Business Plan 2013-14 Contents Page Foreword 3 Departmental Priorities 5 Introduction 7 Promoting Equality and Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion 8 Social Clauses and All-Ireland Working 10 Overview of DCAL’s Equality Agenda 11 Resources 15 Programme for Government 2011-15 16 Achievements 2012-13 and Planned Activities 2013-14 18 Monitoring Performance 34 DCAL Objectives and Targets 2013-14 35 2 Réamhrá Is ábhar dóchais í an chuid seo d’Éirinn ó thaobh an chultúir, na n-ealaíon agus na fóillíochta de. Tá éachtaí déanta ag daoine éagsúla ó na naoi gcontae i gCúige Uladh le blianta beaga anuas; baineadh gradaim Oscar, ghlac lúthchleasaithe páirt sna Cluichí Oilimpeacha agus Parailimpeacha, baineadh boinn i gCraobhchomórtais an Domhain, i gCraobhchomórtais na hEorpa agus i gCraobhchomórtais uile-Éireann. Áit bheag í Tuaisceart na hÉireann; is féidir athrú suntasach agus substaintiúil a bhaint amach. Is léir le fiche bliain anuas go bhfuil sé sin amhlaidh. Tá i bhfad níos mó oibre le déanamh, áfach, go háirithe i dtaca le dul i ngleic le míchothromaíochtaí eacnamaíochta agus sóisialta. Bhí geilleagar inbhuanaithe agus cúrsaí comhionannais ag croílár Straitéis Buiséid agus Infheistíochta an Fheidhmeannais atá mar chuid de Chlár an Rialtais agus tá an scéal amhlaidh fós. Ina theannta sin, tá gach roinn rialtais faoi cheangal ag oibleagáidí uileghabhálacha dlí poiblí. Is é an phríomhthosaíocht agus an ceann is tábhachtaí ag an Roinn Cultúir, Ealaíon agus Fóillíochta – is é sin, mo Roinnse agus a cuid comhlachtaí ar neamhchomaoin (ALBs) – ‘Comhionannas a chur chun cinn, agus Dul i nGleic le Bochtaineacht agus le hEisiamh Sóisialta’. Tá an tosaíocht polasaí poiblí seo frámaithe go soiléir ag Ráiteas Misin athbhreithnithe RCEF: “Comhionannas sóisialta agus eacnamaíochta a chur chun cinn agus dul i ngleic le bochtaineacht agus le heisiamh sóisialta, trí shamhail gheilleagrach inbhuanaithe a chur chun cinn go córasach agus acmhainní suntasacha a dhíriú go réamhghníomhach ar earnálacha a bhfuil an mhíchothromaíocht is mó le fáil iontu, sa chomhthéacs níos leithne a bhaineann le deiseanna inláimhsithe agus torthaí intomhaiste a fhorbairt go héifeachtach le feabhas agus comhionannas a chinntiú i gcúrsaí cultúir, ealaíon agus fóillíochta, agus sochaí mhuiníneach, chruthaitheach, eolasach agus shláintiúil a chruthú sa chuid seo d’Éirinn.” Ní le cultúr, ealaíona agus fóillíocht amháin a bhaineann RCEF. Oibríonn an Roinn ar mhaithe leis an gheilleagar agus ar mhaithe le comhionannas fosta. Tá mo Roinnse tiomanta d’acmhainní poiblí spriocdhírithe a sheachadadh, go háirithe, do na hearnálacha agus do na grúpaí sin inár sochaí ar gá dóibh aghaidh a thabhairt ar na míchothromaíochtaí is mó laistigh de cheantair a bhfuil an riachtanas oibiachtúil is mó le fáil iontu. Tá cultúr, ealaíona agus fóillíocht ina ngnéithe tábhachtacha d’fhás geilleagrach inbhuanaithe agus is uirlisí riachtanacha iad maidir le cur chun cinn an chomhionannais. Is iad na spriocanna a bheidh againn ná gnóthachtáil den chéad scoth agus cuirfidh comhionannas i leith torthaí taca faoi sin. Le fócas úr agus dírithe ar fheabhas agus ar chomhionannas, ar rochtain agus ar rannpháirtíocht, caithfidh foireann iomlán RCEF a chinntiú anois go n-athróidh ár múnlaí seachadta le feabhsuithe sóisialta agus eacnamaíochta atá fíor agus buan a sheachadadh ar fud an Tuaiscirt. Carál Ní Chuilín Aire Cultúir, Ealaíon agus Fóillíochta 3 Foreword This part of Ireland is a beacon of hope across culture, arts and leisure. In recent years, the nine counties of Ulster have brought us Oscar-winners, Olympians, Paralympians, World Champions, European champions and all-Ireland champions. The North of Ireland is a small place; substantial change and substantive transformation is achievable. The last two decades have proved that fact. However, much more work is needed, especially on tackling economic and social inequalities. A sustainable economy and the equality agenda have been, and remain, at the core of the Executive's Programme for Government, Budget and Investment Strategy. In addition, all government departments are bound by overarching public law obligations. The top priority, and most important objective, of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure namely, my Department and all its Arms-Length Bodies (ALBs) - is: 'To Promote Equality, and Tackle Poverty and Social Exclusion'. This public policy priority is explicitly framed by DCAL's revised Mission Statement: "To promote social and economic equality, and to tackle poverty and social exclusion, through systematically promoting a sustainable economic model and proactively targeting meaningful resources at sectors of greatest inequality, within areas of greatest objective need, in the wider context of effectively developing tangible opportunities and measurable outcomes for securing excellence and equality across culture, arts and leisure, and a confident, creative, informed and healthy society in this part of Ireland.” DCAL is not merely about culture, arts and leisure, in isolation. Rather it is a department for the economy and a department of equality. My Department is committed to delivering targeted public resources, in particular, for those sectors and groups in our society facing greatest inequalities within areas of greatest objective need. Culture, arts and leisure are important facets of sustainable economic growth, as well as vital tools for the promotion of equality. Our goals will be excellence in achievement underpinned by equality in outcomes. With a renewed and sharpened focus on excellence and equality, and access and participation, the entire DCAL family must now ensure the transformation of our delivery models in order to swiftly deliver genuine and long-standing social and economic improvements across the North. Carál Ní Chuilín Minister of Culture, Arts & Leisure 4 Programme for Government and DCAL Priorities The Programme for Government (PfG) 2011-15 sets out the Executive’s Key Priorities to 2015 including: Growing a Sustainable Economy and Investing in the Future; Creating Opportunities and Tackling Disadvantage and Improving Health and Wellbeing; and Building a Strong and Shared Community. DCAL has 3 specific key commitments listed in the Programme for Government: o To develop sports stadiums as agreed with the IFA, GAA and Ulster Rugby o To host the World Police and Fire Games in 2013 o To support 200 projects through the Creative Industries Innovation Fund DCAL also has an important role in relation to a number of other PfG key commitments including: o To deliver a range of measures to tackle poverty and social exclusion, including through the Delivering Social Change delivery framework (OFMDFM) o To provide financial and other support across government to ensure the success of City of Culture 2013 (OFMDFM) o To include social clauses in public procurement contracts (DFP) Other Departmental Priorities: 1 o To promote social and economic equality, tackle poverty and social exclusion, and promote sustainable economic and social interventions o To increase all Ireland co-operation and development in order to deliver innovative and efficient public services o To promote the positive health impacts of participation in culture, arts and leisure, in particular in relation to suicide prevention o To promote the STEM/STEAM agenda and the DCAL family’s contribution to education and lifelong learning o To bring forward a strategy to protect, enhance and develop the Irish language; to bring forward Irish language legislation and to encourage 5,000 people to sign up to Líofa 2015 1 STEAM – Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Design, Mathematics 5 o To bring forward a strategy to protect and enhance and develop Ulster Scots language, heritage and culture o To manage our natural fisheries resources in a sustainable way to add social and economic value o To develop and implement a Boxing Strategy to maximise social inclusion and health benefits o To ensure effective governance and take forward the review of DCAL’s arm’s length bodies 6 Introduction DCAL’s Mission Statement “To promote social and economic equality, and to tackle poverty and social exclusion, through systematically promoting a sustainable economic model and proactively targeting meaningful resources at sectors of greatest inequality, within areas of greatest objective need, in the wider context of effectively developing tangible opportunities and measurable outcomes for securing excellence and equality across culture, arts and leisure, and a confident, creative, informed and healthy society in this part of Ireland”. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) Business Plan 2013-14 sets out what DCAL aims to achieve over the twelve months from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014, and sets the Department’s strategic framework for coming years. The Department’s top priority is: To Promote Equality And Tackle Poverty And Social Exclusion DCAL Strategic Approach The Departmental Strategic approach is set out in the Mission Statement. The Mission Statement will inform all work undertaken by DCAL and its arm’s length bodies (ALBs). The Department is committed to harnessing the transformative power of culture, arts and leisure to deliver step changes and a lasting social and economic transformation in the context of a sustainable economic agenda. Through a purposive implementation of DCAL’s statutory and policy responsibilities we will ensure that our public investment in culture, arts and leisure prioritises the promotion of equality and the need to tackle poverty and social exclusion. In developing the Mission Statement there are a number of key areas which have been identified as central to the Departmental Strategy. It should be noted that these are not considered additional pieces of work which the Department will carry out; rather, these form the core of the Department’s strategic approach and will inform all other activities which we undertake. 7 Promoting Equality and Tackling Poverty and Social Exclusion As clearly articulated in the Mission Statement, the promotion of social and economic equality, and tackling poverty and social exclusion, through proactively targeting meaningful resources, will be embedded in all the work which the Department undertakes. Whilst promoting equality and tackling poverty and social exclusion have always been essential obligations of the Department, they had previously been considered as an additional part of the policy cycle. This Minister has enhanced the importance of this central priority, and these issues are now core to all policy considerations within the Department. This approach represents a logical and inevitable evolution of the Department’s approach to tackling inequalities. It is the natural outworking on the Executive’s commitment to reduce poverty, promote equality and tackle existing patterns of disadvantage and division. This evolution of approach can be described as follows Previously the Department developed policy and delivered services in the culture, arts and leisure sectors and then considered how these could be tailored to promote equality and tackle poverty and social exclusion. Now the Department will consider what policy needs to be developed and what services need to be delivered in order to positively promote equality and tackle poverty and social exclusion. The aim of promoting equality and tackling poverty and social exclusion now drives the agenda, and hence the prioritisation of work, within the Department. In short, promoting equality and tackling poverty and social exclusion are now being placed first and foremost when framing policy and allocating resources. It is the Department’s goal to contribute to social cohesion and united communities, and this will only be achieved through the elimination of the economic, cultural and societal inequalities which continue to exist between communities in this part of Ireland. In tackling these inequalities the Department intends to continue, inter alia, with a purposive implementation of the provisions set out under the NI Act 1998 which gave legal force to the Good Friday Agreement. This work will pay particular regard to s75 of the Act which sets out responsibilities for public servants to promote both the need for equality and the desirability of good relations. Poverty and Social Exclusion Many of DCAL’s operations are directly relevant to tackling poverty and social exclusion. DCAL plays an important role in tackling poverty by contributing to the economy in general (such as making substantial capital investments, supporting the creative industries sector, supporting facilities and events which attract tourists) and by assisting individuals to improve their employment prospects (such as supporting the STEM sector, providing a public library service, providing support to the sports and arts sectors). In terms of tackling social exclusion – where people are variously excluded from the social and economic opportunities of our wider society – DCAL provides targeted opportunities for everyone to participate in culture, arts and leisure. Participating in these activities can enhance people’s quality of life and help increase their meaningful participation in society. 