Northern Ireland Departments
Department Minister Permanent Responsibilities Secretary The Executive Office Jenny Pyper TEO (TEO) (DUP) First Minister Interim Head of • Delivering Social Change framework co-ordinates key actions across government to take NI Civil Service forward work on priority social policy areas. Michelle O’Neill MLA • Strategic Investment, Regeneration and International Relations Division, Maze/Long Kesh, Speaker: (SF) deputy First Regeneration Sites, Strategic Investment Board. Alex Maskey MLA (SF) Minister • Programme for Government, Budget, improving public services, civil contingencies, public appointments, information management and Reports of decisions taken by Northern Ireland Gordon Lyons (DUP) Departments. junior Minister • Co-operation - British/Irish, Joint Ministerial Committee, North/South, European Policy and Co-ordination. Declan Kearney (SF) • Promoting NI - International relations, NI Bureau in Washington, NI Bureau in China, and junior Minister Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels. • Sponsorship - Honours and congratulatory messages - how Honours are awarded, how to nominate someone you think deserves an award and how congratulatory messages are issued. • Statistics and Research. • Good relations and social change, building a united community. Department of Edwin Poots MLA Denis McMahon DAERA Agriculture, (DUP) • Angling policy including the role of Inland Fisheries, angling farms and stations and the Environment, and Rural conservation and protection of salmon and eels. Affairs (DAERA) • Animal Health and Welfare - Information about diseases, disease control and prevention, welfare of farmed and non-farmed animals as well as importing and exporting animals, PVPs, AVIs and AVSs. • Biodiversity - Protecting and preserving Northern Ireland's wildlife and habitats from invasive alien species and other environmental threats. • Countryside management and managing your business - Information on agri-environment schemes, water quality, renewable energy and employing people on your farm.
1 N.B. This information is correct as of 14.05.21 and will be subject to further changes.
Northern Ireland Departments
• Crops and horticulture – provide information on areas of crop growing and horticulture including combinable crops, potatoes, fruits and vegetables, seeds, and nursery stock. • Education and Research - Education and training courses for the land-based and food industries and development programmes. • Environmental advice for planning - DAERA has a role in development management and responds to development proposals where there is potential for impacts on the natural and marine environments and fisheries interests. • EU Exit • Fisheries - Sea fisheries, inland fisheries, aquaculture, and fish health policy in Northern Ireland. • Food - Meat inspection, milk and milk products, personal food imports, egg packers. • Forestry education, forest industry, forestry and the environment, forest planning. • Grants and funding - There is a wide range of grant and subsidy schemes to support local farming, fisheries, rural businesses, and communities. • Land and landscapes – provide information on land quality and soil as well as details on the geology of Northern Ireland's distinctive and precious landscapes. • Provide information on key areas of livestock farming including dairy, beef, sheep, pigs, poultry, and grass. • Marine - Protecting Northern Ireland's coastal and marine environment via legislation, licensing and permits and conservation activities. • Plant and Tree Health - Pests and diseases, pesticides, plant passporting, imports and exports, surveys, and compliance. • Pollution - Activities undertaken to prevent, monitor and control pollution of the air, land, and water. • Protect the environment - Actions taken to raise awareness and counteract threats to the environment on both a local and global scale. • Management and implementation of the Rural Development Programme and the Rural White Paper Action Plan. • DAERA provide a range of statistics covering agriculture, environment, rural communities, animal health, fisheries, food, and forestry in Northern Ireland.
