Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Department overview
Formed June 1944 (as Ministry of Health and Local Government)
Preceding Department Ministry of Home Affairs
Jurisdiction Northern Ireland
Headquarters Castle Buildings, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SJ
Employees 731 (September 2011) [1]
Annual budget £4,383.1 million (current) & £200.5 million (capital) for 2011-12 [2]
Minister responsible Edwin Poots
Website
www.dhsspsni.gov.uk
Northern Ireland

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The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS, Irish: An Roinn Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí, Ulster Scots: Männystrie o Poustie, Resydènter Heisin an Fowk Siccar or Depairtment o Halth, Social Sairins an Public Sauftie[3]) is a devolved Northern Ireland government department in the Northern Ireland Executive. The minister with overall responsibility for the department is the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety.

Contents

Aim

DHSSPS’ overall aim and mission is to “improve the health and social well-being of the people of Northern Ireland.” [4]

The incumbent Minister is Edwin Poots (Democratic Unionist Party).[5]

Responsibilities

The Minister, assisted by the department, makes policy and legislation in three broad areas:

Some sensitive health policy issues are reserved to Westminster and are therefore not devolved: [6]

In Northern Ireland, abortion law is a criminal justice matter and is devolved. [7]

DHSSPS' main counterparts in the United Kingdom Government are:

In the Irish Government, its main counterpart is:

Health and Social Care organisations

The Health and Social Care system in Northern Ireland consists of the following public bodies:

Northern Ireland-wide

Sub-regional health and social care trusts

History

Following a referendum on the Belfast Agreement on 23 May 1998 and the granting of Royal Assent to the Northern Ireland Act 1998 on 19 November 1998, a Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive were established by the United Kingdom government under Prime Minister Tony Blair. The process was known as devolution and was set up to return devolved legislative powers to Northern Ireland. DHSSPS is one of 11 devolved Northern Ireland departments created in December 1999 by the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and The Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999.

A devolved minister first took office on 2 December 1999. Devolution was suspended for four periods, during which the department came under the responsibility of direct rule ministers from the Northern Ireland Office:

Since 8 May 2007, devolution has operated without interruption.

Ministers of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Minister Party Took office Left office
    Bairbre de Brún Sinn Féin 2 December 1999 11 February 2000
Office suspended
    Bairbre de Brún Sinn Féin 30 May 2000 14 October 2002[20]
Office suspended
    Michael McGimpsey Ulster Unionist 8 May 2007 5 May 2011
    Edwin Poots Democratic Unionist 16 May 2011

Direct rule ministers

During the periods of suspension, the following ministers of the Northern Ireland Office were responsible for the department:

See also

References

  1. ^ "Northern Ireland Quarterly Employment Survey Historical Data". Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. http://www.detini.gov.uk/sep_11_table_5.14.xls. Retrieved 28 December 2011. 
  2. ^ "Budget 2011-15". Department of Finance and Personnel. http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/revised_budget_-_website_version.pdf. Retrieved 28 December 2011. 
  3. ^ North-South Ministerial Council: 2010 Annual Report in Ulster Scots
  4. ^ Northern Ireland Budget 2011-15, page 70
  5. ^ http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/index/work-of-the-executive/ministers-and-their-departments.htm Northern Ireland Executive
  6. ^ Northern Ireland Act 1998, Schedule 3
  7. ^ House of Commons, Written answers and statements, 13 July 2009
  8. ^ DH: About the Department of Health
  9. ^ Communities and Local Government: Fire and resilience
  10. ^ Department of Health: About the Department
  11. ^ Environment, Community and Local Government: Fire and Emergency Services
  12. ^ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Commencement) Order 2000
  13. ^ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2000
  14. ^ Article 1, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2001
  15. ^ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2001
  16. ^ Article 1, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) (No.2) Order 2001
  17. ^ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) (No.2) Order 2001
  18. ^ Article 1, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Suspension of Devolved Government) Order 2002
  19. ^ Article 2, Northern Ireland Act 2000 (Restoration of Devolved Government) Order 2007
  20. ^ Office suspended for 24 hours on 11 August 2001 and 22 September 2001

External links