Public Affairs

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 of Finance (DoF)

There are no major consultations

Department for Communities (DfC)

State Pension age independent review

Opened 13 October 2016

The Pensions Act 2014 requires the government to review the State pension age during each Parliament. The State Pension Age Independent Review is gathering evidence and will consider a broad range of factors before making recommendations to the government in 2017.

Responses should be submitted no later than 31 December 2016 by emailing spa.review@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

St. Patrick’s Barracks draft Development Plan

Opened 25 November 2016

The Department has published the draft development plan for St Patrick’s Barracks in Ballymena and is seeking views from interested parties on these proposals. The draft plan proposes a mixed use development scheme for St Patrick’s Barracks which incorporates a range of uses including mixed tenure housing, leisure and recreational areas, civic and office space, PSNI District Command base and facilities for community enterprise and knowledge industries. The plan seeks to generate wider economic, social and cultural benefits across the Mid and East Antrim area.

During the consultation period the development proposals will be on display at the Braid, Ballymena Town Hall, Museum and Arts Centre.

Responses should be submitted no later than 4 March 2017 to: St. Patrick’s Barracks project, County Hall, Ballymena, BT42 1QG.

Email: StPatricks.BarracksProject@communities-ni.gov.uk

Reversal of the reclassification of registered social housing providers

Opened 8 December 2016

This consultation is on the Department for Communities proposals to amend current housing legislation and policy so as to facilitate a reversal of the recent ONS decision to classify Registered Social Housing Providers in Northern Ireland as public sector bodies.

Responses should be submitted no later than 8 February 2017 to: ONS Reclassification Consultation, 3rd Floor, Lighthouse Building, Gasworks Business Park, Belfast, BT2 7JB.

Email: shrppolicy@communities-ni.gov.uk

Department of Justice (DoJ)

There are no major consultations

The Executive Office
There are no major consultations

Department of Education (DE)
There are no major consultations

Department for Infrastructure (DfI)

Review of Permitted Development Rights for Mineral Exploration

Opened 8 December 2016

The consultation sets out proposals for amending permitted development rights, including removing permitted development rights for petroleum exploration from Class A of Part 16 of the Schedule to the Planning (General Permitted Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015. Currently there are certain permitted development rights for mineral exploration where an application for planning permission is not required.

Responses should be submitted no later than 3 February 2017 to: Review of Permitted Development Rights Consultation, Planning Policy Division, Room 1-18, Clarence Court, 10-18 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8GB.

Email: ppdconsultations@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk

Utility Regulator

Network code derogations

Opened 1 December 2016

The Utility Regulator has launched a consultation on networks codes regulations.  These regulations require the UR to consult on and publish criteria for granting derogations from the provisions of the regulations. The UR is also seeking to clarify the process for granting derogations relating to technical codes and standards which generation, transmission and distribution licensees are obliged to comply under their licences.

Responses should be submitted no later than 17 January 2017 to: Laura Kane, The Utility Regulator, Queens House, 14 Queen Street, Belfast, BT1 6ED.

Tel: 028 9031 6357

Email: Electricity_Networks_Response@uregni.gov.uk

Department of Health (DoH)

Criteria for reconfiguring health and social care services

Opened 11 November 2016

The Department of Health is proposing to introduce new criteria for the Department and Health and Social Care (HSC) organisations to use in future to assess how the delivery of services should be reconfigured in the future. The Department seeks views of the public and stakeholders on the seven criteria contained in the Expert Panel report Systems, Not Structures: Changing Health and Social Care.

Responses should be submitted no later than 20 January 2017 to: Reconfiguration Criteria Consultation, Room C3.6, Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, BT4 3SQ.

Email: reconfig.criteria@health-ni.gov.uk

Department for the Economy (DfE)

Apprenticeship levy

Opened 29 November 2016

The Apprenticeship Levy will be introduced across the UK in April 2017 and the Department i9s seeking views on the potential implications of the Apprenticeship Levy in Northern Ireland.

Responses should be submitted no later than 23 December 2016 to: Apprenticeship Levy Team, Policy and Divisional Support Branch, Youth Policy Division, Department for the Economy, 4th Floor, Adelaide House,
39-49 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8FD.

Email: apprenticeshiplevyni@economy-ni.gov.uk

Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Consultation on the Homelessness Strategy 2017-22

Opened 30 November 2016

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive is welcoming views on the draft Homelessness Strategy 2017-22 – “Ending Homelessness Together” which sets out key objectives and associated actions aimed at preventing homelessness where possible and finding long-term sustainable housing and support solutions for those households faced with homelessness. The Strategy supports a multi-agency approach to tackling homelessness and recognises the importance of local service delivery.

Responses should be submitted no later than 8 February 2017 to: Richard Tanswell, Homeless Strategy Manager, The Housing Centre, 2 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8PB.

Tel: 028 9598 2327

Email: homelessness.strategy@nihe.gov.uk

Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA)

2017 Review of Bathing Waters in Northern Ireland

Opened 12 December 2016

This consultation seeks comments on the Department’s proposal that the sites at Cloughey, Kilclief and Ballyhornan should be taken forward for identification as bathing waters (subject to the Department being satisfied that bathing is not prohibited or inadvisable for reasons of safety; and that there is an appropriate body willing to take on the formal responsibility of bathing water operator); and that the site at Killough should not be taken forward for identification as a bathing water.

Responses should be submitted no later than 3 February 2017 to: David Steele, Marine and Fisheries Division, Klondyke Building, Cromac Avenue, Malone Lower, Belfast, BT7 2JA.

Email: david.steele@daera-ni.gov.uk

Changes to the packaging recycling business tragets

Opened 29 November 2016

This consultation seeks your views on proposals by the GB Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland on proposed changes to the packaging recycling business targets for paper, steel, aluminium, wood and overall recovery and recycling for 2018-2020.

Responses should be submitted no later than 6 January 2017 to: Janis Purdy, Environmental Policy Division, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, 6th Floor, Goodwood House, 44-58 May Street, Belfast, BT1 4NN.

Email: wslpr@daera-ni.gov.uk

The Zoonoses (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017

Opened 8 December 2016

The Department has launched a consultation on the Zoonoses (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 to seek views from stakeholders. The proposed new Regulations will introduce revised fees for poultry flock holders for statutory testing and sampling under EU 2160/2003.

Responses should be submitted no later than 19 January 2017 to: Karen Brown, Animal Disease Control and Trade Policy Branch, Room 714, Dundonald House, Belfast, BT4 3SB.

Email: karen.brown@daera-ni.gov.uk

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