Equality Impact Assessment on the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP)

The consultation period for the Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) of the Rural Development Programme 2007 - 2013 is now closed.  The last date for receipt of input to the consultation was Friday 2 November 2007.

Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires DARD to promote equality of opportunity between the following nine groups:

   • Persons of different religious belief;

   • Persons of different political opinion;

   • Persons of different racial group;

   • Persons of different age;

   • Persons of different marital status;

   • Persons of different sexual orientation;

   • Men and women generally;

   • Persons with a disability and persons without; and

   • Persons with dependants and persons without.

This consultation paper is an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA), to explore the impact the RDP may have on all the above equality groups, in compliance with Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

In all 18 groups took part in pre-consultation, and 14 responses to the EQIA consultation document were received.  All comments and submissions are available for download from this site.

Ways to deal with possible inequalities are being addressed through the Equality and Good Relations Working Group of the NIRDP Monitoring Committee, and the actions decided in response to the comments received will be posted here.