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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

    contents

    Social security legislation

    An electronic version of the printed volumes 'The Law Relating to Social Security for Northern Ireland' (The Blue Volumes).

    • Social Security Electronic Communications Direction
    • The law relating to Social Security in Northern Ireland (Blue Volumes)

    Child support legislation

    An electronic version of the printed volume 'The law relating to Child Support in Northern Ireland' (The Orange Volume).

    Housing legislation & residential building safety

    Legislation in relation to housing in Northern Ireland.

    • Cladding Safety Scheme
    • Residential Building Safety
    • Residential building safety - frequently asked questions (FAQs)

    Social law

    Information on the development of policy and promotion of legislation on liquor licensing, gambling, clubs registration, pavement cafés, opening hours for shops, street trading, and the control of unauthorised encampments.

    • Alcohol licensing and registration of clubs
    • Betting, gaming, lotteries and amusements
    • Pavement cafes

    Commissioners' decisions

    The Northern Ireland Digest of Case Law and links relating to commissioners' decisions.

    Social policy statistics

    Statistical publications in relation to a range of social policy areas, including liquor licensing and gambling.

    Related to Law and legislation

    Most recent publications

    • Residential Building Safety co-design session notes and Q&A

      Published 9 May 2025
    • Prevalence of gambling in Northern Ireland 2024

      Published 30 April 2025
    See all publications in this topic

    Most recent consultations

    • First review of the Licensing and Registration of Clubs (Amendment) Act (Northern Ireland) 2021

      Published 17 February 2025 Consultation closed
    • Consultation on Article 180A of The Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985: Initial Gambling Code of Practice

      Published 1 October 2024 Consultation closed
    See all consultations in this topic

    Most recent news items

    • Anti-social behaviour public consultation responses published

      Published 10 April 2025
    • Building Safety Co-Design

      Published 15 January 2025
    See all news in this topic

    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.

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