Leaders of the four main political parties in Northern Ireland have announced how the ministerial portfolios will be shared in the new power-sharing executive.
Sinn Fein will assume the education ministry - for the second time - along with regional development and agriculture when the executive meets on May 8th.
The DUP are taking finance, economy, environment and culture.
What now remains to be seen is who will takeover the various ministries. Former bomber and prison escapee Gerry Kelly could be in line for a senior cabinet post for Sinn Fein .He was among four MLAs named by party leader Gerry Adams as his ministerial choices once power sharing returns to Stormont on May 8th.
But with Conor Murphy tipped to be the next education minister and Michelle Gildernew expected to take over at agriculture, the question was whether Mr Kelly or South Down Assembly member Caitriona Ruane will be the party's nominee to take over the helm at the Department of Regional Development.
The Rev Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists, Sinn Fein, the Ulster Unionists and the nationalist SDLP indicated what ministeries they would take when power is devolved to Northern Ireland on May 8th.
There was some surprise when Mr Adams chose education as his party's first preferred ministry at today's meeting of party leaders instead of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment.
The decision meant the DUP, whose party leader the Reverend Ian Paisley will head up the new administration as First Minister alongside Martin McGuinness as Deputy First Minister, will have the finance and economy portfolios.
The DUP, which is expected to announce its nominees, later this week will be expected to appoint deputy leader Peter Robinson in the finance role and former devolved minister Nigel Dodds as the enterprise minister.
The party also claimed the environment minister's portfolio, with Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA Arlene Foster tipped to take the post.
Speculation was also mounting that Lagan Valley MLA Edwin Poots could be chosen as the new minister for culture, arts and leisure taking charge of the controversial Irish language issue and also the decision as to where a new sports stadium should be located.
The DUP is expected to also rotate or reshuffle its ministers during the lifetime of the next Assembly to ensure other senior figures are given a taste of devolved government.
The Ulster Unionists today chose the difficult health portfolio and were left with the last department, employment and learning.
Party leader Sir Reg Empey said his party would not name its ministers until tomorrow's decision on who would share Assembly committees was completed.
UUP chief negotiator Alan McFarland was increasingly being talked about as a minister to serve alongside Sir Reg in government despite earlier claims from insiders that the party would be foolish to overlook deputy leader Danny Kennedy for a post.
The nationalist SDLP's sole ministry will be social development, with South Down Assembly member Margaret Ritchie regarded as the most likely choice to fly the party's flag within the executive.