AQW 9244/16-21 Written question to the Minister of Education
To ask the Minister of Education for his Department's definition of rural.
Asked by Kellie Armstrong MLA on 10 January 2017
- Answered
- Written
- Tabled
- 10 January 2017
- Answer due by
- 25 January 2017
- Answered
- 24 January 201714 days after tabling
- Department
- Department of Education
- Priority question
- No
Answer
The Department’s definition of rural was provided as the answer to AQW 6623/16-21. It is as follows:
The definition of urban/rural the Department uses for statistical purposes is based on settlements. Schools situated in a settlement that has a population of 5,000 or over (classified as a ‘small town’) is urban. Schools in settlements with a population of less than 5,000 are classified as rural.
Further information can be found here: http://www.nisra.gov.uk/archive/geography/review-of-the-statistical-classification-and-delineation-of-settlements-march-2015.pdf.
An alternative definition of urban/rural has been used for specific projects in the past. Specifically, the Department’s Sustainable Schools Policy defines rural areas as those outside of what were the former Belfast and Derry City Council areas.