8 Over the course of this Business Plan, DCAL will be implementing a number of measures which are intended to enhance the contribution of the Department towards tackling poverty and social exclusion. A number of these are captured as specific targets as part of this Business Plan. Equality DCAL remains fully committed to its statutory obligations under s75 of the NI Act 1998 and to the implementation of the commitments set out in its new Equality Scheme and Action Plan. DCAL’s revised Equality Scheme and Action Plan was approved by the Equality Commission in September 2011 and commended as an example of good practice. In accordance with continued development of DCAL policy, the Scheme will be reviewed during this forthcoming Business Plan to consider what, if any, enhancements can be made. In addition to a formal written consultation, officials met with a number of key stakeholder groups to discuss the content of the new scheme and the audit of inequalities. In terms of implementation of the new Scheme, to date the Department has notified consultees of its approval, developed a summary scheme and an easy read version. Our Research and Statistics Branch have carried out a gap analysis of DCAL equality data which will assist the Department in putting in place systems to collect relevant data and improve the monitoring of Departmental policies. Further data-capturing exercises will follow in the next twelve months. The Department’s Disability Action has been reviewed and a new Action Plan has been developed for 2013-15. The next section addresses equality in greater detail. Mainstreaming and Collaboration DCAL’s approach to effectively promoting equality and tackling poverty and social exclusion has been to introduce and encourage systemic cultural and operational change within DCAL and its ALBs. This has involved redefining how we – as an organisation and as individuals – view and respond to the world in which we do business. It has also involved reform and providing new purpose to DCAL’s relationships with, and strategic sponsorship of, its ALBs. In short, we have introduced a programme of proactive action across DCAL and its ALBs to reboot efforts in addressing equality, poverty and social exclusion. Promoting equality and tackling poverty and social exclusion are now being placed first and foremost when framing policy and allocating resources. Work has commenced in adapting existing and developing new programmes and projects within existing budgets to promote equality and tackle poverty and social exclusion. These initiatives will be collaborative in nature, involving both DCAL and its ALBs. Utilising the collective energy across the DCAL ‘family’ is the best approach to addressing these complex issues and will enhance the effectiveness of our interventions. Collaborative programmes are also being developed across a number of DCAL’s business areas and ALBs which could be supported under the Executive’s Delivering Social Change Framework. This can provide access to significant additional funding opportunities for DCAL to drive social change across the region. Work is well underway to strategically link existing and new activities across ALBs which can assist the development of thematic interventions to receive additional funding through the Framework focusing on areas such as Numeracy and Literacy, Ageing and Disability. All ALB business plans are now considered as a group to ensure that promoting equality and tackling poverty and social exclusion are prioritised across the entire DCAL ’family’. This ensures resources can 9 be targeted in a way that has maximum impact on promoting equality and tackling poverty and social exclusion. Social Clauses DCAL, as a public authority, is specifically committed to the investment of public resources in a way which promotes sustainable economic development, maximises social returns and targets socioeconomic inequalities. DCAL’s public finances will be expended in ways that, inter alia, effectively target objective social need and demonstrate DCAL’s statutory duty to promote equality of opportunity under s.75(1) of the NI Act 1998, both in relation to the attendant (i) general statutory duty and (ii) specific procedural duties. In this context all procurements undertaken by DCAL will contain a number of core specified economic, social, environmental and equality contractual obligations (social clauses) which serve DCAL’s related public policy and statutory obligations in these regards, including assisting the socioeconomic regeneration of the most economically deprived areas and groups in the north. Social clauses are a feature of the regional Stadium development programme and during the construction phase, the clauses will require the contractor to provide opportunities for the long term unemployed, apprenticeships and student placements in addition to a range of social outcomes in the areas around the stadiums. The procurement contract for Libraries NI E2 replacement IT system also contains social clauses including apprenticeships, graduate trainee employment and supporting IT clubs in schools. Refurbishment of Kilkeel Library is employing local people. The World Police and Fire Games Social Inclusion Strategy - which considers wider social inclusion aspects of the Games - and a commitment to promote equality and sustainability in all procurements relating to the City of Culture 2013 are further examples of how DCAL embeds social returns in its work. All-Ireland Working An initial scoping exercise was conducted across DCAL and its arm’s length bodies to determine the current level of all-Ireland co-operation and activities throughout all of DCAL’s operations. The results of this were very positive and confirm that there are high levels of north-south co-operation and activities. This exercise will result in a comprehensive action plan being published within the lifetime of this Business Plan which will enhance all-Ireland co-operation and activities in the longer term. 10 An Overview of DCAL’s Equality Agenda Public Law Landscape There are considerable and extensive protections in the North relating to equality, including the statutory duty on Public Authorities to have due regard to the need to promote equality between specified groups. Additionally a range of legal protections and remedies are available in respect of discrimination against particular identities. Equality and anti-discrimination law in the North is not governed by any single piece of legislation. Rather there is wide range of legislation which impacts on different areas. It is not intended to provide an exhaustive list of the legislation available, however some of the key legislation in place includes – a. b. c. d. e. f. Sex Discrimination Order 1976 Disability Discrimination Act 1995 Race Relations Order 1997 Fair Employment and Treatment Order 1998 Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 Employment (Age) Regulations 2006 Section 75 of the NI Act 1998 states: (1) (a) (b) (c) (d) (2) A public authority shall in carrying out its functions relating to Northern Ireland have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity— between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation; between men and women generally; between persons with a disability and persons without; and, between persons with dependants and persons without. Without prejudice to its obligations under subsection (1), a public authority shall in carrying out its functions relating to Northern Ireland have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group. It is important to note that Parliament made Section 75(2) explicitly founded upon the basis that it must be exercised "without prejudice to (the) obligations (arising) under" Section75(1). Therefore, Parliament's premise for the existence and application of the Section 75(2) good relations duty was, and remains, the primary equality duty of Section 75(1). It follows that, to be exercised lawfully and implemented properly, any function(s) discharged under the auspices of “having regard” to the “desirability” for Section 75(2) must be discharged “having ‘due’ regard” to the “need” for Section 75(1). Equality therefore is the framework within which good relations is built. From the outset the Government made it clear in parliamentary debate that the statutory duty concerning equality of opportunity does not and should not deter a public authority from taking additional affirmative action, within the law, to address inequality among particular sections of society: “Section 75 in no way calls into question the ability of public authorities to take affirmative action in appropriate cases to correct disadvantage. Affirmative action in appropriate circumstances is an important method of combating inequality, and it is our firm intention that that should remain so. (Section 75) does not call that into question, and does not render 11 unlawful what would be lawful affirmative action under current anti-discrimination legislation. Furthermore, Section 75 means that public authorities are bound to have regard to the need 1 for affirmative action when considering their duty under the clause” From the outset, the Equality Agenda was intended to help build social cohesion and effective inclusion. Therefore, work undertaken to promote equality intrinsically bolsters initiatives to tackle social exclusion and build united communities. “Good relations cannot be based on inequality between different religions or ethnic groups. Social cohesion requires equality to be reinforced by good community relations. ... I repeat 2 that we see no conflict between these two objectives” In order to promote the Equality Agenda it is essential that social exclusion is addressed and that poverty is tackled meaningfully. It is not possible to strategically tackle inequalities without tactically targeting the realities of social exclusion, the legacy of direct and indirect discrimination, the impact of a largely unsustainable economic framework, and the difficult structural economic realities in which many people find themselves. As a custodian of public resources, DCAL has an important and necessary role in these matters. Public Policy Landscape The Executive’s Programme for Government 2011-15 clearly states: Page 13 – “Equality is an important issue for the Executive and Society alike. Inequalities do exist and we will work hard to eliminate these. Our policies and programmes will be designed in ways that ensure we can address inequality and unfairness and create conditions that support inclusion and equality of opportunity.” Page 25 – “We are determined that the wealth and prosperity we are seeking will be used to help reduce poverty, promote equality and tackle existing patterns of disadvantage and division.” The second priority within the Programme for Government (Priority 2: Creating Opportunities, Tackling Disadvantage and Improving Health and Wellbeing) specifically addresses issues of inequality and is defined as follows: “This priority seeks to address the challenges of disadvantage and inequality that afflict society and to address the relatively poor health and long-term shorter life expectancy of our population; its purpose is to stimulate interventions that break the cycle of deprivation, educational under-achievement, and to address health inequalities and poor health and wellbeing as well as economic disengagement.” In support of the Executive’s clearly stated priorities, DCAL has determined that its top priority must be ‘To Promote Equality and Tackle Poverty and Social Exclusion’. This is made real in the Departmental Mission Statement: “To promote social and economic equality, and to tackle poverty and social exclusion through systematically promoting a sustainable economic model and proactively targeting meaningful resources at sectors of greatest inequality, within areas of greatest objective need, in the wider context of effectively developing tangible opportunities and measurable 1 2 Mr Paul Murphy (18 November 1998) House of Commons, Official Report cols. 1069-1070. Dr Marjorie Mowlam (27 July 1998). House of Commons, Official Report col.109. 12 outcomes for securing excellence and equality across culture, arts and leisure; and a confident, creative, informed and healthy society in this part of Ireland”. The Department is committed to fully harnessing the transformative power of its public resources across sports, culture and arts to deliver significant and measureable programmes which will target inequalities, deprivation and social exclusion as an important basis for developing a sustainable economic agenda. The Department is responsible for supporting facilities and delivering services across the cultural sector, including arts, museums, libraries, sports, the creative industries, Irish Language and Ulster Scots. We are working with partner organisations to design and support projects which reach into the hearts of communities. The aim is to directly impact on the causes of poverty and inequality, for example by using culture as a route to build skills and provide opportunities for employment and economic sustainability. We also support projects which bring people together across structural social divides – social, economic, cultural, geographic and historical. DCAL is a Department focussed on delivery, for all the people in this part of Ireland, with the Equality Agenda at its heart. While it is accepted that there are clear benefits from culture, arts and sports in and of themselves, it is essential that we ensure that public investment promotes equality and tackles poverty and social exclusion. This approach is founded on the twin aims of excellence in achievement underpinned by equality in outcomes. The Departmental Mission Statement and the approach of this Business Plan take account of relevant case law which supports the need for positive and effective affirmative actions across the Department’s function. A detailed consideration of case law in this area is attached at Appendix A of this Business Plan. Moving Forward It is essential that the need ‘To Promote Equality And Tackle Poverty And Social Exclusion’ is mainstreamed within and across the Department’s everyday activities. It is essential that all DCAL business areas, including arm’s length bodies, recognise that priorities and duties must underpin all activity that is undertaken corporatively within the Department. Access and participation must be watchwords for the Department and its ALBs. The opportunities to contribute to sustainable economic development and sustainable social cohesion are significant. This work will not be achieved overnight, although several significant steps have already been taken to ensure that this work is given priority. The Departmental Business Plan and associated ALB Business Plans must now seamlessly correlate with the DCAL Mission Statement and clearly contain hard targets demonstrating significant resources are being directly and effectively dedicated to promoting equality and tackling poverty and social exclusion. In order to assist these developments internally, it has been agreed that the DCAL Senior Management Team (SMT) will monitor this work regularly, sharing examples of best practice and ensuring progress is being made against objectives. Every month SMT will discuss the Department’s key priority. From time to time SMT will meet external stakeholders for assistance, support and challenge. Additionally, a paper collating all work on promoting equality and tackling poverty and social 3 exclusion will be reviewed and updated on a monthly basis . The SMT will report to the Minister on a quarterly basis. This will provide an opportunity for the Minister to be assured that sufficient resources are being directed to the implementation of the Mission Statement and top priority to 3 It would not be intended that the paper would detail all actions taken across the DCAL family. Rather it would be a reflection of the key interventions in this area that yielded significant outcomes. 