AQO 4017/22-27

Ms Paula Bradshaw
Alliance Party
South Belfast

Tabled Date: 17/09/2026
Answered On Date: 29/09/2026
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister for Communities for an update on all outstanding social inclusion strategies.

Answer:

To ensure that progress is made in a sustainable and effective way, I have taken a phased approach to the development of the Executive’s Social Inclusion Strategies. This has allowed three of the strategies to be on track for adoption in this mandate, a very considerable achievement given the foreshortened mandate.

The public consultation report on the draft Executive Disability Strategy has been shared with my Executive colleagues, and my officials are re-engaging with their counterparts across all Departments to consider any refinements before it is brought forward for Executive consideration.

Work is also continuing on the new Active Ageing Strategy Action Plan, which I intend imminently to share with my Executive colleagues before proceeding to public consultation.

In terms of the Anti-Poverty Strategy, I have asked my officials to strengthen the content and widen its ambition to ensure that we tackle poverty in a sustainable, holistic and comprehensive manner.

My officials are planning to undertake some internal review work in the coming months on the Gender Equality Strategy and the Sexual Orientation Strategy, to consolidate work to date. This is however dependent on staffing needs for the other three strategies, and for departmental activity in respect of the Private Member’s Bill on conversion practices.

While my Department is leading on the development of these strategies, final decisions on their content, publication and implementation – and on timing of decisions – will be subject to Executive agreement and public consultation.