The number of Northern Ireland Assembly members should be reduced to 96, the SDLP has said.
The party is fielding 28 candidates for the May Stormont elections and 150 candidates for council positions, SDLP leader Margaret Ritchie confirmed.
She said creating jobs for young people and reform of the public services are the party's priorities.
"It is time to stop taking congratulatory slaps on the back and stop taking curtain calls, the public are looking for delivery," she said.
The SDLP will introduce its candidates next week and outline proposals on the economy before it launches its manifesto on April 20th. Ms Ritchie, a South Down candidate, said there should be 16 constituencies and 96 MLAs, down from the current 108.
The party said some of its key aims were to rebalance the economy to grow the private sector; improve north-south economic co-operation; invest in schools and teachers and increase access to schools and universities.
Although the SDLP may like to take the education portfolio after the election, West Belfast candidate Alex Attwood refused to speculate. He criticised the performance of Sinn Fein Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy and Education Minister Caitriona Ruane.
Mr Attwood insisted: "While everyone values stability, it is a lesson that will run out of steam. Everyone wants to know what comes after stability.
"Stability is an achievement, everyone welcomes it. The fact that we have devolution is an achievement, everyone welcomes that. But people are asking what devolution really does in terms of moving on.
He said the SDLP agreed with Martin McGuinness that appointing joint first ministers was the solution if Sinn Fein became the largest party after the election.
PA