13 ‘Promote Equality and Tackle Poverty and Social Exclusion’, as well as to consider and review all relevant issues, and – if necessary or appropriate – to redirect the Department’s focus. The Permanent Secretary will also, in agreement with, and with approval of, the Minister, bring forward a detailed reporting and monitoring plan at SMT level, Divisional level and across the entire Department. A summary of all reports will regularly be published on the DCAL website and circulated to s75 stakeholders and DCAL consultees. This process marks the start of a journey, and the minimum baseline approach necessary. The opportunities to make tangible and real-time positive differences in the lives of this society’s most marginalized and excluded are huge. DCAL is committed to using its legal, policy and resource powers to increasingly deliver on excellence and equality for all. 14 Resources The 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), which heralded Government spending cuts amongst the most severe in a generation, sets the context for DCAL’s spending plans in the period 2011-15. At the start of 2013-14, halfway through the CSR period, pressures on DCAL’s budget continue to be acute, and look set to remain this way even into the next CSR period. The DCAL Board continues to regularly monitor spend across all business areas to ensure that resources are optimally allocated, and in particular that identified priorities are sufficiently resourced. DCAL’s Corporate Plan 2011-15 indicated that current expenditure to be made in 2013-14 would be £107.39 million and capital investment to be made in 2013-14 would be £29.68 million. Opening Allocations Since the DCAL Corporate Plan was published, there have been various adjustments to the profile for 2013-14 (see notes to table), and the opening allocations for 2013-14 are: Spending Area Current Expenditure 2013-14 £m 23.48 19.03 33.99 16.60 1.11 5.87 6.71 5.42 4.60 116.80 Arts Museums Libraries NI Sport (including regional stadiums) Cultural Policy Inland Fisheries and Waterways North/South Body – Languages North/South Body – Waterways Ireland Public Record Office Capital Investment 2013-14 £m 0.98 0.87 6.16 25.39 0.00 0.17 0.00 0.25 0.10 33.92 Total Notes: Since the publication of the expenditure profile in the DCAL Corporate Plan 2011-15, the following should be noted: a) DCAL’s contribution to NI student fees pressures has decreased the 2013-14 resource budget by £742k; b) DCAL’s north/south bodies were reclassified as non-departmental public bodies and as a result obtained an additional £1.84 million resource budget; c) DCAL’s contribution to the NI Executive’s £100 million capital receipts target has reduced the capital budget by £58k; d) A capital acceleration exercise has increased the capital budget by £3.86 million; e) An additional allocation of £6.1m in respect of the City of Culture 2013 (included under Arts); f) An additional allocation of £320k capital and £1180k resource in respect of the three Sports Governing Bodies – IFA, GAA and IRFU; g) A reclassification of £183k of W5 budget from capital to resource; h) An additional allocation of £800k resource and £300k capital awarded to Arts under the Jobs & Economy Initiative; i) A number of technical transfers between Departments increasing the resource budget by £47k. 15 Programme for Government 2011-15 DCAL has responsibility for delivering three commitments under the Programme for Government – one under Priority 1 and two under Priority 4. DCAL also has lead responsibility for ten of the building blocks referred to in the Programme for Government: Priority 1 Commitment Building Blocks Growing a Sustainable Economy and Investing in the Future Support 200 projects through the Creative Industries Innovation Fund Creative Industries Innovation Fund World Police and Fire Games 2013 Priority 3 Building Block Protecting our People, the Environment and Creating Safer Communities Salmon and Eel Management Plans Priority 4 Commitment Building a Strong and Shared Community Develop sports stadiums as agreed with the IFA, GAA and Ulster Rugby Host the World Police and Fire Games in 2013 Annual Support for Organisations Programme (Arts) [now Annual Funding Programme (Arts)] Sport Matters – Strategy for Sport and Physical Recreation Arts and Older People Strategy Strategy for the Irish Language Strategy for Ulster-Scots Language, Heritage and Culture Northern Ireland Museums Policy Building Blocks Priority 5 Building Block Delivering High Quality and Efficient Public Services Modernisation of Public Library Service In addition, DCAL directly contributes to many other of the Programme for Government Building Blocks. DCAL’s direct contribution to the Programme for Government is summarised in the following diagram: 16 Schematic Representation of DCAL and the Programme for Government 1 PfG Priorities Growing a sustainable economy and investing in the future Key Commitments Support 200 projects through the Creative Industries Innovation Fund Provide financial support to City of Culture 2013 Building Blocks [policies/plans/ strategies] 2 Creating opportunities tackling disadvantage and improving health and wellbeing 3 Protecting our people, the environment and creating safer communities Deliver a range of measures to tackle poverty and social exclusion through the Delivering Social Change delivery framework 4 5 Building a strong and shared community Delivering high quality and efficient public services Develop sports stadiums as agreed with the IFA, GAA and Ulster Rugby Include Social Clauses in public procurement contracts Host the World Police and Fire Games 2013 Creative Industries Salmon and Eel Annual Funding Modernisation of Innovation Fund Management Plans Programme (Arts) Public Library World Police and Strategy for Sport Service Fire Games 2013 and Physical Recreation - DCAL leads Arts and Older People Strategy Strategy for the Irish Language Strategy for Ulster Scots Language, Heritage and Culture Northern Ireland Museums Policy Building Economic Strategy Blocks [policies/plans/ Investment Strategy strategies] - DCAL contributes Equality and Good Strategy Relations NI Direct Strategy Water Framework Programme Review of Public Health and Directive Volunteering Administration Social Care Strategy Cohesion, Sharing Development Bamford Review Neighbourhood and Integration Strategy Tourism Strategy 10 Year Strategy for Children and Young People Older Peoples' Strategy Racial Equality Strategy Gender Equality Strategy Sexual Orientation Action Plan Renewal Strategy Corporate Governance Code Science, Technology, Engineering Investing for Health Sustainable Development Strategy Principles Biodiversity Social Inclusion Regional Success through Underpinning Anti-Poverty and EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY SUSTAINABILITY 17 Achievements 2012-13 and Planned Activities 2013-14 Achievements in 2012-13 Progress in 2012 against Programme for Government commitments – to redevelop Casement Park, Windsor Park and Ravenhill, to host the World Police and Fire Games in August 2013, to provide financial and other support to the City of Culture and to support projects through the Creative Industries Innovation Fund - has been good. Construction commenced at Ravenhill in November 2012, and extensive consultations on the design for the new-look Windsor Park and Casement Park are well underway. Preparations for the World Police and Fire Games have been continuing and Games volunteer recruitment and athlete registration are progressing well. In all, there are 16 workstreams associated with this complex operation. DCAL successfully secured an additional £12.6 million (£7.5 million in 2012-13 and £5.1 million in 2013-14) from the NI Executive for the City of Culture 2013. The City of Culture has been successfully launched and 2013 promises to be an exciting time for Derry’s development. Planned events will bring huge numbers of visitors and create opportunities for wide ranging and sustainable social benefits across the city and the wider north-west region of Ireland. By the end of 2012-13 a total of 98 projects across a range of creative enterprise sectors were supported through the Creative Industries Innovation Fund. Investments were also made in wider sectoral initiatives to support the Executive’s priority to rebuild and rebalance the economy and tackle disadvantage. These included a focus on initiatives promoting equality of opportunity in areas and groups experiencing social and economic inequality. The 2012 Olympics and Paralympics were a resounding success with hundreds of thousands of people here participating in or attending the programme of events to celebrate the Games. Seventeen National Olympic Committees and National Paralympic Committees based themselves in the north in the lead up to the Games with more than 1,000 athletes preparing at training camps across the country. These included Chinese Men’s and Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Team - Salto, Lisburn Olympic boxing teams from Australia, Cuba, Canada, Ecuador, Puerto Rico and Argentina Queens University, Belfast. Paralympics Ireland – Antrim Forum Athletics teams from Mexico, Qatar, Algeria, Djibouti, Oman, St Vincent and Grenadines, Egypt – Antrim Forum The Paralympic Council of Jordan also held their Pre Games Training Camp in the Antrim Forum. South African Badminton team - Lisburn Racquets. DCAL successfully conducted separate public consultations on a strategy for Protecting and Enhancing the Development of the Irish language and the Ulster-Scots Language, Heritage and Culture in order to meet the Executive's agreed Programme for Government 2011-2015 – to deliver against Priority 4: 'Building a Strong and Shared Community’ and is in line with the NI Act 1998 which places duties on the Executive to adopt both strategies. 18 2013-14 Targets A series of specific targets for 2013-14 demonstrating DCAL’s commitment to its Mission appear at the end of this document. Amongst these targets are two major events of international significance. The World Police and Fire Games in August will see thousands of visitors arriving here and the Derry City of Culture 2013 will likewise draw large numbers of visitors from across the globe. Together, these events will provide an unrivalled opportunity to demonstrate our strong sporting and cultural heritage to the world and harness the investment and raised awareness to drive sustainable social and economic benefits to promote equality and tackle poverty and social exclusion through community engagement, volunteering, skills development and employment. Equally important are the day-to-day investments that DCAL makes across the culture, arts and leisure sector. These fund improvements so that culture, arts and leisure experiences are available to all and that the experiences are high quality, meaningful and contribute towards individual development and employment. This Business Plan lists all of the major activity DCAL will be engaging in during 2013-14 and DCAL is confident that it will continue to make an important contribution to the work of the Executive and make a positive difference to people’s lives here, whether it is in the area of economic growth, education, health, wellbeing and suicide prevention, the environment, or equality through social inclusion. As already stated, the Department is committed to proactively tackling inequalities through the purposive application of Section 75(1) of the NI Act 1998 and related statutory and public policy duties. The promotion of equality and tackling of structural deprivations is a core Departmental priority. An example of the Department’s approach in this regard can be seen in the determination to promote excellence in the delivery of the stadium programme alongside promoting equality through effective social clauses. This twin track approach of excellence and equality is central to the development of a sustainable economic framework, to which DCAL is committed in the context of the Executive’s existing statutory and public policy obligations. This commitment is reflected across the targets set by the Department’s arm’s length bodies which encompass the wider DCAL family. Stadiums The central objective this year will be the concerted effort being made by the Department in implementing the Regional Stadium Development Programme. Following NI Executive funding allocation of £110m, the Department has implemented the management and development structures that are required for the effective delivery of the stadium programme. The development phase has commenced and significant progress has been realised, primarily in the development of the Ravenhill Rugby Football Ground for Ulster Rugby. The Department will continue to work closely with the other major sporting bodies and has developed clear plans with the GAA and the Irish Football Association to commence the construction phases for Casement Park and Windsor Park respectively. It is anticipated that all three stadiums will be completed by Autumn 2015, with government contribution fully spent by March 2015. 