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 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 Finance and Personnel

There are no current consultations

Department for Regional Development

There are no current consultations

Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure

Irish Language Bill proposals

Opened 10 February

This consultation highlights the potential value of an Irish Language Act. The department published a separate Irish language strategy in late January. Protective language legislation is in place in Scotland (Gaelic Language (Scotland) Act 2005) and Wales (Welsh Language Act 1993), while in the South, Irish is protected under the Official Languages Act 2003.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 5 May to: Response Co-Ordinator, Irish Language Bill Consultation, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Causeway Exchange, 1-7 Bedford Street, Belfast, BT2 7EG

Telephone: 028 9051 5271

Email: consultations@dcalni.gov.uk

Questionnaire: www.surveymonkey.com/r/irish_language_bill_consultation

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Controlled Drugs Regulations

Opened 23 January

The department wishes 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.htm

Donaldson report recommendations

Opened 30 December

The aim of this consultation is to encourage discussion of the recommendations made by former Chief Medical Officer of England, Liam Donaldson. Donaldson’s report on the improvement of governance within the health and social care system also investigated how to create a culture of openness, learning and making amends.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 22 May to: Donaldson Report, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Room D1, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SQ

Tel: 028 9052 0500

Email: qualityandsafety@dhsspsni.gov.uk

UK Department of Transport

Tachograph regulation

Opened 17 March

This consultation outlines Department of Environment and UK Department for Transport plans to implement EU legislation for tachographs in road transport and seeks views on areas of flexibility. The new regulation is aimed at reducing the administrative burden, enabling easier enforcement and tackling fraud by making the tachograph more resistant to tampering.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 12 May to: Tachograph Regulation, Department for Transport, Zone 3/28 Great Minster House, 33 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 4DR

Tel: 0300 330 3000

Email: tachographregulation@dft.gsi.gov.uk

Department of Justice

Unduly lenient sentences

Opened 3 February

This department is seeking opinions on the review of current legislation that provides for unduly lenient sentences to be referred to the Court of Appeal and to assess what improvements could be made.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 8 May to: Criminal Law Branch, Department of Justice, Massey House, Stoney Road, Belfast, BT4 3SX

Tel: 028 9016 9604

Email: access.public@dojni.x.gsi.gov.uk

Department for Social Development

New framework for social housing providers

Opened 12 March

This consultation proposes a new regulatory framework for housing activities and services provided by social landlords and is inviting views on the nature of this regulation going forward.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 10 June to: Regulatory Framework Consultation Policy Project, Social Housing Reform Programme, Department for Social Development, Ground Floor, Lighthouse Building, Gasworks Business Park, Belfast, BT2 7JB

Tel: 028 9082 9031

Email: shrppolicy@dsdni.gov.uk

Questionnaire: www.surveymonkey.com/s/new-regulatory-framework-for-social-housing

Department of Education

GCSE grading

Opened 23 March

The consultation intends to collect views on the potential change of grading from an alphabetic basis (A* to G) to a numerical one (9 to 1). In England, these new qualifications will be awarded from summer 2017.

Comments and responses should be submitted by 19 June to: Assessment and Qualifications Team, Room G11, Department of Education, Rathgael House, 43 Balloo Road, Rathgill, Bangor, BT19 7PR

Tel: 028 9127 9543

Email: agt@deni.gov.uk