Review of the Equality Scheme

Schedule 9 (para 8.3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires all public authorities to review their equality scheme after five years. The Equality Commission have issued guidance and a reporting template for completion as part of the review process to all public authorities, indicating that the review  should be an internal one, the aim of which is to evaluate the effectiveness of the equality scheme in meeting the public authority’s statutory duties.

All of the government departments in Northern Ireland are due to review their respective equality schemes and submit a report to the Equality Commission by February/March 2006.

The Commission recommends that public authorities do not formally consult all those on their section 75/consultee list as part of this process. Rather, they recommend that engagement is maintained with umbrella groups and that public authorities work together on a sectoral basis. To this end the 11 NI Departments and the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) worked together to engage with our joint key stakeholders. We held a joint event in January with these stakeholders.  We are currently considering the points raised and will shortly provide feedback to stakeholders on these.  

OFMDFM submitted its report to the Equality Commission (in March) in fulfilment of its statutory obligations under Schedule 9 of the NI Act 1998.