2 N.B. This information is correct as of 14.05.21 and will be subject to further changes.
Northern Ireland Departments
• Sustainability - relating to sustainable development and prosperity agreements. • Waste - Promoting a more sustainable approach to dealing with waste in Northern Ireland by drafting waste legislation and implementing waste management policy. • Water - Protecting the aquatic environment by regulating water quality and hydrological processes whilst considering the needs of industry, agriculture, and the protection of public health. Department for Deirdre Hargey MLA Tracy Meharg DfC Communities (DfC) (SF) • Benefits and pensions - To find out more about benefits, pensions, benefit fraud, welfare changes, private pensions and legislation that governs our work. • Housing - Social housing providers, reform of social housing, help and advice for private rented and social housing tenants, housing legislation. • Support for children - Impartial information about child support maintenance for employers and advisers. • Regeneration - Programmes that target social need through social, economic, and physical regeneration of cities, towns and villages, local government reform. • Sport - Sport strategy, stadiums and sports grounds, sports projects, games legacy and concussion awareness. • Museums and libraries - The public library service, Libraries NI, National Museum Northern Ireland, and the NI Museums Council. • Arts and culture - Arts infrastructure and strategy, the creative industries, community festivals, architecture and built environment. • Languages - Language policy and strategy encompassing Irish, Ulster-Scots and sign language. • Public Records of NI - PRONI is the official archive and record office for Northern Ireland with a statutory remit to receive, preserve and make available public records and privately deposited archives. • Historic environment - Historic Monuments, Historic Buildings, Historic Parks and Gardens, Maritime Heritage, Industrial Heritage, Defence Heritage and Archaeology. • Statistics and research that help guide the Department on policy, planning and decision making.
3 N.B. This information is correct as of 14.05.21 and will be subject to further changes.
Northern Ireland Departments
• Voluntary and community - Policy and strategy in the voluntary and community sector, volunteering and community development advice and guidance. • Social inclusion - Active Ageing, Anti-Poverty, Disability, Gender Equality, Sexual Orientation, and the Social Inclusion Strategies. • Law and legislation - on law relating to housing, social security and child support, decisions by Commissioners on social security benefits - also information on social law. • Finding employment - Jobseekers looking for work can get the help and support they need to find employment. • Finding staff - If you want to recruit the right employees for your company or access the range of support programmes and services available to you and your staff, the Department’s Employer Engagement Service can help. • Local government - Details of how Local Government & Housing Regulation Division supports councils in delivering strong and effective local government along with information on funding and finances. The Division also maintains the legislative framework for the Local Government Pension Scheme in NI. • Appeals Service and appealing decisions - Appealing against decisions made by the Department, including Child Maintenance Service, and Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), Land and Property Service (LPS) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Department of Peter Weir MLA Mark Browne DoE Education (DoE) (DUP) • Curriculum and learning - Information to support the delivery of the curriculum in schools, raising standards and school improvement. • Children and Young People Issues - Working together to improve the well-being of all children and young people in Northern Ireland. • Pupils and parents - Help and advice for pupils and parents on a range of educational and personal issues is available on NI Direct. • Teaching staff - Teachers' pay and conditions, including pensions and teacher training information. • Non-teaching staff - provide information for non-teaching staff in relation to pay related issues and terms and conditions.
4 N.B. This information is correct as of 14.05.21 and will be subject to further changes.
Northern Ireland Departments
• Schools and infrastructure - Types of schools, schools’ management, transport to school, school admissions policy, area planning, and health and safety in schools. • Support and development - Support on issues including child protection and safeguarding, school meals and keeping children safe online. • Publications produced by Statistics and Research Team. • Good relations and social change, building a united community. • Education Transformation Programme - The Department has embarked upon a programme of work to transform the education system in Northern Ireland to ensure it delivers positive outcomes for children and young people. Department for the Diane Dodds MLA Mike Brennan DfE Economy (DfE) (DUP) • Economic policy - Economic strategy, regulation, innovation, enterprise policy, social economy, access to finance, agri-food, Economic Advisory Group and MATRIX. • Employment and skills programmes (including apprenticeships) - Advice for jobseekers and employers on employment and recruitment programmes that aim to deliver a skilled workforce to meet the needs of the NI economy. • Energy - Policy and strategy on energy including electricity, gas, renewables, and energy efficiency. • Further education - Advice on all aspects of further education including policy, courses, how to apply and financial support available. • Higher education – provide information and advice on higher education including policy and strategy, finance governance, student finance and research policy. • Employment rights - Free and confidential help with employment rights is available from Labour Relations Agency for employers and employees. The Department provides online guidance on employment rights on NI Direct for employers. • Consumer affairs - Working with both consumers and traders to develop consumer rights and responsibilities. • European Fund Management - The Department is the Managing Authority for the 2014- 2020 European Social Fund (ESF) Programme and the Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme (ERDF).