19 Sports Division A strategy for the development of association football at sub-regional level is also being pursued. A range of business cases will be developed to inform DCAL’s bid for funding in the next Comprehensive Spending Review. The 2012-13 year saw the completion of the Department’s investment of circa £14.5m of Executive funding in the development of the North’s first Olympic standard 50m Pool (to FINA specification) in Bangor. The project was completed in March 2013 and is now in the monitoring phase. The Department’s investment was important in addressing some of the infrastructure deficit identified within ‘Sport Matters’ which has contributed to the underdevelopment of sports throughout the north and this new flagship development provides a facility where the swimming athletes of today and champions of tomorrow will train, compete and achieve their potential. Sport Matters Strategy - The Executive’s continued commitment to sport through the Sport Matters Strategy, provides a strong platform on which to develop strong, cohesive and inclusive communities and to tackle social deprivation, inequality and poverty. In addition to its core value, sport also offers a range of value added benefits to the community such as: improvements to physical and mental health and well-being; growing the economy; improving education and skills; and promoting social inclusion. In the year ahead the Department will continue to oversee and promote the delivery of the Sport Matters Strategy and with 6 of the 26 targets through to 2019 now achieved, will aim to deliver on further targets (PA5, PA6 & PE15) which will address participation in sport, physical activity for young children and the performance of NI athletes at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. Under the Sport Matters Strategy, DCAL has been working hard to further promote the community use of school sports facilities. Activ8 Programme - The Department will encourage Sport NI in the ongoing delivery of the Activ8 Programme within primary schools in conjunction with local councils. The aim of the programme is to encourage children to participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Boxing - The Department will continue to work with the boxing fraternity to establish a far-reaching developmental strategy for the sport and to back this up with much needed immediate investment. Working through Sport NI, the Department has encouraged the development of a boxing investment programme and £3.27m public monies are planned for dispersal (circa £1.535m in 201314) to those in most need and to increase participation in amateur boxing through the provision of equipment and refurbished or new facilities. It is planned that as the programme rolls out, up to 40 clubs will receive financial support for premises repair projects in 2013-14 with larger refurbishment or new facilities commencing in later years where approved. Athlete Development Programme - ADP contributes to improved athlete performance through providing opportunities for athletes to avail of appropriate training and competition programmes. ADP enables governing bodies of sport and other eligible organisations to support identified talented able-bodied and disabled sports people to develop to their full potential and achieve international sporting success at Olympic, World, European and/or Commonwealth level. 20 Museums and Recreation Division Libraries The development of an integrated public library service and improvements to the library estate are delivering results in terms of the diversity and quality of the cultural products and events accessible at local libraries. Targeted programmes are enabling hard to reach communities and groups to use library and information services in ways most convenient to them. Libraries NI have developed a number of innovative partnerships to deliver expert advice and support on a range of important issues such as mental health and well-being, financial management and the digital changeover. Significant improvements have been made to the public libraries at Newry, Dungannon and Kilkeel, and at Whiterock, Falls, Ormeau and Shankill in Belfast, and improvements will continue to be made to the library estate in 2013-14. There will also be substantial investment in technical infrastructure, and the E2 project, which will replace and improve the IT system in Libraries NI, will be progressed. Public libraries are vital community spaces. Libraries NI will continue to initiate and support activities that engage, involve and connect people and provide them with opportunities to improve their lives. As part of this role we will continue to target services at those groups and individuals who are most disadvantaged within our society. Previously targets to increase participation were service wide. In future there will be targets to increase overall participation in libraries in areas of social need. In the coming year we will produce a set of revised Public Library Standards including a target on increasing participation in the public library service by those living in the most deprived areas. Programmes and activities in libraries will also be targeted at addressing poverty and social exclusion. For example, during 2013-14 libraries will deliver 1,700 Got IT sessions in libraries to support adults to get online. This will reduce the digital divide, particularly in light of the move towards making public services ‘digital by default’. Programmes that address poverty and social exclusion will be delivered in partnership with other key agencies, such as 180 Health in Mind activities in partnership with the Public Health Agency, Aware Defeat Depression, Action Mental Health, CAUSE and Mindwise. Health in Mind activities provide mental well being information, support and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers. There will also be 50 Job Clubs meeting in libraries in partnership with the Department for Employment and Learning and the Social Security Agency. The Libraries network will be used in partnership with other key agencies providing opportunities to deliver programmes that directly impact positively on poverty and social exclusion. Libraries NI will develop 3 new strategic partnerships which will have an agreed action plan in place to address shared priorities in relation to poverty and social exclusion. Partnership working with local communities will also be central to this work, and LNI will develop a minimum of 100 new local partnerships across libraries serving areas of social need in order to increase participation in the public library service by those living in deprived areas. Staff resources will also be directed at addressing poverty and social exclusion, with experienced library staff reallocated from their substantive role to take forward work in libraries in areas of social need through community engagement and outreach. Libraries NI will also provide information in all public libraries in partnership with Volunteer Now on volunteering as a means of acquiring skills and experience to enhance job readiness. In autumn 2013 a review of Delivering Public Libraries will be published and will include a revised set of public library standards, with one specifically aimed at increasing library usage amongst people living in the most deprived areas. 21 Museums Recent improvements to the museums estate have provided outstanding facilities in which to display world class exhibitions, some of which have earned prestigious awards. Exhibition highlights during 2012-13 included The Age of the Dinosaur and Ten Drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci. The Armagh Planetarium and the W5 Science Centre have continued to make a significant contribution to enhancing the public’s understanding of science and take-up of STEM/STEAM subjects. The Planetarium has been involved with innovative outreach and teacher education programmes and the delivery of the prestigious STEMNET contract which connects schools and businesses through the application of science. The Armagh Observatory continues to attract and support esteemed academics and scientists from the international astronomical community and promotes scientific knowledge to all sections of society, for example through the Astropark, the Human Orrery and through talks and lectures. National Museums NI and the NI Museums Council, through the implementation of the NI Museums Policy, will continue to protect and enhance the cultural assets they hold, and prioritise programmes, activities and resources that tackle poverty and social exclusion. Unemployed 16-24 year olds, children and young people at risk and those who are the least likely to have active involvement with museums will be encouraged to visit museums through a number of programmes and initiatives during 2013-14. There will be 20 initiatives specifically targeting those living in the most deprived areas. Tailored museums visits will be arranged for some of the most marginalised young people in our society to provide new experiences and opportunities which broaden outlooks through programmes designed to challenge, engage and inspire. 7,000 school visitors to National Museums sites will be facilitated from schoolchildren from the areas of multiple deprivation as identified using the Multiple Deprivation Measure and the Extended Schools Programme. NMNI will also deliver STEM programmes to 10,000 participants, designed to inspire children and young people to pursue a career in a STEM related area. NMNI will also promote awareness of these programmes through specific interventions for schools in socially deprived areas. National Museums will also deliver a new ‘Horizons’ programme to help reduce economic inactivity through skills, training and job creation, including targeted activity to attract those living in areas of social deprivation, including 15 work experience opportunities for young unemployed people, allowing them to improve their employability and general wellbeing; 5 ‘Work Inspiration’ sessions to schools located in areas of multiple deprivation; a scheme for 30 volunteers to gain valuable new skills to assist them re-enter the labour market; holding 10 mock interview sessions for ‘Strive to Work’ clients; creating 5 Graduate Acceleration Programme placement opportunities; and recruit an apprentice blacksmith and explore opportunities to recruit other apprentices in traditional skills and crafts. 2012 Olympics and Paralympics The 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games were a resounding success with huge numbers of people participating in or attending sports, arts and cultural events related to the Games. Highlights included the Ireland leg of the Olympic Torch relay which was witnessed by 300,000 people – making it the biggest public and community engagement event ever held here – and the Cultural Olympiad which had an estimated aggregate attendance of 500,000 across all events since 2009. The Cultural Olympiad culminated in over 20 world class events here in summer 2012. The Paralympic Flame events, involving over 12,000 participants, were further highlights. DCAL proactively promoted the London 2012 Inspire programme, enabling 90 projects to be formally recognised as being exceptional and excellent. These programmes alone created more than one million opportunities for young people in local communities to take part in Games-inspired activities. This experience has built confidence, capacity and capability in our Arts sector, which is being applied in the City of Culture events in Derry and the World Police and Fire Games. 22 Over 1,000 international athletes trained here in the run-up to the Games and over 400 volunteers from here were recruited as Games Makers. Much of this work is being applied in 2013 through the World Police and Fire Games. One of the key legacies from the Games is the DCAL funded Disability Sport NI Education and Awareness Programme which has, to date, involved over 25,000 primary school children in over 150 schools. This programme is designed to increase children’s awareness and understanding of disability while at the same time inspiring them to become more active. The success of our local athletes at the Games - 5 gold, 2 silver and 5 bronze medals - will continue to inspire our young people to get active and lead healthier lifestyles in the future, and will be built on through delivery of Sport Matters: The Sport and Physical Recreation Strategy Since 2008 DCAL has provided around £158,000 to the 5 star Disability Sports Challenge. This innovative education project has raised both adult’s and children’s awareness and understanding of disability sport and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. This important project has gone from strength to strength over the past four years and has reaped tangible benefits. A total of 25,781 children from 177 primary schools and 9 community events completed the project between March 2009 and September 2012. Salmon and Inland Fisheries Inland Fisheries Group (IFG) aims to manage our natural fisheries resources in a sustainable way to add social and economic value. During 2012-13 a review of DCAL Fisheries Strategy was undertaken, and it is developing and implementing a new strategy for the next 5-10 years. Central to this strategy will be promoting equality, tackling poverty and social exclusion. Good work has already been undertaken: for example, during 2012-13 IFG purchased rods and reels to be used for free by children and young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. IFG also transferred ownership of unlicensed angling equipment it had seized to the Ulster Angling Federation for use in programmes designed to encourage greater uptake of angling amongst women, people with