AQW 5617/16-21

Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford

Tabled Date: 18/10/2016
Answered On Date: 01/11/2016
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline (i) her plans to progress the Rural Needs Act (Northern Ireland) 2016; and (ii) the training provided for her departmental officials and officials in other Departments.

Answer:

The Rural Needs Act (NI) 2016 was passed by the NI Assembly on 8 March and received Royal Assent on 9 May 2016 and I have decided on a phased approach to commencement. It is proposed that the Act will come into operation for Northern Ireland departments and district councils on 1 June 2017 and for the remaining public authorities listed in the schedule to the Act on 1 June 2018.

The Act provides a statutory basis for an existing commitment made by the Northern Ireland Executive in 2002, and reaffirmed in 2009, to undertake rural proofing of all new and revised policies and strategies across government. The existing training course for NICS Departmental policy makers, “Think Rural”, will be updated to reflect the requirements of the Act.