5 N.B. This information is correct as of 14.05.21 and will be subject to further changes.
Northern Ireland Departments
• Telecoms - Supporting investment in telecommunications infrastructure, facilitating improvements in broadband, mobile and international connectivity. • Tourism - Developing tourism strategy and policy in Northern Ireland. • Insolvency service - Administration/investigation of bankrupts and companies in liquidation; disqualification of directors; regulating insolvency profession; Northern Ireland-specific legislation and policy. • Minerals and petroleum: Responsibilities include - prospecting/development licensing; exploration leases; monitoring abandoned mines; engagement with local councils on Local Development Plans; geoscience information and services through Geological Survey NI. • Credit Unions and Societies – the Department is responsible for the policy and legislative framework. • Statistics and Economic Research - statistics, research and analysis about the local economy and the development of skills. Department of Finance Conor Murphy MLA Position to be DoF (DoF) (SF) filled. • Finance – provide information on Northern Ireland’s (NI) public finances, including the NI budget and guidance on accountability and financial management. • Working in the Northern Ireland Civil Service, including pay scales and Civil Service Pensions (NI). • Procurement – provide information on public sector procurement, including advice, guidance, and business opportunities. • Programme and project management and assurance - provide information on programme and project assurance including the Gateway review process, guidance, support, and resources. • Property rating - domestic and non-domestic rating, including how your rates are calculated and how to pay your rate bill. • Property valuation - domestic and non-domestic valuation; specialist schemes that apply to some non-domestic properties and how to appeal your valuation if you think it is incorrect. • Land registration - provide information on recording legal interests in land and maintaining a register of land ownership.
6 N.B. This information is correct as of 14.05.21 and will be subject to further changes.
Northern Ireland Departments
• Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland (OSNI) is the official producer of high quality, accurate and current geographic mapping data for Northern Ireland. • Building Regulations and energy efficiency of buildings - Information on Building Regulations and the Energy Performance of Buildings in Northern Ireland including legislation, guidance, and technical details. • Civil Law Reform - Reform and development of the civil law in Northern Ireland, including private family law, trusts and property law, tort, and private international law. • Account NI - Department for the Economy COVID-19 £10,000 Small Business Grant. • Public Sector Reform Division (PSRD) was established to work collaboratively with other organisations to support, influence, lead and enable reform across the public sector. • Statistics and Research. • Digital and communications services highlights the shared services work of IT personnel, IT Assist, nidirect the government services website, Government Advertising Unit, and the Digital Transformation Programme. • Transparency and Open Government - Governments are responsible for using public money to shape the society we live in and the decisions they make impact on the day-to-day quality of life that everyone enjoys. Department for Nichola Mallon MLA Katrina Godfrey DfI Infrastructure (DfI) (SDLP) • Road improvement schemes - How the public road network is managed, maintained, and developed, as well as delivery of wider transport projects. • Transport initiatives - Belfast on the Move and the Department's transport plans for Northern Ireland. • Road’s policies and legislation including the process and licencing requirements for road openings carried out by utility companies. • Public transport - The Department's role in bus, rail and ferry travel including relevant legislation and our supported travel programmes. • Active travel - Sustainable transport policies, primarily focused on cycling and walking in Northern Ireland. • Waterways - Inland Waterways, the Lagan Towpath and the Department's work with, the cross-border body, Waterways Ireland.
