As word filtered through of the DUP announcement, people on the streets of Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh were broadly welcoming of it.
For many, the main issues they hoped would now be addressed were practical day to day things like childcare, health services, pay increases and the cost of living in general.
Some said it had been a long time coming.
Damien Clerkin said it was long overdue and he felt aggrieved that any one party anywhere should be able to hold a country to ransom while the health care system fell apart, but he was happy with the news.
There was particular concern for public servants who have not received pay rises and have been involved in strike action.
Rhonda Carey's husband works in the public sector, and she said he and his colleagues are long overdue a rise.
"They’re not getting it because Chris Heaton-Harris is sitting on it until they [DUP] come to some agreement. So I hope something happens by Thursday because it’s shocking and ridiculous we’ve been left at this for so long," Ms Carey said.
On the main street, where his family has been in business for 112 years, Malcolm Sloan said the announcement was great news and would help the economy of the North.
Mr Sloan, who is now in his fiftieth year running the family shoe shop, said Northern Ireland needed government and with this news "will come a lot of money".
"This can only help as a result of what’s happened quite recently with all the nurses and all the strikes," he said.
"I think any money now that we can get that would give them more money, pay them what they deserve, would be positive news," Mr Sloan added.
