Consultation Zone

Current Consultations

Construction contracts bill report on Public Consultation

Please see the attached report on the responses to the public consultation - Improving Payment Practices in the Construction Industry in Northern Ireland.

Construction contracts bill report on Public Consultation (PDF 109 KB)

Previous Consultations

The Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2005

The Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2005 (NIMDM 2005) is the current measure of multiple deprivation at the small area level. The NI MDM 2005 comprises seven domains of deprivation which combine to form the multiple deprivation measure. The NI MDM 2005 is the official measure of spatial deprivation in Northern Ireland and is used to target resources on the most deprived areas in NI and monitor the impact of policy interventions. The measures are available at Output Area, Super Output Area, Local Government District and Parliamentary Constituency Levels.

Work has commenced on updating the Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2005. A consultation document setting out proposals to update the measures was published on 27th July 2009 and gives users an opportunity to comment on the content of the updated measures. The final report including the new measures will be published in early 2010. Until publication of the final report the NIMDM 2005 remains the official measure of spatial deprivation in Northern Ireland.

A public consultation period began on 27th July 2009 and will end on 6th November 2009.

For more details see the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency website

The Dormant Accounts Scheme Consultation on spending priorities for Northern Ireland

A dormant account is a bank or building society which a customer has not asked about, put money into or taken money out of for 15 years and the Scheme is innovative in that it allows access to such funds, but at the same time guarantees that, if the account owners turn up and ask for their money, they can still get it through what is know as the Reclaim Fund.

This innovative Scheme was first formally announced in 2005 and is a way in which moneys currently sitting in dormant bank and building society accounts can be used to further social or environmental” purposes. The devolved administration has the scope to set their own particular priorities in Northern Ireland within this overarching framework.

We are now seeking views of interested individuals and organisations in establishing the Northern Ireland spending priorities thus ensuring that the policy framework and the funding programmes that will flow from it will be designed to specifically address the needs of the people in Northern Ireland.

The consultation will run from 6th August to 29 October 2009.

Dormant Account Consultation (PDF 53 KB)

Improving Payment Practices in the Construction Industry in Northern Ireland

Improving Payment Practices in the Construction Industry in Northern Ireland seeks views on amending the Construction Contracts (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 and associated legislation, the effect of the proposed measures in respect of equality issues and on the anticipated regulatory impact.

The measures proposed are intended to:

Encourage parties to resolve disputes by adjudication;
Improve transparency and clarity in the exchange of information relating to payments, thereby enabling parties to construction contracts to manage cash flow better; and
Improve the right to suspend performance under the contract.

The format of the consultation follows closely on the content of the earlier consultation in Great Britain carried out by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) and the Scottish Government.

In Great Britain, BERR’s proposed amending legislation, on which our proposals are based, is set out as Part 8 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Bill currently before Parliament. This Communities and Local Government Bill was introduced in the House of Lords on 4 December 2008 and has just completed its Report Stage.

Review of Rating Reform

Following the restoration of devolution the Executive undertook a review of the domestic rating system introduced by direct rule ministers in April 2007. The review made a number of recommendations and a number of consultation have recently completed on policy changes arising from the review. These include:

Green rebates
Data sharing
Rates deferment scheme for home owning persioners
Rating of empty homes
Reduction in maximum capital value

Full details of the consultations, including the consultation papers are available on www.ratingreviewni.gov.uk

Draft Disability Action Plan (PDF 92 KB)

New disability duties, which came into effect on 01 January 2007, task public authorities with promoting positive attitudes towards disabled people and encouraging the participation of disabled people in public life.

Public authorities are also under a duty to produce disability action plans to illustrate how they propose to fulfil these duties. These action plans had to be submitted to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland by 30 June 2007.

We would welcome any comments or suggestions on the draft Action Plan, which is a living document. Comments received mid to late June were taken into account prior to the Department submitting the plan to the Equality Commission. Any further comments received will be considered in future revisions of the plan.

Response to the Consultation on the Northern Ireland draft Regional Economic Strategy launched 26 January 2007 (PDF 40 KB)

The draft Regional Economic Strategy was published for consultation on 26 January 2007. The consultation closed on 19 April 2007. This document provides a brief summary of the consultation responses and sets out the Finance Minister's view on the comments made by the consultees.

Workplace 2010 - Final EQIA Consultations Report (PDF 757 KB)

Workplace 2010 is designed to transform the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) office estate, improving the working environment for staff and facilitating new ways of working in a way that demonstrates value for money for the taxpayer. A draft EQIA considering the potential Section 75 impacts of the programme was issued for public consultation for the period 26 June 2006 to 27 October 2006. It considered the impact on NI Civil Service (NICS) staff, the general public, visitors to NICS buildings, current and potential suppliers and potential employees. The results of the consultation have now been included in the final EQIA report. For further information please visit the Workplace 2010 website

Northern Ireland Draft Economic Strategy (PDF 628 KB)

The Government's central economic aim is to sustain high and stable levels of economic and employment growth to secure prosperity for all the people of Northern Ireland. This regional economic strategy sets out the Government's economic priorities that will help achieve the economic vision to become a high value added, highly skilled, innovative and enterprising economy by 2015.

