Consultation update
Details of significant consultation exercises currently being carried out by government departments and other public sector bodies in Northern Ireland. Queries on individual consultations should be referred to the organisations concerned, as outlined.
Department for Employment and Learning
There are no current consultations
Department of Education
Draft Special Educational Needs (SEN) Regulations
Opened 22 February 2016
The Department of Education proposes to revoke and replace the Education (Special Educational Needs) Regulations (NI) 2005 which are the current Regulations.
Responses should be submitted no later than 16 May to: Special Education and Inclusion Review Team, Department of Education, Rathgael House, Balloo Road, Bangor, Co Down, BT19 7PR.
Tel: 028 9185 8279
Email: sen.inclusion@deni.gov.uk
Improving pupil attendance
Opened 24 March
The Department has launched a consultation on the draft Strategy for improving pupil attendance. The strategy encompasses all the key elements and sets out indicators of success.
Responses should be submitted no later than 16 June to: Additional Educational Needs Team, G7, Balloo Annex, Department of Education, Rathgael House, 43 Balloo Road, Rathgill, Bangor, BT19 7PR.
Email: attendance@deni.gov.uk
Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
Active Ageing Strategy 2016 – 2021
Opened 22 February
The department is seeking consultation is to assist in the development of annual indicators to monitor the progress of the Active Ageing Strategy 2016 – 2021. It has developed a set of draft indicators.
Responses should be submitted no later than 17 April to: Active Ageing Policy Team, OFMDFM, FREEPOST- NAT17679, Room E3.18, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast, BT4 3SR.
Email: age@ofmdfmni.gov.uk
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
BSE Negligible Risk (NR) status
Opened 21 March
The department is seeking consultation on whether to consider applying for BSE Negligible Risk (NR) status on a regionalised basis for Northern Ireland.
Responses should be submitted no later than 13 June to: Mr Gary Quail, Room 722, Dundonald House, Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast, BT4 3SB.
Email: gary.quail@dardni.gov.uk
Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
Sign language framework consultation
Opened 15 March
The purpose of this consultation exercise is to seek views on promoting sign language to ensure that Irish sign language and British sign language users have the same rights, responsibilities, opportunities and quality of life as those in the hearing community.
Responses should be submitted no later than 4 July to: Response Co-ordinator, Sign Language Framework Consultation, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Level 7, Causeway Exchange, 1-7 Bedford Street, Belfast, BT2 7EG.
Email: consultations@dcalni.gov.uk
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Closure of the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO)
Opened 24 March
The consultation proposes options for closure of the NIRO to small scale projects set within the context of the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s intention to protect GB consumers if Northern Ireland does not close the NIRO on equivalent terms to Great Britain.
Responses should be submitted no later than 9 May to: Renewable Electricity Branch, Energy Division, Netherleigh, Massey Avenue, BT4 2JP.
Email: niro2016@detini.gov.uk
Department of Finance and Personnel
Sport and recreation relief
Opened 2 March
The Department has launched a consultation on provision of enhanced sport and recreation relief. This would be granted using the new powers recently taken through the Assembly within the Rates (Amendment) Bill.
Responses should be submitted no later than 9 May to: Rating Policy Division, Department of Finance and Personnel, Carleton House, 1 Cromac Avenue, Gasworks Business Park, Belfast, BT7 2JA.
Email: ratingpolicy.cfg@dfpni.gov.uk
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Improving health within criminal justice
Opened 24 March
Views are being sought on a draft strategy and action plan to ensure that children, young people and adults in contact with the criminal justice system are healthier, safer and less likely to be involved in offending behaviour.
Responses should be submitted no later than 20 June to: Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, GDOS and Prison Healthcare Policy Branch, Room D3, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SQ.
Email: cjhcstrategy@dojni.x.gsi.gov.uk
Review of pharmacy regulation
Opened 22 March
The regulatory and professional leadership functions of the pharmacy profession in Northern Ireland are currently performed by one organisation, the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland. This dual role is counter to modern thinking across the UK on what constitutes effective and efficient regulation of healthcare professionals.
Responses should be submitted no later than 14 June to: Work Force Projects, Room D1, Castle Buildings, Belfast, BT4 3SQ.
Tel: 028 9052 3172
Email: pharmacyregulation@dhsspsni.gov.uk
Department of the Environment
Regulations to tackle drink driving
Opened 21 March
New provisions to tackle the harm caused by drink driving in Northern Ireland were included in the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill that completed its passage through the Assembly in January 2016.
Responses should be submitted no later than 27 May to: John Brogan, Road Safety and Vehicle Regulation Division, Department of the Environment, Room G-21, Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, Town Parks, Belfast, BT2 8GB.
Email: drinkdrive@doeni.gov.uk
Historic Environment Fund
Opened 14 March
The Historic Environment Division is seeking views on proposals for a new Historic Environment Fund to run from 2016 to 2020 which will bring together new and existing Departmental funding streams for the sector.
Responses should be submitted no later than 6 June to: Historic Environment Division, 6th Floor, Causeway Exchange, 1-7 Bedford Street, Town Parks, Belfast, BT2 7EG.
Email: historicenvironmentfund@doeni.gov.uk
Department for Regional Development
Taxi Buses (Belfast) Order (Northern Ireland) 2016
Opened 13 April
Views are being sought on the Order which will introduce stands for taxi buses on a length of Bridge Street and a length of North Street, Belfast.
Responses should be submitted no later than 20 May to: TransportNI, Eastern Division, Traffic Management, Hydebank, 4 Hospital Road, Belfast, BT8 8JL.
Email: traffic.eastern@drdni.gov.uk
Department for Social Development
Greater Clarendon draft masterplan
Opened 29 March
The Department invites views from interested parties on the
Draft Masterplan for the Greater Clarendon (Sailortown) area.
Responses should be submitted no later than 30 June to: Greater Clarendon Consultation, Department for Social Development, Belfast Regeneration Directorate, 4th Floor, Oxford House, 49-55 Chichester Street, Belfast, BT1 4HL.
Email: sailortown@dsdni.gov.uk
Department of Justice
Domestic abuse offence
Opened 5 February
This consultation paper is seeking views on creating a specific offence to capture patterns of coercive and controlling behaviour in intimate relationships and on the establishment of a Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme.
Responses should be submitted no later than 29 April to: Community Safety Division, Room A4.24, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SG.
Tel: 028 9052 3772
Email: Community.SafetyUnitProj@dojni.x.gsi.gov.uk
