AQW 5617/16-21 Written question to the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs
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.
Asked by Kellie Armstrong MLA on 18 October 2016
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 18 October 2016
- Answer due by
- 2 November 2016
- Answered
- 1 November 201614 days after tabling
- Priority question
- No
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.