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 organisation concerned, as outlined.
Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
There are no current consultations
Department for Employment and Learning
There are no current consultations
Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
There are no current consultations
Department of Finance and Personnel
There are no current consultations
Department for Regional Development
There are no current consultations
Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Flood risk management plans
Opened 22 December
The flood risk management plans are key to the implementation of the EU Floods Directive. Its aim is to establish a framework that will contribute to reducing the impact of flooding on communities and the environment.
Comments and responses should be submitted by 22 June to: Alan Reddick, Strategic Planning Unit, Rivers Agency, Hydebank, 4 Hospital Road, Ballydollaghan, Belfast, BT8 8JP
Tel: 0845 3044505
Email: alan.reddick@dardni.gov.uk
Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure
There are no current consultations
Department of Education
Deferring school starting age
Opened 15 December
The aim of this policy is to enable children in exceptional circumstances, who are experiencing difficulties with developmental milestones, to defer their entry to primary school for one year.
Comments and responses should be submitted by 6 March to: Curriculum Development Team, Room G11, Department of Education, Rathgael House, Balloo Road, Rathgill, Bangor, BT19 7PR
Tel: 028 9127 9431
Email: de.curriculumdevelopmentteam@deni.gov.uk
Shared education policy and legislation
Opened 5 January
The aim is to encourage and facilitate collaborative working across educational providers, on a cross-sectoral basis, to deliver educational and social benefits to learners, promote equality of opportunity, good relations, equality of identity and respect for diversity and community cohesion.
Comments and responses should be submitted by 6 March to: Shared Education and Community Relations, Department of Education, Rathgael House, Balloo Road, Rathgill, Bangor, BT19 7PR
Tel: 028 9127 9431
Email: secr.team@deni.gov.uk
Questionnaire: http://apps.deni.gov.uk/appdeconsult4
Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Controlled Drugs Regulations
Opened 23 January
The department wants to introduce additional safeguards for the safe management and use of controlled drugs. These were introduced in England and Scotland when the Controlled Drugs (Supervision of Management and Use) Regulations came into force on 1 April 2013. This will also give the opportunity to align certain arrangements with those in England, Scotland and Wales.
Comments and responses should be submitted by 1 May to: Medicines Regulatory Group, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Room D4.3, Castle Buildings, Belfast, BT4 3SQ
Tel: 028 9052 3326
Email: mrgconsultation@dhsspsni.gov.uk
Questionnaire: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/consultations/current_consultations.html
Department of the Environment
Medically restricted driving licences
Opened 15 December
This consultation is inviting views on whether the validity period for Group 1 driving licences (car and motorcycle) issued by the department’s Driver and Vehicle Agency following medical assessment should be increased from the current one, two or three years to up to ten years.
Comments and responses should be submitted by 6 March to: J Russell Millar, Road Safety and Vehicle Regulation Division, Department of the Environment, Room G-43, Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, Town Parks, Belfast, BT2 8GB
Tel: 028 9054 1178
Email: russell.millar@doeni.gov.uk
Questionnaire: www.surveymonkey.com/s/TXLRJ72
Department of Justice
Review of criminal damage and criminal injuries schemes
Opened 8 December
The purpose of this consultation is to examine the criminal damage and criminal injuries schemes to establish whether they are relevant and responsive to the needs of victims and to ensure that expenditure under the schemes is fully justified.
Comments and responses should be submitted by 16 March to: Consultation on the Review of Compensation Legislation, Project Support Office, Compensation Services, Department of Justice, 6th Floor, Millennium House, 17-25 Great Victoria Street, Belfast, BT2 7AQ
Tel: 028 9054 1945
Email: csreview@dojni.x.gsi.gov.uk
Rationalisation of the court estate
Opened 29 January
This consultation outlines proposals made by the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service to rationalise the current court estate and close eight court buildings.
Comments and responses should be submitted by 30 April to: Consultation Co-ordinator, Rationalisation of the Court Estate Consultation, Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service, Laganside House, 23-27 Oxford Street, Belfast, BT1 3LA
Tel: 028 9041 2385
Email: consultations@courtsni.gov.uk
Department for Social Development
Pension Schemes Bill
Opened 18 December
This consultation is seeking views on key proposals set to be included in a future Assembly Bill on pensions in Northern Ireland including the establishment of three mutually exclusive categories of pension scheme; the facilitation of collective benefits; and the necessary changes to current legislation governing pension schemes.
Comments and responses should be submitted by 11 March to: Gillian McMaster, Department for Social Development, Social Security Policy and Legislation Division, Level 1, James House, 2-4 Cromac Avenue, Gasworks Business Park, Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 2JA
Tel: 028 9081 9461
Email: gillian.mcmaster@dsdni.gov.uk
Tenant participation strategy
Opened 15 January
This consultation is looking for views on how social landlords and tenants can work together to improve services and also considers what further initiatives could be introduced to expand the rights of tenants.
Comments and responses should be submitted by 8 April to: Tenant Participation Consultation Policy Project, Department for Social Development, Social Housing Reform Programme, Ground Floor, Lighthouse Building, Gasworks Business Park, Belfast, BT2 7JB
Tel: 028 9082 9012
Email: shrppolicy@dsdni.gov.uk
Competition and Markets Authority
Commercial use of consumer data
Opened 27 January
This consultation is a fact-finding exercise to help understand fully how businesses collect and use data for commercial purposes and the implications for firms and consumers. These include the identity of their customers, what they consume, where they live and work and other demographic information.
Comments and responses should be submitted by 6 March to: Consumer Data Call for Information, Competition and Markets Authority, 7th Floor, Victoria House, Southampton Row, London, WC1B 4AD. Tel: 020 3738 6000 • Email: consumerdata@cma.gsi.gov.uk