disabilities and those from disadvantaged communities providing physical and mental health benefits from participation in angling. Going forward, a number of specific activities will contribute further to promoting equality, tackling poverty and social exclusion. IFG will appoint a community outreach officer to develop and promote angling and associated environmental programmes to groups and schools, specifically targeting groups in the social, health and crime reduction sectors. It will support two initiatives to encourage greater participation in angling from target groups in areas with high levels of multiple deprivation, and provide 200 complimentary licences and permits to encourage uptake of angling amongst target groups living in these areas. It will also work in partnership with agencies and community organisations to deliver 4 programmes promoting angling, targeting groups in the social, health and crime reduction sectors, and provide two additional disabled angling stands at Public Angling Estate waters. IFG will extend an existing programme to provide free fish to support angling development and participation amongst young people. It is anticipated that availability will be increased significantly in 2013-14. IFG will also continue to maintain and develop the fisheries which make up the public angling estate and will work in co-operation with Tourism Ireland and others to promote them. DCAL will work with its key stakeholders to develop policies which will ensure sustainability, and this will include the development and implementation of measures to meet our obligations under EU Regulations and International Agreements and measures agreed after the 2012 public consultation on salmon conservation measures. DCAL will also continue to work with DEFRA to establish measures for 23 the recovery of European eel stock, and will increasingly work with other fisheries partners to ensure that policy is implemented in a consistent way across Ireland World Police and Fire Games DCAL, through World Police and Fire Games Ltd, has been working hard throughout 2012 and 2013 to ensure that the World Police and Fire Games, to be held in Belfast in August 2013, are the friendliest Games ever. Overall the Games will feature 56 sports taking place across 41 venues across the north of Ireland. The World Police and Fire Games will see thousands of visitors arriving from around the globe. There are 16 workstreams underway including sports delivery, volunteer recruitment, sponsorship, transport, accommodation, tourism and legacy, and significant progress has been made in all areas. The sponsorship target has been exceeded, the volunteer recruitment and training programme is well underway and the athlete registration numbers are continuing to increase. As well as ensuring that all the international athletes and visitors have a memorable and enjoyable experience at the Games, they will also deliver benefits for local people and help deliver change for those most in need through a number of community based and legacy programmes developed to promote equality, tackle poverty and social exclusion. For example, 3,600 volunteers are required for the Games, and at least 5% are coming from Neighbourhood Renewal Areas. These volunteers will be given training which will provide them with transferable skills which may assist unemployed volunteers in finding subsequent employment. Sports equipment purchased for the Games is to be distributed after the Games to relevant sports clubs in areas of greatest social need through the relevant sports governing bodies. A schools roadshow encouraged schools to develop international links to broaden cultural awareness and understanding of diversity through the WPFG Schools Programme. Three charity partners have been appointed by 2013 WPFG Ltd: NI Cancer Fund for Children; Special Educational Needs Advice Service and SOS Bus NI and work is underway to develop a programme with charities to ensure they receive maximum exposure during the Games. 24 Public Record Office PRONI has a significant input in relation to the Department’s priority of promoting equality and tackling poverty and social exclusion. In respect of poverty, PRONI promotes the use of its archives as an educational and skills resource, particularly in areas of need. During 2013-14, PRONI will engage with at least one Area Board Coordinator to explore means to promote the use of archives for local history projects (focusing on those schools within the Extended Schools Programme Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils) and will continue to collaborate with other members of the Department’s Learning Forum, for example in the Lower Falls Intervention partnership. Additionally, PRONI’s work has a substantial social impact, both in terms of helping to tackle exclusion and promote community cohesion. A variety of work is ongoing in this area seeking to help the socially excluded and the most vulnerable in our society. Substantial assistance has been provided to the Historical Institutional Abuse Inquiry with the identification of relevant archival sources and support for the Inquiry research team. Further significant work is anticipated during 2013-14. PRONI will participate in at least three community festivals or events, for example, Féile an Phobail at Falls Road Library and the Shankill Festival at Shankill Library, using the opportunity to deliver presentations on how to use the archives and will invite members of the community to a ‘Bring a th Document’ session. PRONI will be supporting the 400 anniversaries of Belfast and Derry with the delivery of a Public History conference to be held in the two locations and will explore Plantation families. This is a free event, targeting community audiences. This work has the potential to bring communities together and increase shared understanding. In terms of promoting equality, PRONI’s mission is ‘Protecting and Providing Archives for All’. Facilities are free to all at the point of access ensuring that they are available to all sections of the community, while PRONI is actively promoting the ‘digital first’ agenda by putting a range of archives online. The Valuation Revision Books went online at the end of March 2013, providing an invaluable resource for local and community history. Future plans are for an updated Wills Index application to go live by March 2014. This, too, will be a free resource, accessible to anyone with internet access and supporting PRONI’s goals to increase access to archives particularly for those unable to visit PRONI in person. 2012-13 saw further progress on PRONI’s Digital Preservation Project (with DFP). This major project, scheduled to run until 2014, will establish a Digital Repository in PRONI for the transfer of records for permanent preservation and use by future generations of users. To increase accessibility and transparency, a major activity for 2013-14 will be managing the transition to the ‘20 Year Rule’ by 2023 whereby the thirty year embargo on releasing certain public records will be reduced to twenty years. The transition means that in each of the next ten years PRONI will release two years of records each year. PRONI will continue to work with the University of Ulster’s CAIN project [Conflict Archive on the Internet] to promote access to key documents and enhance a shared understanding of our recent past. 25 Culture Division Architecture and the Built Environment DCAL’s policy on Architecture and the Built Environment (A+BE) aims to improve the quality of the built environment while protecting the natural environment and realising the best outcomes from public expenditure for the whole population. The Ministerial Advisory Group [MAG] for Architecture and the Built Environment provides advice to the Minister on the implementation and development of the policy. Key activities include: - Offering advice to public and private sector bodies; Responding to public consultations; Holding public events to raise awareness and inform policy; and Conducting Design Reviews of significant publicly and infrastructure schemes. privately commissioned Priority areas of work include: - Promoting sustainable development principles and conserving the built and natural heritage; Planning for places and engaging with councils in community planning; Promoting quality places and landscapes, and improving the urban environment; Public sector procurement policy MAG promotes collaborative working and commissioning bodies are encouraged by DCAL to engage with MAG when considering publicly funded infrastructure schemes. During 2012-13 the MAG worked directly with two local councils providing advice about how to promote inclusion through engaging local people in community plans using experiential consultation techniques. The MAG also worked with a number of community based projects to assist groups and local people to articulate better their needs in respect of infrastructure and public services. Such involvement seeks to secure the best outcomes from investments in terms of place making and thereby improve the quality of life for local residents and those who use the places by taking account of local needs and reflecting this in the design and operation of schemes. Arts Much was achieved in the Arts sector in 2012-13. Highlights included the completion of the Metropolitan Arts Centre (MAC), a hugely successful Cultural Olympiad which attracted an estimated 500,000 people to various events here since 2009, and the Titanic Festival of Creative Arts. Behind the scenes, the Arts Council NI (ACNI) has continued to support both audience development and skills capacity development in the sector and DCAL has provided significant support to City of Culture 2013. In 2013-14, DCAL’s investment in the arts will include: supporting established arts organisations through the Annual Funding Programme, funding start-ups for new organisations and emerging art forms, the Arts and Older Peoples’ Fund and the Community Festival Fund and requiring those who receive funding to demonstrate how their funded activities are promoting equality and addressing poverty and social exclusion. DCAL received ACNI’s draft 5 Year Strategy 2013-2018 following the th close of public consultation on 29 April. In tandem, DCAL is currently at the initial stages of scoping the development of an Arts and Culture Strategy for the north. ACNI will develop a Community Arts Strategy which will properly articulate the shared objectives of DCAL, the Executive, the arts sector and local government, underpin the value of local commitment to the arts and provide a framework for coherent co-ordination of policy and action. As part of the initial phase of this policy an action plan will be developed by August 2013. 26 The Protect Life Strategy is a North-wide suicide prevention strategy developed by DHSSPS. It involves all government departments strategically and funds direct suicide prevention projects at a community level, including the key counselling organisation Lifeline, through the Public Health Agency. ACNI are developing a communications strategy to raise awareness of suicide prevention, the Lifeline organisation, promote positive mental health and engage with its stakeholders on this important issue. ACNI will deliver benefits to those living in deprived areas through the introduction of a Creative Employment Scheme aimed at encouraging young talented people (NEETS) to develop their skills and obtain employment in the creative sector. This programme, by which arts and cultural employers can access support towards the costs of employing new apprentices and paid interns, will provide traineeship opportunities for unemployed young people. The programme has been developed by Creative and Cultural Skills and addresses skills gaps in the sector, encourages innovation and helps alleviate current high levels of youth unemployment. ACNI will also bring forward a musical instruments programme. The programme will deliver a range of both classical and traditional musical instruments, digital platforms and devices to children in primary schools in socially deprived areas. It will enable children who have musical ability or interests the opportunity to avail of the loan of an instrument or the opportunity to explore digital methods of creating, mixing and recording music free of charge. This programme will operate in extended schools thereby contributing towards tackling poverty and social exclusion. DCAL will also support NI Screen in its delivery of benefits to those living in deprived areas through initiatives such as the After School Film Clubs, the Creative Learning Centres, Belfast Film Festival and Digital Film Archive Decade of Centenaries The political, social and cultural consequences of the 1912 -1922 period shaped identities in Ireland and north, south, east and west relationships that reverberate to this day. These events include the Home Rule crisis, the Easter Rising, the First World War, and partition. On behalf of the Executive, DCAL and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment are jointly developing an inclusive approach to mark the Decade of Centenaries. DCAL will promote the vital role of the arts, museums, libraries and archives in telling the stories and different interpretations behind these significant events. Creative Industries DCAL is the Executive’s lead Department on the creative industries. During 2011-15 DCAL will invest £4m via the Creative Industries Innovation Fund (CIIF) and through wider sectoral initiatives to stimulate innovation, R&D and creativity. The catalytic potential of the creative and cultural industries can also fuel social innovation and responses to societal challenges across health, education and in tackling poverty and social exclusion. In 2012-13 a total of 98 business awards were made through CIIF (which is administered by ACNI) to local creative enterprises to help companies develop new content, products, services and experience capable of competing in global markets. The Department’s strategic leadership