Timetable for Development of Social Inclusion Strategies
The Strategies, which include an Anti-Poverty Strategy, Disability Strategy, Gender Strategy and Sexual Orientation Strategy, will bring focus to identifying and addressing the issues, barriers and disadvantages that undermine equality of opportunity in our community.
Indicative Timetable for the development and publication of Social Inclusion Strategies.
Stage |
Key Outputs |
Timescale |
---|---|---|
Early engagement, evidence gathering and establishment of supporting structures for strategy development |
Expert Advisory Panels appointed, TOR agreed and work commenced. Strategy development groups convened and TORs agreed:
|
Oct 20 – Jan 21 |
Consideration of evidence, additional research and initial drafting |
Expert Advisory Panel report submitted to Minister and the Executive (by 31 Dec 20); Ongoing engagement with the Co-Design Group and cross-departmental working group; Focus groups held with stakeholders and their representative groups; Section 75 screening and rural proofing commenced; Themes and headline actions agreed. |
Dec 20 – Feb 21 |
Ministerial Steering Group meeting |
Consideration of progress to date and maximise cross-departmental collaboration across all four Social Inclusion Strategies. Discussion of themes and headline actions across the four strategies. |
Feb 21 |
Finalisation of themes and action plan |
Final themes agreed by the Co-Design Group and Cross-departmental Working Group; Strategy document drafted; Production of a supporting action plan to align with PfG Outcomes; Finalisation of section 75 screening form and rural proofing. |
March 21 – June 21 |
Ministerial Steering Group meeting |
Consideration of progress to date and maximise cross-departmental collaboration across all four Social Inclusion Strategies. Discussion of draft strategies and supporting action plans. |
May 21 |
Approvals |
Minister and Executive to approve draft strategy and action plan (will be dependent on scheduling of Executive and Committee meetings). Drafts sent to Communities Committee with early notice of public consultation. |
July 21 |
Consultation and Analysis |
Minimum 8-week public consultation exercise (August/September 21); Communities Committee engagement; Collation and analysis of responses; Preparation of departmental response; Ministerial clearance of consultation report and departmental response and submission to Communities Committee; Amendments to draft strategy, action plan, section 75 screening form and rural proofing, taking account of consultation comments. |
Aug 21 – Nov 21
|
Ministerial Steering Group meeting |
Consideration of progress to date and maximise cross-departmental collaboration across all four Social Inclusion Strategies. Discussion around consultation responses and proposed amendments to strategies. |
Oct 21 |
Final Approvals |
Ministerial clearance of final draft of strategy; Executive and Communities Committee approval (will be dependent on scheduling of Executive and Committee meetings); Design and finalisation of agreed strategy documents and alternative formats. |
Nov 21 |
Launch of strategy |
Publication and launch of strategy and action plan; Ministerial statement to the Assembly. |
Dec 21 As soon as final strategy and alternative formats are produced. |
Implementation and monitoring |
Establishment of monitoring and reporting structures to oversee progress of the strategy. |
Ongoing throughout the life of the strategy |
Social Inclusion Strategies expert advisory panel membership
Anti-Poverty Strategy Expert Advisory Panel
Goretti Horgan - University of Ulster Social Policy and Director of ARK’s Policy Unit
Emeritus Professor Mike Tomlinson - School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queens University
Pauline Lesson CBE: Chief Executive of Children in NI (CiNI)
Bernadette McAliskey: Chief Executive of South Tyrone Empowerment Programme (STEP)
Disability Strategy Expert Advisory Panel
Dr Eilionóir Flynn Director of the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, National University of Ireland Galway
Dr Bronagh Byrne: QUB School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work
Seán Fitzsimons: disabled professional and activist working in the field of disability rights
Tony O’Reilly: human rights activist in the disabled persons’ movement and a member of the North West Forum of People with Disabilities.
Sexual Orientation Strategy Expert Advisory Panel
John O’Doherty: Director of The Rainbow Project
Cara McCann: Director of HERe NI
Ellen Murray: Executive Director of Transgender NI
Dr Fidelma Ashe: School of Applied Social and Policy Science Ulster University
Gender Strategy Expert Advisory Panel
Professor Ann Marie Gray: Professor of Social Policy and Co-Director of ARK
Siobhan Harding: Research and Policy Officer for the Women's Support Network (WSN)
Rachel Powell: Women’s Sector Lobbyist with the Women’s Resource and Development Agency
Louise Coyle : organisation Director for Northern Ireland Rural Women’s Network (NIRWN)