About the Department

In December 1999 the Department for Social Development was established as part of the Northern Ireland Executive.

It has strategic responsibility for urban regeneration, community and voluntary sector development, social legislation, housing, social security benefits, pensions and child support.

Around 7900 people are employed by the Department, approximately 90% of whom are located in the Social Security Agency and Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division. Public Expenditure allocation for 2010/2011 is £5,935 million, including £5,142.6 million Social Security Benefit Provision.

The Department comprises of two core groupings and one next steps agency:

• Northern Ireland Housing Executive
• and jointly with the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister - ILEX Urban Regeneration Company
• Charity Commission for Northern Ireland

• The Charities Advisory Committee who manage the Northern Ireland Central Investment fund for Charities
• The Disability Living Allowance Advisory Board for Northern Ireland
• Vaughan's Charity Trustees

• Office of the Social Fund Commissioner

In support of the mission statement, and to ensure a consistency of approach, the Department has three key strategic priorities:

The Departmental Management Board which forms part of the Departments' Corporate Governance Arrangements (Word 296KB) comprises the Permanent Secretary (Chair), the Deputy Secretaries for Resources, Housing and Social Security Group and Urban Regeneration and Community Development Group, the Social Security Agency Chief Executive, Head of Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division and one Independent Member.

Information on the Board's remit and responsibilities is contained in the Departmental Management Board Terms of Reference (Word 101KB)

The Board has also established a Departmental Audit Committee (Word 66KB) to support the Accounting Officer in his responsibilities with issues of risk management, control and governance; and a Fraud Sub-Committee (Word 62KB) to provide strategic oversight of the Department's counter fraud activities across all spending programmes.