also included a focus on initiatives promoting equality of opportunity and supporting areas of social and economic disadvantage. This included working with a range of social partners in areas such as: A pilot regional ‘Coderdojo’ framework supporting the development of computer programming skills at a young age and specifically targeting disadvantaged areas; Community based approaches to promoting interest and skills in the creative industries; 27 Showcasing the support available to teachers and youth leaders through the Creative Learning Centres and ways digital technologies can support education and skills development; Regional learning and skills programme throughout the libraries network as part of Creativity Month. In 2013-14 the Department will bring forward a collaborative framework to support the creative economy and a more inclusive agenda of social innovation. DCAL will stimulate and drive crossdepartmental collaboration as well as partnership initiatives with industry, academia and the community and voluntary sectors. The Executive’s vision for the North’s economy is one where there is “growing employment and prosperity for all”. In supporting the growth of the creative industries, DCAL is committed to extending these objectives and benefits to the most deprived areas and sections of our community. The Department will also introduce social clauses into the Creative Industries Innovation Fund requiring companies in receipt of grant support to participate in a schools engagement programme promoting STEM/STEAM in schools in disadvantaged areas. This will inspire future entrants into the sector and raise aspiration to develop skills and qualifications supporting career routes into the creative industries. The STEM/STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art/Design and Mathematics) agenda is a key government priority. DCAL will work with its Arm’s Length Bodies and wider stakeholders to fully utilise the skills, resources, content and programmes provided by the region’s creative and cultural organisations and infrastructure. These can provide STEM/STEAM experiences and insights that add value to teachers and the learning experiences of students and lifelong learners and in particular inspire and support young people from disadvantaged areas and backgrounds. City of Culture 2013 In 2013, Derry is the first ever UK City of Culture. In order to host this year long celebration, a vast amount of planning and preparation has taken place to ensure that the experience for visitors from across the world will be second to none. DCAL is delivering £12.6 million of Executive funding to ensure that the City of Culture is a huge success and has processes in place to ensure value for money is achieved and opportunities are maximised to deliver long lasting benefits in terms of increased social cohesion, educational attainment, health and economic activity which are in line with DCAL's high level objectives. The Culture Company was established by Derry City Council in 2012 to deliver an exciting and dynamic Cultural Programme of activities and events involving local, national and international artists and cultural organisations. A broad range of these events and projects have been delivered to date, for example sell-out performances in the Venue 2013 of the Hofesch Schecter contemporary dance 'Political Mother' which was performed by local musicians and dancers from some of the City's most deprived wards; the London Symphony Orchestra and other high profile concerts. A range of outcomes and targets are in place to achieve step changes for local people through job creation, economic growth, attracting new visitors and increasing visitor spend as well as changing perceptions of the City up to 2020. Further events planned for 2013 range from major international events such as the Turner Prize and All Ireland Fleadh, which are designed to attract visitors and raise the City’s profile as a cultural hub, to community events designed to develop skills and build community confidence. One of the Culture Company’s key objectives is ‘To deliver step changes in equality, good relations and social cohesion through culturally led regeneration’. 28 A range of measures are currently being refined around the City's existing strengths in the digital and creative industries; music making and the City's built heritage. As the City of Culture year progresses, DCAL officials are working closely with Derry City Council officials to ensure that it has in place a legacy plan which will deliver against these objectives. Legacy aims and actions are underpinned by the City's One Plan regeneration plan which maps the aspirations of the City and is supported by the Executive through a cross Departmental Implementation Group. At the end of 2013, Derry will hand over to the next City of Culture chosen to host the title during 2017. Languages Líofa Líofa aims to encourage every citizen – regardless of their background or level of expertise – to embrace the inclusivity and enrichment of the Irish language. The initiative aims to increase the number of people speaking Irish, improve fluency, broaden the appeal of the Irish language and promote the benefits of language acquisition to the individual and community. Since its launch in September 2011, 4,077 people have signed up to the initiative and given this level of success, the original target of 2,015 participants by 2015 has been increased to 5000. The Minister launched a pilot Gaeltacht Bursary Scheme in 2012 to provide financial support for individuals to attend an intensive Irish Language Gaeltacht Course, in the Donegal Gaeltacht. A total of 42 applicants secured a place on the scheme which was targeted at Líofa applicants who were from socially/economically deprived backgrounds. Following a positive evaluation of the pilot an extended scheme offering support for up to 100 individuals has been launched for 2013-14. Foras na Gaeilge In 2012, Foras na Gaeilge continued to undertake supportive projects and grant aided various bodies to support the language through a range of schemes covering education, the community and business, the public sector and the arts and through promotional activities to facilitate and encourage the increased use of the language in public and private life. Key projects included developing terminologies and launching an on line English-Irish dictionary on a phased basis. Foras na Gaeilge also continued to support Irish medium education and the teaching of Irish on the island of Ireland and in addition Foras na Gaeilge contributed towards the implementation of the Irish Government’s 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language and the development of the draft Strategy for Protecting and Enhancing the development of the Irish Language in the north. This important work will continue in 2013. Foras na Gaeilge also made proposals for the restructuring of core funding support for the Irish language and undertook at the request of Ministers north and south additional work to consider how such proposals would impact on the strategies for Irish. Further proposals for core funding will be presented to the North South Ministerial Council for consideration and approval during 2013-14. Ulster-Scots Agency The Ulster-Scots Agency continues to promote Ulster-Scots language, heritage and culture across the island, within local communities and the education system (in particular through its new Ulster-Scots Flagship Schools programme which was launched in late 2012). Increased opportunities for people to learn about Ulster-Scots and develop creative skills are provided through community festivals, afterschool clubs, Agency-delivered tuition, and music and dance tuition grants to community groups. The Agency has also been working collaboratively to identify and develop the contribution of UlsterScots to our tourism offer. Further work will also be undertaken to develop the north/south dimension of the Agency’s work, including specific support for Ulster-Scots communities in the border 29 counties. Work also continues in developing new language, culture and heritage initiatives between here and Scotland. Ministerial Advisory Group – Ulster-Scots Academy (MAGUS) A public consultation on the MAGUS Development & Research Strategy and associated grant scheme was completed. Promoting equality and tacking poverty and social exclusion is reflected in all key MAGUS projects. Some examples include: grants to ten Councils to research and develop local Ulster-Scots heritage tourism products, including tourism iApps to increase awareness of the Ulster-Scots contribution to the history of the areas and boost local tourism; an Ulster-Scots tourism event to bring together providers, tour operators and industry bodies to raise the profile of the Ulster-Scots tourism product; an Ulster-Scots archaeological survey is providing significant educational opportunities for schools and cross community engagement and valuable learning resources and research; and Steps to progress standardisation of the Ulster-Scots language involving an Ulster-Scots Spelling Guide and Glossary, an Orthography Panel and a Literary Encyclopaedia Project. The MAGUS and Ulster-Scots Agency have formed a ‘Joint Education Taskforce’ to progress the use of Ulster-Scots educational materials as part of the school curriculum. In 2013-14, the MAGUS will engage proactively with those working to promote positive community self-confidence through cultural activities and has set a target of at least 25% of its proposed Grant Scheme to be allocated to community or joint venture projects involving the community. The MAGUS will also encourage local government to work with Ulster-Scots community groups in the formulation and delivery of local research projects. A major education and digitisation project to develop curriculum materials and provide a single research access point is also planned. Sign Language Partnership Group (SLPG) DCAL administers and funds the SLPG which brings together organisations representing the Deaf Community and 11 government departments to improve access to public services for British and Irish Sign Language users. The SLPG contributes to tackling poverty and social exclusion among the Deaf community and, in 2012-13, provided funding for the following projects: Providing personal and social development programmes for Deaf people to redress their educational and academic underachievement in order to reach their full potential and enhance their employment prospects; Building capacity to enable all public services to become accessible to Deaf people and allowing the sign language user to be fully included in society; and Building capacity to have sign language recognised officially as a ‘’linguistic and cultural minority’’ language in order to develop policy to ensure continued provision of funding and services for the Deaf community. SLPG funding in 2013-14 will continue to be directed towards these priorities. 30 Cultural Awareness Strategy The aim of the Cultural Awareness Strategy is to address the historical tensions between the indigenous cultural traditions in the north to develop greater tolerance, understanding and respect for our indigenous cultural traditions. An important objective of the Strategy is its ability to reach and influence a significant number of people in the north which is key to addressing social exclusion experienced by sections of both communities. The Department is working with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) and The Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland (GOLI) to deliver the objectives of the strategy. Targets for 2012-13 were agreed with GAA and GOLI for an outreach and engagement programme that enabled both organisations to jointly reach out to all sections of the community with the aim of reducing distrust and misunderstanding by building understanding of each others’ cultural traditions in the north and contributing towards a shared and better future. Irish Language and Ulster Scots Language Heritage and Culture Strategies DCAL successfully conducted separate public consultations on a strategy for Protecting and Enhancing the Development of the Irish language and the Ulster-Scots Language, Heritage and Culture. Bringing forward both strategies will contribute to the Executive's agreed Programme for Government 20112015 – to deliver against Priority 4: 'Building a Strong and Shared Community’ and is in line with the NI Act 1998 which places duties on the Executive to adopt both strategies. Waterways DCAL Inland Waterways In partnership with local authorities and the voluntary and community sector, DCAL continued to manage canal towpaths in 2012-13. In addition, under the Inland Waterways Water Recreation Development Programme, in conjunction with local councils the Department grant aided 6 projects which included a canoe slalom, interpretative signage and the installation of an outdoor exercise ‘Trim Trail’. These facilities are free for everyone to use and it is a stipulation of the Programme that projects address social exclusion. The Water Recreation Programme is continuing in 2013-14. Funding was also made available to the Lough Neagh Partnership to engage with local rural communities around the lough to explore how they could develop the cultural and leisure tourist potential of the Lough. In 2013-14, key challenges include work towards registration of assets on the Lagan Canal and investigations into the provision of a safe system of navigation markers for Lough Neagh. DCAL will also be considering the outcomes of a study into the potential for re-opening the former Lagan Navigation. Waterways Ireland In 2012, under the stewardship of Waterways Ireland, work progressed on the opening of the Ulster Canal from Upper Lough Erne to Clones. The 2012 Sponsorship Programme of Events was very successful with an estimated 150,000 visitors attending these events. Other highlights included the commencement in Autumn 2012 of work on the Portna depot on the Lower Bann. 2013-14 will be a challenging period for Waterways Ireland given the pressure on resources though frontline services will be maintained as a matter of priority. Work will continue on the Ulster Canal from Upper Lough Erne to Clones. 