Department for Communities
Featured
Our responsibilities
Benefits and pensions
To find out more about benefits, pensions, benefit fraud, welfare changes, private pensions and legislation that governs our work
… moreHousing
Social housing providers, reform of social housing, help and advice for private rented and social housing tenants, housing legislation
… moreSupport for children
Impartial information about child support maintenance for employers and advisers
… moreRegeneration
Programmes that target social need through social, economic and physical regeneration of cities, towns and villages, local government reform
… moreSport
Sport strategy, stadiums and sports grounds, sports projects, games legacy and concussion awareness.
… moreMuseums and libraries
Libraries NI, National Museums Northern Ireland and the NI Museums Council.
… moreArts and culture
Arts infrastructure and strategy, the creative industries, community festivals, architecture and built environment.
… moreLanguages
The Language Strategies team is responsible for leading on the development and delivery of an Irish Language Strategy and an Ulster-Scots Language, Heritage and Culture Strategy.
… morePublic Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI)
PRONI is the official archive and record office for Northern Ireland with a statutory remit to receive, preserve and make available public records and privately deposited archives.
… moreHistoric environment
Historic Monuments; Historic Buildings; Historic Parks and Gardens; Maritime Heritage; Industrial Heritage; Defence Heritage and Archaeology.
… moreStatistics and research
Statistics and research that help guide the Department on policy, planning and decision making
… moreVoluntary and community
Policy and strategy in the voluntary and community sector, volunteering and community development advice and guidance
… moreSocial inclusion
Active Ageing; Anti-Poverty; Disability, Gender Equality; Sexual Orientation; and the Social Inclusion Strategies.
… moreLaw and legislation
Information on the law relating to housing, social security and child support, decisions by Commissioners on social security benefits - also information on social law
… moreFinding employment
Jobseekers looking for work can get the help and support they need to find employment.
… moreFinding staff
If you want to recruit the right employees for your company, or access the range of support programmes and services available to you and your staff, the Department’s Employer Services Branch can help.
… moreLocal government
Details of how Local Government & Housing Regulation Division supports councils in delivering strong and effective local government along with information on funding and finances. The Division also maintains the legislative framework for the Local Government Pension Scheme in Northern Ireland.
… moreAppealing a decision
Appealing against decisions made by the Department, including Child Maintenance Service, and also Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE), Land and Property Service (LPS) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
… moreWe work with these bodies
- Armagh Observatory and Planetarium
- Arts Council NI
- Charity Commission NI
- National Museums NI
- Northern Ireland Housing Executive
- NI Central Investment Fund for Charities
- NI Museums Council
- Sport NI
- Vaughan's Charitable Trust
- Ulster Scots Agency
- Foras na Gaeilge
- NI Commission for Children and Young People
- Libraries NI
- Commissioner for Older People NI
- Ulster Supported Employment Limited
- Local Government Staff Commission for NI
- Office of the Discretionary Support Commissioner
- NI Local Government Officers Superannuation Committee
Our documents
Consultations
Publications
Access to information
How to request information from the Department for Communities including Freedom of Information (FOI) and the use of our Publication Scheme. You may also request your own personal information, via a Right of Access Request.
The Minister
Management and structure
The Department has strategic responsibility for equality, anti-poverty, sports, arts and culture, languages, finding employment, historic environment, housing, regeneration, benefits and pensions, community and voluntary sector development, social legislation and child support...more
Contact us
Causeway Exchange
1-7 Bedford Street
Belfast
County Antrim
BT2 7EG
Telephone: 028 9082 9000
Alternatively contact us using our feedback form.