7 N.B. This information is correct as of 14.05.21 and will be subject to further changes.
Northern Ireland Departments
• DfI Roads & Rivers procurement - Procurement activities, ranging from supplies and services, and small-scale works to major road maintenance and high value capital construction projects. • Road users - Promoting and improving road safety via education, licensing, and regulation of transportation. • Water and sewerage services - Policy in relation to the water and sewerage industry and for discharging the Department’s statutory and other duties. • Ports - The Department’s role in air and seaports serving Northern Ireland. • Statistics and Research. • Delivering the Rathlin Island Policy. • Regeneration of the Crumlin Road Gaol in Belfast and the St Lucia site in Omagh. • Living With Water in Belfast, an Integrated Plan for Drainage and Wastewater Management in Greater Belfast. • Planning - the NI planning system including relevant legislation, regional policies and strategies and supporting practical guidance. • Rivers and Flooding - Reducing the risk to life and damage to property from flooding from rivers and the sea, undertaking watercourse and coastal flood management in a sustainable manner. Department of Health Robin Swann MLA Richard Pengelly DoH (DoH) (UUP) • Dentistry - Advice on dental services and oral health for all dental practitioners and dental care professionals and guidance on workforce planning and contractual arrangements. • Finance, Procurement and Support Services - Guidance to ALBs on accountability, financial management, procurement, and other financial matters. Information about planned and ongoing procurements. • Good management, good records - Advice and guidance on records management including a retention and disposal schedule covering all records created by the department and HSC organisations, as well as those working under contract to HSC. • Health workforce policy and management - Medical employment terms and conditions (except GPs), workforce development including education, careers and skills, policy reports and guidance.
8 N.B. This information is correct as of 14.05.21 and will be subject to further changes.
Northern Ireland Departments
• Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions (AHPs) - Nursing and midwifery policies, strategies and guidance and professional guidance for allied health professions. • Governance in health and social care - Guidance on how organisations should manage their businesses, determine strategy, and achieve objectives. • Mental health and learning disabilities - An overview of the Autism strategy and action plan; Bamford review of mental health and learning disability and mental health and learning disability statistics. • Safety and quality standards - Policy and Guidance for Improving the Safety and Quality of Health and Social Care Services including best practice guidance, service frameworks, regulation and Q2020. • Public health policy and advice - The Strategic Framework for Public Health, health promotion, health protection and emergency preparedness, highlighting obesity prevention, sexual health, skin cancer prevention, suicide prevention and tobacco control. • Professional medical and environmental health advice - Environmental health and climate change, health and social care research and development, professional good practice guidelines and HSC communications and letters from the CMO. • Pharmacy - The Chief Pharmaceutical Officer Cathy Harrison and her team are responsible for providing specialist advice on medicines and pharmaceutical issues, for the development of policy relating to medicines. • Social services - All professional aspects on how social care is delivered in Northern Ireland including social work strategy, child protection, NSMC, early authoritative interventions. • Health policy - Making Life Better, Donaldson report. • DoH statistics and research - Information & analysis directorate (IAD) provides statistical information relating to many aspects of health and social care services in Northern Ireland. • Information on the Departments Implementation Programme for the Inquiry into Hyponatraemia Related Deaths (IHRD). • Transformation Programme - In Oct ‘16, a 10-year approach to transforming health and social care was launched, “Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together”. • Chief Nursing Officer Professor Charlotte McArdle launches the implementation of the 2018 NMC Future Nurse education standards here in Northern Ireland.
9 N.B. This information is correct as of 14.05.21 and will be subject to further changes.
Northern Ireland Departments
Department of Justice Naomi Long MLA Peter May DoJ (DoJ) (ALL) • Justice and the law - Compensation, North-South co-operation and Access to Justice reports and policies. • Legal aid –about the Legal Services Agency Northern Ireland, forms and guidance for legal professionals and guidance for members of the public. • Prisons - about prison life, prison reform, the prison estate, management issues and family contact. • Youth justice - services, structures, profiles, managing youth offending and victims of crime. • Forensic science - about the structure, services offered, and specialist work undertaken by Forensic Science Northern Ireland • Policing and community safety - Policies, strategies and legislation on criminal history disclosure, organised crime, policing, and community safety. • Analytical Services Group (ASG) is the statistical and research team posted within the DoJ. Consisting of statisticians, on loan from the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA), it provides an independent service to meet the research and statistical needs of the department. • Courts and Tribunals - the work of the NICTS including attending courts, paying fines, appealing a sentence, jury service and the tribunals.
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10 N.B. This information is correct as of 14.05.21 and will be subject to further changes.