31 DCAL Learning Strategy The key aim of the DCAL Learning Strategy is to contribute to and support the creativity and lifelong learning agenda, by developing the capacities of all our people for creativity and innovation, and so promote and sustain the social, cultural and economic well-being of the north. The department and its ALBs provide a wide range of lifelong learning opportunities from informal skills development to those linked to the curriculum and STEM agenda using its unique culture, arts and leisure resources. During 2012-13 the After School Film clubs funded by NI Screen enabled over 8,000 members attending schools in deprived areas to develop improved analytical, communication and literacy skills. The Department also invested £20,000 in the Lower Falls area to develop a pilot mobile iPad platform and community resource to promote learning and tackle social exclusion. With the support of the West Belfast Partnership Board and other public bodies the Department aims during 2013-14 to develop a community driven approach to learning linked to the education curriculum and life-long learning agenda. It will support numeracy and literacy initiatives in schools as well as other projects linked to areas such as health, after school revision classes and life-long learning. Overall it will help young people in the Lower Falls area to realise their true potential and support efforts to tackle social exclusion and lift communities out of the poverty trap. 32 Other Issues Organisational Development Internal improvements were made within DCAL during the period 2012-13 to ensure that the Department continues to operate effectively and efficiently and continues to deliver quality services in the face of considerable budgetary constraints. In particular, operational capacity has been increased in respect of stadium development, north-south operations, languages and the City of Culture Cultural Programme of Events. Review of Arm’s Length Bodies One of the most significant areas of organisational development in DCAL is its Review of Arm’s-Length Bodies which commenced in November 2011. The Review has critically analysed the functions and performance of Sport NI, National Museums NI, and the NI Museums Council. In addition, reviews have commenced in respect of Arts Council, Armagh Observatory and Planetarium and NI Screen and are scheduled to finish in early 2013-14. The Review involves an assessment of: how the functions of these bodies fit with our Programme for Government commitments and Departmental priorities; respective roles and responsibilities; effectiveness of accountability systems; delivery / performance; value for money. The Review will provide an analysis and recommendations for future delivery options for each ALB. EU Engagement DCAL takes a co-ordinated and proactive approach to maximising EU funding opportunities, with a focus on providing support for our delivery bodies and third party funded organisations to access funding directly. This approach involves identifying funding opportunities, aligning policy and objectives with the availability of funding, and building networks of contacts to ensure DCAL has visibility in the EU landscape. DCAL plays an important role in the Executive’s European Priorities, in particular in the areas of innovation and technology and social cohesion. Specific objectives where DCAL is in the lead include the creative industries, STEM/STEAM, and networking projects for artists. Research DCAL has in place a research programme to improve the evidence base available within the Department to help with the development of new programmes and policies. Among the research within the programme is a study looking at the social value of DCAL funded learning programmes; analysis of the creative industries; a study to measure the value placed on public libraries here; and an examination of the factors which affect participation in DCAL activities. 33 Monitoring Performance An internal monitoring paper, detailing progress (on a red-amber-green scale) against all targets in DCAL’s Business Plan will be produced quarterly, commencing in September. The monitoring paper is made up of returns completed by each business area in DCAL. Each target in the monitoring paper is clearly defined, is accompanied by key actions, and is assigned to a lead official. The monitoring paper is forwarded to the Departmental Board for scrutiny. The Board examines in detail progress against each target and if necessary seek clarification on progress from the relevant Director. In cases where the Board has concerns about the delivery of a target, the Board can request that a formal report is provided by the relevant business area. In cases where there are serious concerns about target delivery, the Board can directly intervene to ensure that the target is met. Progress against the measures and targets listed in DCAL’s Business Plan will be reported on in the DCAL Resource Accounts for the Year Ended 31 March 2014, to be published in July 2014. DCAL Objectives and Targets 2013-14 DCAL’s operations are driven by the Programme for Government and its Mission Statement. The following tables set out the key objectives and targets which we will seek to achieve in 2013-14; these reflect a somewhat different approach from the previous two years and are in line with the Department’s revised Mission Statement and its new approach to mainstreaming our statutory and public policy objectives. The Scorecard has been simplified into two sections – what DCAL will deliver and how DCAL will deliver. The DCAL Business Plan is part of a linked hierarchy of business plans within Government. At the top tier there is the Programme for Government, the Investment Strategy, and the Economic Strategy, each with targets and commitments allocated across the government departments. The DCAL Business Plan resides in the tier below the top tier and reflects DCAL’s commitments to these high level strategies plus important operations carried out at Departmental level. More detailed business plans exist at lower levels within DCAL at divisional and branch level. There is therefore a clear line of sight between the work at branch level in DCAL right through to the strategic Executive and Departmental priorities. 34 DCAL Objectives and Targets 2013-14 Key Objectives WHAT DCAL WILL DO DCAL will contribute to building a sustainable economic model and tackling deprivation through meeting its Programme for Government commitments and through delivering culture, arts and leisure programmes/projects which promote equality, tackle poverty and address social exclusion HOW DCAL WILL DO THIS Effective operation of governance and accountability mechanisms Compliance with all finance, audit and statutory requirements, in particular the duty to promote equality Effective staff management and development Effective resource management Efficient and effective internal and external structures which best promote collaborative working 35 WHAT DCAL WILL DO DCAL will contribute to building a sustainable economic model and tackling deprivation through meeting its Programme for Government commitments and through delivering culture, arts and leisure programmes/projects which promote equality, tackle poverty and address social exclusion Ref Stadiums 1 2 Sport 3 4 5 6 7 Libraries 8 9 10 Museums 11 12 13 14 15 Fisheries 16 Target to be achieved by 31 March 2014 To ensure Stadium Development Programme is delivered to agreed milestones. To continue development of the Stadium Development Programme Benefits Realisation Plan as individual Full Business Cases are completed, and finalise the Business Realisation Plan by 30 September 2013. By 31 March 2014, to have increased the proportion of people in the north of Ireland who are members of at least one sports club. By 31 March 2014, through targeted investment in mediums such as ‘midnight soccer’, to provide opportunities to participate in sport and physical recreation for 800 young people from socially excluded and deprived backgrounds. By 31 March 2014, to deliver the Disability 5* Challenge in 10 mainstream schools targeting 1,500 young people. By 31 March 2014, to increase the number of schools participating in the Activ8 Programme to 240 schools, including 60 schools serving areas of highest multiple deprivation By 31 March 2014 to have reached key milestones in respect of the Boxing Strategy 2015 targets: At least 70 clubs to receive new equipment and/or undergo facilities improvement Club membership (total) to increase from 6,027 to 6,629 persons Club membership (females) to increase from 1,182 to 1,418 persons To increase overall participation in libraries in areas with highest multiple deprivation: Tier 1 libraries by 1% Tier 2 libraries by 0.5% Tier 3 libraries by 1% By 31 March 2014 to deliver 1,700 Got IT sessions in libraries to support adults to get online. By 31 March 2014 to deliver 180 Health in Mind activities in partnership with strategic partners. By 31 March 2014, National Museums NI to organise 20 initiatives specifically targeted at those living in areas with highest multiple deprivation. By 31 March 2014, to host 7,000 museum visits by schoolchildren from areas of highest multiple deprivation. By 31 March 2014, to deliver STEM programmes to 9,000 participants, including participants from the areas of highest multiple deprivation. By 31 March 2014, to deliver an Extended Schools Programme and 7 Parent Support Programmes. By 31 March 2014, W5 to deliver 1,000 STEM learning opportunities. By 31 March 2014, to develop a Community Outreach Programme and a range of initiatives to introduce 1,000 people belonging to target groups to the sport of angling. 36 17 WPFG 18 19 PRONI 20 21 By 31 March 2014, to develop an Inland Fisheries Group Work Placement Initiative which provides 10 work placement opportunities throughout the Inland Fisheries Group estate for people belonging to target groups. To host the World Police and Fire Games in August 2013. To provide 3,600 volunteers for the World Police and Fire Games. By 31 March 2014, PRONI will deliver presentations on how to use archives and host Bring a Document sessions in at least 3 community festivals. By 31 March 2014, PRONI will deliver the online resource The Updated Wills Index application. Architecture and Built Environment 22 Provide expert assistance to at least 10 councils or community groups to develop place making proposals which specifically promote equality and/or tackle poverty and social exclusion. Arts 23 24 25 26 NI Screen 27 28 By 31 March 2014, develop and consult on an Arts and Culture Strategy for the north which will seek views on the potential for the arts and culture sector as a driver for the achievement of broader social and economic goals such as social inclusion and cohesion, urban regeneration, tourism, inward investment, employment, the development of high added value creative industries, education and health. By 31 March 2014, ACNI to develop and deliver The Musical Partnership Programme, which will provide a range of both classical and traditional musical instruments, digital platforms and devices to all primary schools in areas of highest multiple deprivation. By 31 March 2014, ACNI will undertake an audit of existing services in local communities with the Public Health Agency and health professionals and will develop a pilot initiative in designated areas and will establish appropriate delivery mechanism as part of the Protect Life Strategy. By 31 March 2014, ACNI will finalise a Community Arts Strategy which will properly articulate the shared objectives of DCAL, the Executive, the arts sector and local government, underpin the value of local commitment to the arts and provide a framework for coherent co-ordination of policy and action. As part of the initial phase of this policy development, an Action Plan will be developed during June-August 2013. By 31 March 2014, Creative Learning Centres to provide introductory or follow-up training courses in Creative Digital Technology to at least 2,150 teachers. NI Screen will deliver at least 40 outreach events/presentations per annum with a minimum of: 15 presentations dedicated to working with older persons or for health charities; 5 presentations delivered in areas of deprivation; 5 presentations delivered for women’s or men’s groups. Creative Industries 29 By 31 March 2014, to have supported 150 organisations through the Creative Industries Innovation Fund which undertake innovation and research and development activity in support of export focused growth. 30 By 31 March 2014, to bring forward a framework approach focusing on collaboration and sharing of knowledge and ideas between industry, government and academia to support the creative economy and wider social innovation. 31 By 31 March 2014, to have met key milestones in respect of the Music Business Support Programme 2013-16. 37 City of Culture 32 By 31 March 2014, to provide up to £12.6 million support to the Cultural Programme of Events in the City of Culture 2013 in line with the Executive’s Programme for Government commitment. 