.

“Since 2015, Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has been the voice of the area, delivering high quality services, supporting communities and enabling multi million pound investment in infrastructure across the District to enhance the wellbeing of residents,” he said.

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