Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister for the Economy to detail (i) the number of Rural Needs Impact Assessments (RNIAs) under the Rural Needs Act (Northern Ireland) 2016, carried out by her Department and its arm’s-length bodies, of policies, strategies, and services affecting rural communities; and (ii) a breakdown of (a) the number of; and (b) which, strategies and services that were enhanced as a consequence of the RNIA, in each of the last five years.
Minister for the Economy: In accordance with the Rural Needs Act (Northern Ireland) 2016, my Department has due regard to the social and economic needs of people in rural areas when developing, adopting, implementing or revising policies, strategies and plans, and when designing and delivering public services. The Department also fulfils its statutory duty to monitor and report under section 3(1) of the Act.
The Department for the Economy and its arm’slength bodies listed in the Schedule to the Rural Needs Act (Northern Ireland) 2016 complete Rural Needs Impact Assessments (RNIAs) and submit an annual monitoring return to DAERA, which publishes these in its Rural Needs Annual Monitoring Reports.
The total number of Departmental RNIA including ALB’s is 126.
A breakdown of the total number of RNIAs from 2019-20 to 2023-24 are:
| Year 1 Apr – 31 Mar) | Number of Rural Needs Impact Assessments |
| 2019/2020 | 20 |
| 2020/2021 | 36 |
| 2021/2022 | 24 |
| 2022/2023 | 29 |
| 2023/2024 | 17 |
The Act does not require public authorities to assess or report enhancements arising from RNIAs, nor is there a statutory basis for providing a breakdown of such enhancements. Accordingly, neither the Department nor DAERA compiles this information. The Department meets its obligations under sections 1(1) (due regard) and 3(1) (monitoring and reporting).
Nonetheless, the RNIA process forms an integral part of policy development. Where rural needs are identified, they inform the design or refinement of policies, strategies and services.
The Department will continue to comply fully with the Act and provide annual monitoring information to DAERA.
ENDS
Your MLA 