Department for Communities

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Minister announces Support for Voluntary and Community organisations ... more
14 March 2024
Communities Minister has appointed Board members of NIHE... more
14 March 2024
Applications open for the All-Ireland Heritage Skills Programme... more

Our responsibilities

Benefits and pensions

To find out more about benefits, pensions, benefit fraud, welfare changes, private pensions and legislation that governs our work

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Housing

Social housing providers, reform of social housing, help and advice for private rented and social housing tenants, housing legislation

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Support for children

Impartial information about child support maintenance for employers and advisers

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Regeneration

Programmes that target social need through social, economic and physical regeneration of cities, towns and villages, local government reform

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Sport

Sport strategy, stadiums and sports grounds, sports projects, games legacy and concussion awareness.

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Museums and libraries

Libraries NI, National Museums Northern Ireland and the NI Museums Council.

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Arts and culture

Arts infrastructure and strategy, the creative industries, community festivals, architecture and built environment.

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Languages

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. 

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Public 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.

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Historic environment

Historic Monuments; Historic Buildings; Historic Parks and Gardens; Maritime Heritage; Industrial Heritage; Defence Heritage and Archaeology.

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Statistics and research

Statistics and research that help guide the Department on policy, planning and decision making

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Voluntary and community

Policy and strategy in the voluntary and community sector, volunteering and community development advice and guidance

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Social inclusion

Active Ageing; Anti-Poverty; Disability, Gender Equality; Sexual Orientation; and the Social Inclusion Strategies.

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Law 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

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Finding employment

Jobseekers looking for work can get the help and support they need to find employment.

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Finding 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.

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Local 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.

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Appealing 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).

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Our documents

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

Gordon Lyons MLA was appointed as the Minister for Communities on 3rd February 2024.

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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

Department for Communities
Causeway Exchange
1-7 Bedford Street
Belfast
County Antrim
BT2 7EG
Telephone: 028 9082 9000
Alternatively contact us using our feedback form.
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