Comprehensive Spending Review meetings

The Comprehensive Spending Review

As part of the ongoing discussions NICVA have been holding on the Comprehensive Spending Review, we are pleased to inform you of meetings which we have set up with each Department.

Background

Spending Reviews set spending priorities for the next three years, and the Comprehensive Spending Review involves an even more fundamental examination of spending than previous occasions. It will cover the financial years 2008/09, 2009/10 and 2010/11. Its stated objective ‘is to identify what further investments and reforms are needed to equip the UK for the global challenges of the decade ahead.’

Timetable

2006 Identify efficiency savings

Mid- 2007 UK-wide CSR outcome

Autumn 2007 Draft budget

Sep-Nov 2007 Consultation

Dec 2007 Final budget.

The need for significant savings has been identified. Efficiency reviews are underway across a range of services including health and social care, education, and social housing.

Priorities

The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has set the following priorities for Departments here:

o Children & Young People;

o Anti Poverty and Social Exclusion;

o Sustainable Development; and

o A Shared Future.

Voluntary and community organisations need to influence priorities.

Now is the time when each Department in NI is drawing up its spending priorities so it is a good time for voluntary and community organisations to talk to the departments about the areas of work they think are important. Below is a list of each Department explaining their responsibilities so you can choose which sessions you would like to attend. However it should be noted that it won’t be practical for each Department so send along the person responsible for every area of responsibility. Details of how to register are at the end of this list.

Wednesday 4^th April

2.00pm – 3.30pm

Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk

OFMDFM is responsible for 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, and targeting social need and promoting social inclusion.

Wednesday 4^th April

3.30pm – 5.00pm

Department for Social Development www.dsdni.gov.uk

DSD is responsible for urban regeneration, community and voluntary sector development, social legislation, housing, social security benefits, pensions and child support. The vast majority of its staff are employed in the Social Security Agency and Child Support Agency, and the Department’s NDPBs include the NI Housing Executive.

Wednesday 11^th April

10.00 – 11.30

Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure www.dcalni.gov.uk

DCAL is responsible in Northern Ireland for arts and creativity, museums, libraries, sport and leisure, visitor amenities, inland waterways and inland fisheries, Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland, language diversity and the Northern Ireland Events Company.

Tuesday 17^th April

10.00 – 11.30

Department for Regional Development www.drdni.gov.uk

DRD is responsible for strategic planning, transportation strategy, ports and public transport, roads and water policy, providing and maintaining roads, and

providing and maintaining water and sewerage services.

Tuesday 24 April

2.00 – 3.30

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety www.dhsspsni.gov.uk

DHSSPS is responsible for Health and Personal Social Services, which includes policy and legislation for hospitals, family practitioner services, community health and personal social services; Public Health, which covers responsibility for policy and legislation to promote and protect the health and well-being of the population; and Public Safety, whichencompasses responsibility for the policy and legislation for the Fire Authority, food safety and emergency planning.

Friday 27^th April

2.00 -3.00

Department for Employment and Learning www.delni.gov.uk

DEL is responsible for third level education, training and a range of employment measures, all aimed at giving people the skills, knowledge and opportunities to work.

Monday 30^th April

2.00 – 3.30

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development www.dardni.gov.uk

DARD is responsible for the development of the agricultural, forestry and fishing industries in Northern Ireland, rural development in Northern Ireland, providing an advisory service for farmers, agricultural research and education, providing a veterinary service and administration of animal health and welfare policies, and the application of EU agricultural policy to Northern Ireland.

Register your interested for Education, Environment and DETI

The following Departments have yet to confirm dates. However the sessions will be held in late April and organisations are encouraged to register their interest in attending. We will then notify registered organisations when a date has been agreed.

Department of Educationwww.deni.gov.uk

DE is responsible for the central administration of all aspects of education and related services in Northern Ireland (excepting the higher and further education sector). The main areas of responsibility are in pre-school, primary, post-primary and special education, the youth service, the promotion of community relations within and between schools, and teacher education and salaries.

Department of the Environment www.doeni.gov.uk

DoE is responsible for protecting, conserving and enhancing the natural and built environment for the benefit of present and future generations, providing land use planning which balances the development needs of the region with the protection of the environment, improving and promoting road safety and ensuring the proper regulation of drivers, vehicles and operators, and supporting a system of local government which meets the needs of citizens and ratepayers.

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment www.detini.gov.uk

DETI is responsible for economic policy development, energy, tourism, mineral development, health and safety at work, Companies Registry, Insolvency

Service, consumer affairs, labour market and economic statistics services. It also has a role in ensuring the provision of the infrastructure for a modern economy.

To book at place at any of these meetings, please register your details, stating clearly which one(s) you wish to attend, by contacting Cathy Breslin on cathy.breslin@nicva.org or 028 9087 7777.