Useful Facts, Figures and Resources about the Northern Ireland Assembly

DARD has responsibility for food, farming, and environmental policy and the development of the rural sector in Northern Ireland.

It provides a business development service for farmers and growers, and a veterinary service with administration of animal health and welfare.

The Department also oversees the application of European Union agricultural and rural development policy to Northern Ireland.

The work of the Department is divided into five core divisions.

Culture: - responsible for arts and creativity; libraries policy; cultural and language diversity policy; and linguistic operations.

Sport, Museums and Recreation: - responsible for policies on inland waterways and inland fisheries, museums, sport and lottery; Northern Ireland's involvement in the Smithsonian Institution's Folklife Festival 2007; and the London 2012 Olympics.

Corporate Services: - responsible for issues relating to accounts and accountability, internal financial matters; central management (responsible for co-ordinating issues across the Department); economic services; freedom of information; personnel issues; the day to day running of the department; media relations; Minister's Office; and statistics and research.

PRONI: - responsible for the preservation of and provision of public access to archival heritage records of Northern Ireland.

RPA: - responsible for managing the impact for the Department of the Review of Public Administration; responsible for taking forward work on the development of the Irish Language Bill.

The Department of Education is responsible for the central administration of all aspects of education and related services in Northern Ireland - excepting the higher and further education sector, responsibility for which is within the remit of the Department for Employment and Learning.

Its key functions include:

• Advising ministers on the determination of education policy
• Framing legislation
• Accounting for the effectiveness of the education system
• Allocating, monitoring and accounting for resources
• Through the Education and Training Inspectorate, evaluating and reporting on the quality of teaching and learning and teacher education

The Department’s aim is to promote learning and skills, to prepare people for work and to support the economy.

The four key areas of activity:

• Enhancing the provision of learning and skills, including entrepreneurship, enterprise, management and leadership.
• Increasing the level of research and development, creativity and innovation in the Northern Ireland economy;
• Helping individuals to acquire jobs, including self employment, and improving the linkages between employment programmes and skills development; and
• The development and maintenance of the framework of employment rights and responsibilities.

The DETI is responsible for economic policy development, energy, tourism, mineral development, health and safety at work, Companies Registry, Insolvency Service, consumer affairs, and labour market and economic statistics services. It also has a role in ensuring the provision of the infrastructure for a modern economy.

DETI has four agencies, established as non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs):

• Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI)
• The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB)
• The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI)
• The General Consumer Council for Northern Ireland (GCCNI)

The Department's aim is to improve the quality of life for everyone in Northern Ireland. 

The main responsibilities of the Department are:

• To protect, conserve and enhance the natural and built environment for the benefit of present and future generations
• To provide land use planning which balances the development needs of the region with the protection of the environment
• To improve and promote road safety and ensure the proper regulation of drivers, vehicles and operators
• To support a system of local government which meets the needs of citizens and ratepayers.

The overall aim of DFP is to secure the most appropriate and effective use of resources and services for the benefit of the community.  

This involves ensuring financial and personnel resources are managed effectively in the delivery of Government’s plans and priorities in Northern Ireland.

DFP provides a wide range of support services to other Departments and public bodies in Northern Ireland as well as a number of important frontline services directly to the public.

The Department’s aim is to improve the health and social well-being of the people of Northern Ireland by ensuring the provision of appropriate health and social care services and a programme of cross-government action to improve the health and well-being of the population and reduce health inequalities.  

The Department has three main business responsibilities:

• Health and Social Care (HSC), which includes policy and legislation for hospitals, family practitioner services and community health and personal social services;
• Public Health, which covers policy, legislation and administrative action to promote and protect the health and well-being of the population; and
• Public Safety,which covers policy and legislation for fire and rescue services.

The Department’s main responsibilities include:

• Strategic planning
• Transportation strategy
• Ports and Public Transport
• Roads and water policy
• Providing and maintaining roads

The Department is made up of four sub-sections: The Resources, Housing and Social Security Group, the Urban Regeneration and Community Development Group, the Social Security Agency and the Child Support Agency.

It has three key objectives:

• To provide a fair system of financial help to those in need and to ensure that parents who live apart maintain their children; encouraging personal responsibility and improving incentives to work and save.
• To promote measurable improvements to housing in Northern Ireland.
• To improve the physical, economic, community and social environment of neighbourhoods, towns and cities in Northern Ireland with particular emphasis on tackling disadvantage.

The Department’s responsibilities include:

• Supporting Ministers and the institutions of government
• Building a programme for government and modernising government programme
• Promoting better community relations, a culture of equality and rights
• Targeting social need and promoting social inclusion