The consultation closed on 20 April 2007.

Draft Guidance on Equality and Sustainable Development Considerations in Public Sector Procurement (with particular reference to PPP/PFI)

The consultation closed on 28 February 2007.

Northern Ireland EU Competitiveness and Employment Programmes (2007-2013) Consultation Document

Public Consultation on EU Structural Funds Draft Northern Ireland Competitiveness and Employment Programmes 2007 to 2013.

The Secretary of State has launched a public consultation on the EU Structural Funds Northern Ireland Draft Competitiveness & Employment Programmes 2007 to 2013.

This consultation seeks views on two inter-related draft programmes, particularly, the proposed strategy, priorities and expenditure areas to be funded.

The consultation closed on Wednesday 14 March 2007

Increasing penalties for deliberate and wilful misuse of personal data - consultation paper (PDF 236 KB)

As the Government moves to an era of greater data sharing - to deliver better, more customer-focussed services and to protect the security of both individuals and society as a whole - it is essential for people to be confident that their personal data will not be wilfully or recklessly abused. A consultation process is taking place under the direction of the Department of Constitutional Affairs.

The consultation closed on Monday 30 October 2006

Draft Rates (Amendment)(Northern Ireland) Order 2006 (PDF 577 KB)

The draft Rates (amendment) (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 is the third Order in Council relating to the reform of the rating system in Northern Ireland. It aims to give legislative effect to the Government's intention to introduce a range of reliefs for those on low incomes, vulnerable groups and also those most adversely affected by the move to the new capital value system.

Further information can be found on www.ratingreviewni.gov.uk

The consultationclosed on Friday 15 September 2006.

Regulation of Legal Services in Northern Ireland - consultation paper

A wide-ranging review is examining the regulation of the legal profession and the rights of consumers accessing legal services in Northern Ireland.

The consultation ended on Friday 06 January 2006.

You can find out more on the review of legal services pages.

Proposal for a draft Order in Council - The Rates (Capital Values, etc.) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005

The Government published the draft Rates (Capital Values, etc) (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 on 7 October. This was subject to 12 weeks consultation. The consultation document provides an overview of the key policy issues and includes the draft Order and associated explanatory memorandum.

The draft Order provides for the determination, publication and revision of the capital value of all domestic properties in Northern Ireland. For the non-domestic sector, the draft Order provides for the full exemption from rates for community halls where they are made available for use by the wider community, subject to certain criteria, and an increase in the level of sport and recreational relief from 65% to 80%.

For further information access the responses to the consultation at www.nics.gov.uk/ratingpolicy/respondents2.htm. The consultation ended on 30 December 2005.

The Stormont Estate (Northern Ireland) 2006 Order

Workplace 2010 is a three to five year estate strategy to transform and modernise the NICS office estate. It is recommended that the programme should be implemented through a PFI procurement. Proposals for a first phase include a number of office buildings on the Stormont Estate. As the Estate is protected by legislation a draft Order in Council has been prepared to amend the 1933 Stormont Act as it relates to Workplace 2010. This public consultation sought views and comments on the draft Order. For further information please visit the Workplace 2010 website (www.workplace2010ni.org). The consultation ended on 16 December 2005.

Review of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) Order 1979 (as amended in 1990) - Second Stage Consultation

The 1979 Order is the primary legislation for building regulations in Northern Ireland. It sets out the powers, duties, responsibilities and rights of the Department of Finance and Personnel, district councils and applicants in relation to building regulations matters, including giving the Department responsibility for writing regulations in the form of secondary, or subordinate legislation. The consultation ended on 04 November 2005.

Proposals for Business Reliefs from Rate Liability in Northern Ireland

As part of the overall Rating Review, this policy paper focuses mainly on the business and rural sectors. These include the case for providing relief for small businesses, farm diversification relief, relief for the equine sector, banking facilities in rural areas, the quarry industry and freight transport relief. The consultation ended on 08 July 2005.

Proposed amendments to Part R of the Building Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 dealing with access to and the use of buildings for disabled people.

The proposed measures will bring Northern Ireland's regulations into line with England and Wales and will result in a wider range of premises becoming accessible to people with disabilities. The consultation ended on 08 July 2005. Contact Building Regulations for more information.

Proposals for Charitable Reliefs from Rate Liability in Northern Ireland.

This paper sets out the Government's proposals for the charitable sector in relation to rate liability . It examines the treatment of properties used for public, charitable and sport and recreation purposes. The consultation ended on the 17 June 2005.