33 By 31 March 2014, to provide assistance to Derry City Council in the development and implementation of a Legacy Framework and Legacy Action Plan in respect of the City of Culture 2013. Languages 34 35 36 37 38 39 By 31 March 2014, to agree strategies for protecting and enhancing the development of the Irish language and the Ulster-Scots language, heritage and culture as set out in the Executive's agreed Programme for Government 2011-2015. By 31 March 2014 to develop proposals for Irish language legislation. To deliver a Gaeltacht Bursary Scheme for 100 people from Líofa applicants who are from socially/economically deprived backgrounds. By 31 March 2014, to fund projects, via open competition, from deaf organisations that will improve access to public services for British and Irish Sign Language users. Through the Cultural Awareness Strategy, DCAL to support events delivered by the Grand Lodge of Ireland (GOLI) and the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA): a) GAA and GOLI to arrange and deliver one joint good relations event by 31 March 2014; b) GOLI to deliver 4 events to organisations/groups linked to their declared community background and 8 events to organisations/groups linked to all other communities in north of Ireland by 31 March 2014; c) GAA to deliver 4 events to organisations/groups linked to their declared community background and 8 events to organisations/groups linked to all other communities in north of Ireland by 31 March 2014. To fund up to 10 Ulster-Scots development and research projects which will provide learning opportunities for schools and local communities in socially deprived areas. Inland Waterways 40 By 31 March 2014, to fund at least 5 water recreation projects which provide accessible opportunities for all and target those experiencing poverty and social exclusion. Cross-Cutting 41 To incorporate appropriate Social Clauses in all new procurement projects and in appropriate programmes of grant aid [CIIF, Support for Individual Artists, Athlete Support]. 42 All relevant business areas and ALBs to provide appropriate exhibitions, outreach activity and community engagement in respect of centenary commemorations. HOW DCAL WILL DO THIS 38 Ref Target to be achieved by 31 March 2014 Effective operation of governance and accountability mechanisms 43 All arm’s length body assurance statements to be rated satisfactory for the year 201314. Compliance with all finance, audit and statutory requirements, in particular the duty to promote equality 44 Section 75 Annual Progress Report and Disability Action Plan to be completed by 31 August 2013. Effective staff management and development 45 By 31 March 2014, to have completed preparations for the retention of IIP accreditation. 46 By 31 March 2014, all staff to have received briefing delivered on inequality and deprivation. 47 To achieve an average of 6.5 days sickness absence per employee for the year 201314. Effective resource management 48 To have between 99% and 100% of budget allocation spent. 49 To have completed year end accounts laid with Assembly by commencement of summer recess 2013. Efficient and effective internal and external structures which best promote collaborative working 50 By 31 March 2014, to complete the Review of Arm’s Length Bodies. 39 Appendix A Relevant Case Law It is worthwhile considering some relevant case law in relation to Equality when considering the Department’s policy approach in this area Purposive Interpretation of the NI Act 1998 4 In Robinson v Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the NI Act 1998 was referenced and Lord Hoffman considered how one must interpret the act when he was choosing between two alternative constructions – “it is necessary to have regard to the background to the 1998 Act…. The 1998 Act is a constitution for Northern Ireland, framed to create a continuing form of government against the background of the history of the territory and the principles agreed in Belfast.” Later in his judgment Lord Hoffman endorsed this approach of contextual and purposive interpretation, stating the following – “The long title of the Act is ‘to make new provision for the government of Northern Ireland for the purpose of implementing the agreement reached at multi-party talks on Northern Ireland...’. According to established principles of interpretation, the Act must be construed against the background of the political situation in Northern Ireland and the principles laid down by the Belfast Agreement for a new start. These facts and documents form part of the admissible background for the construction of the Act just as much as the Revolution, the Convention and the Federalist Papers are the background to construing the Constitution of the United States.” 5 In the case of Colma McKee vs DENI , there is also relevant guidance although it should be noted that this did not primarily focus on the issue of s75 (although it did consider broader equality issues). Rather the case focused on the interpretation of the Education (NI) Order 1998 and the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986. The case considered the need to consider the context of the Orders, especially in light of the commitment made under the Good Friday Agreement to encourage and facilitate Irish Medium 6 7 Education. The court considered whether a specific article (article 89 ) within the Education (NI) Order 1998 was to be considered merely aspirational. In his judgment Treacy J stated the following – “I do not accept (the respondents contention) that this duty is merely aspirational. The imposition of the statutory duty has and is intended to have practical consequences and legislative significance. Thus it does not follow that the proper discharge of this duty, for example in the field of transport, would set a precedent in respect of other education sectors to whom this statutory duty is not owed. As noted at para 8 the establishment of a (costly) 4 Robinson [2002] UKHL 32 McKee [2011] NIQB 98 6 Stated as follows – “Rights, Safeguards and Equality of Opportunity. Economic, Social and Cultural Issues. 4. In the context of active consideration currently being given to the UK signing the Council of Europe Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, the British Government will in particular in relation to the Irish Language, where appropriate and where people so desire it:….place a statutory duty on the Department of Education to encourage and facilitate Irish medium education in line with current provision for integrated education.” 7 Article 89(1) states the following – “It shall be the duty of the Department to encourage and facilitate the development of Irish-medium education.” 5 40 Appendix A precedent appears to have been decisive in the past in the respondents negative response. However the respondent does not have a corresponding duty in relation to the traditional established educational sector. Accordingly it may facilitate and encourage the IM post primary sector in ways that it need not for other sectors by taking positive steps or removing obstacles which inhibit the statutory objective. This does not appear to have been fully appreciated by the respondent. Accordingly I consider that the respondent has failed to give proper weight and consideration to its obligation under Art 89 to encourage and facilitate the development of IM education. Ground 1 is made out and the respondent will therefore need to give further consideration to the transport issue in the post primary Irish medium education sector in light of the court’s ruling.” The relevance of this judgment to Section 75 of the NI Act 1998 is that the Education (NI) Order 1998 was likewise meant to give effect to certain sections of the Good Friday Agreement. The ruling by Treacy J correlates that the requirement to promote equality of opportunity is not merely ’aspirational’ but rather requires the Department to take clear and positive actions, and provides for procedural adherence as well as permitting purposive affirmative action. Definition of ‘Due Regard’ 8 One precedent arose in respect of a public sector race equality duty in Great Britain where Dyson LJ defined due regard as: 9 “The regard that is appropriate in all the circumstances. These include on the one hand the importance of the areas of life of the members of the disadvantaged racial group that are affected by the inequality of opportunity and the extent of the inequality; and on the other hand, such countervailing factors as are relevant to the function which the decision-maker is 10 performing.” 11 Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan subsequently cited, Dyson LJ’s definition of due regard in reference to duties under s75. This definition of due regard mandates the Department to take proactive steps to address inequalities. It should be noted that this is a positive duty. It requires the Department to weigh the measures needed to tackle assessed inequalities suffered by an individual or group/sector against a range of ‘countervailing factors’. Therefore, in respect of the DCAL Mission Statement which mainstreams the promotion of equality, and in the context of the Department strategically discharging its public resources with economy, efficiency, effectiveness and equality, the sectors of greatest inequality within the areas of greatest objective need, can and should be positively prioritised for meaningful and effective intervention in conjunction with enhanced community participation and consultation. Definition of Equality of Opportunity 12 Girvan J considered this in the matter of an application by Peter Neill for Judicial Review : 8 This decision was made in respect of s71 of the Race Relations Act 1976 as amended; now superseded by s149 Equality Act 2010. 9 In Baker [2008] EWCA Civ 141. 10 It should be noted that as this decision was made in the England and Wales Court of Appeal and although it would not be considered automatically as binding in this jurisdiction, it is likely to be of some weight as a persuasive precedent. 11 In ‘Tasers’ JR1, Application [2011] NIQB 5. 12 Neil [2005] NIQB 66. For the sake of completeness it is worth noting that this case was appealed (see Neil [2006] NICA 5). However, the appeal was dismissed and in delivering his judgement Kerr LCJ cited in agreement with Girvan J. 41 Appendix A “The width, ambit and boundaries of the concept of equality of opportunity are not particularly clearly delineated. Parliament appears to have opted for a wide concept and recognised that giving effect to the obligation to have ‘due regard’ to the need to promote equality of opportunity would call for structured assessment, consultation, monitoring and publicity.” Girvan J also reinforced the need to consider equality provisions within the wider political, social, economic and constitutional framework in the North: “In approaching the provisions of section 75 and Schedule 9 one must bear in mind that these provisions are part of a statute intended to be a new constitution for Northern Ireland framed against the background of the history of Northern Ireland and the principles agreed in the socalled Good Friday Agreement. The Agreement was the product of multi-party negotiations and was intended to be a balanced and carefully nuanced constitutional arrangement. The equality provisions were a central part of the new arrangements (see generally Robinson v Secretary of State for Northern Ireland [2002] UKHL particularly the speeches of Lord Bingham and Lord Hoffman). (….) The term ‘equality of opportunity’ is as already noted an undefined term and one capable of coming into play in a wide range of situations. As noted in the history of the development of the concept and the introduction of the statutory duty set out in the article by Professor McCrudden the genesis of the term in the 1998 Act was in the Good Friday Agreement which itself drew on earlier uses of the concept, for example in the Government’s PAFT policies. The concept seems to refer to equality of opportunity in social as well as economic life.” This judgement clearly premises the grounds for the DCAL Mission Statement. In implementing the Department’s priority to Promote Equality and Tackle Poverty and Social Exclusion in society, DCAL is 13 required to focus on positive outcomes in both social and economic life. Conclusions From examining the range of Parliamentary statements, to the clear directions from Treacy J (in McKee 2011), Girvan J (in Neil 2005) and Lord Hoffman (in Robinson 2002), and relevant statute itself, it is clear that interpretation of the NI Act 1998 must be considered in light of the Good Friday Agreement, thereby lending s.75 a constitutional character in public law. At a very minimum it requires that s.75 functions at a significantly higher level than a mere bureaucratic exercise. This is seen most evidenced by the ruling in McKee 2011. Although McKee dealt with the Education (NI) Order 1998, the parallels are immediately apparent. In the same way that duties under the Education Order were considered to be more than merely aspirational, it is to be expected that the duty under s75 is significantly more than aspirational. This purposive interpretation clearly leads to an expectation of positive and effective affirmative actions based on ongoing assessment, consultation, publicity, and monitoring, with regard to the application of s75 as a basis of statutory authority when informing the wide margin of appreciation that rests with the Minister's decision-making vis-a-vis the Department's functions. This purposiveness is naturally carried out within the prevailing context of countervailing factors, considering, for example, rationality, reasonableness, procedurality and lawfulness. 13 This also aligns with the definition of social exclusion as set out in the Lifetime Opportunities Strategy. In Paragraph 13, Social Exclusion is defined as follows: “Government uses the term ‘social exclusion’ to describe what can happen to people who are subject to the most severe problems. Social exclusion has to do with poverty and joblessness – but it is more than that. It is about being cut off from the social and economic life of our community.” http://www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/central-anti-poverty-unit 42 Feedback If you have any comments on any aspect of our Business Plan, please send them to: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Causeway Exchange, 1-7 Bedford Street, Belfast BT2 7EG Or email them to: [email protected] This document is available in a large text version. Requests can be made by calling +44 028 90 515202 or by the above email. This document is also available on DCAL’s website at: www.dcalni.gov.uk 43
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