Research Publications 2013

Number

Date*

Civil Legal Aid
This research paper provides information on civil legal aid schemes and expenditure in Northern Ireland. The paper looks at recent developments in Northern Ireland and examines practices in other jurisdictions.

Tobacco Retailers Bill
This paper provides information on the Tobacco Retailers Bill, which will require local councils to maintain a register of tobacco retailers within their area. The paper highlights key provisions within the Bill and, where appropriate, draws comparisons with existing schemes in Scotland and the Republic of Ireland.

A summary of the European Capital of Culture programme
This paper provides a brief summary of the European Capital of Culture programme. It discusses some of the conclusions made of the programme as a whole, highlights some brief examples to illustrate key successes and difficulties, and then focuses specifically on the example of Liverpool in 2008.

Additional information on Petitions of Concern
This briefing provides further information on Petitions of Concern. The Assembly and Executive Review Committee requested this information at its meeting on 23 April 2013. The information is presented in a series of tables.

Gazumping and Gazundering in Northern Ireland
This briefing note explains the concepts of Gazumping and Gazundering (G&G), in the context of the Northern Ireland (NI) property market. It also discusses measures to reduce the incidence of G& G and offers key considerations when seeking to protect potential buyers and sellers from both practices.

Prompt payments: Education
This paper highlights a number of issues around the prompt payment of invoices across some of the Department’s arm’s length bodies.

Early years provision
This research paper considers early years provision in Northern Ireland and internationally. It discusses the integration of education and care and briefly considers issues around the school starting age. It also considers Learning to Learn, the draft early years framework, identifying areas of potential overlap with OFMdFM’s Towards a Childcare Strategy.

Government Support for Public Transport in Great Britain and Northern Ireland
This paper compares the types and levels of transport subsidy paid in Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

A Public Transport Authority for Northern Ireland
This paper revisits the public transport reform process and examines the plans for a new transport authority for Northern Ireland based within the Department for Regional Development.

Integrated Transport in the Netherlands
This paper examines integrated public transport provision in the Netherlands.

A comparison of urban bus fares in Europe 
This paper provides a comparison of urban bus fares in Europe.

Cancelled outpatient appointments: follow-up
This paper provides follow-up information to research paper 24/13 Consultant-led Outpatient Appointments .  It also considers Health and Social Care (HSC) performance in terms of outpatient waiting lists and waiting time targets.

EU funding opportunities for sport
This paper provides information on some of the options available from the European Union for the funding of sport, with a view to providing for sport within schools. Reference is also made to various education-specific funds, though none of these are geared towards sport.

The DCAL Community Festivals Fund Evaluation
In September 2012, DCAL published an evaluation of the Community Festivals Fund. This paper examines the DCAL evaluation and provides some observations on the methodology applied.

Skills Shortages in Germany
The Briefing Note is written in response to a question raised in the Committee for Employment and Learning with regard to the nature of skills shortages in Germany.

Anaerobic Digestion across the UK and Europe
The following paper considers the use of anaerobic digestion in the UK and Europe. It explores the legislative framework in Europe and NI, and the current situation in the UK and NI in terms of AD plant development. While considering case studies from across the UK it looks to Europe to appreciate how the biogas industry and anaerobic digestion is facilitated. It concludes by discussing a number of considerations for NI.

George Best City Airport Planning Application
The following paper gives the chronological breakdown of the planning application process for the George Best Belfast City Airport (GBBCA).  It considers the process from the initial planning application linked to the terminal extension, the extension of the runway, seats for sale and through to the delayed public inquiry.

EU Budget 2014-2020
This briefing paper describes the negotiations for the European Union (EU) Budget 2014-2020, also referred to as the Multiannual Financial Framework (the MFF).

European Commission Work Programme 2013: proposals within the remit of the Committee for Finance and Personnel.
This Note provides a table that lists the proposals in the European Commission Work Programme 2013 which RaISe has identified as relevant to the Committee for Finance and Personnel’s (CFP) remit. A description of each proposal is provided. In addition, RaISe has provided some commentary and, in places, some suggested actions for CFP to consider.

School Uniform Policy in Scotland, England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland
This briefing paper provides an overview of school uniform policy in Scotland, England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, including background information on school uniform policy in Northern Ireland.

Acorn
This briefing paper provides information on the area-based classification systems Acorn and Mosaic, and discusses some recent findings on the use of FSME as a measure for deprivation.

Issues affecting the viability of Agricultural businesses in Northern Ireland – Autumn 2012
This paper provides a brief overview of some of the factors perceived as having a negative impact on agricultural profitability within Northern Ireland over recent months, including the cost of inputs, the farm gate price for produce, the operation of the food supply chain and the weather.

Compulsory Purchase of Residential Dwellings: Financial Compensation for Owner-Occupiers
This briefing paper has been prepared to assist the Committee for Social Development in its consideration of financial support for owner-occupiers whose properties have been vested. The paper provides an outline of the current arrangements for financial compensation in Northern Ireland; an overview of a recent Lands Tribunal case relating to a property vested in the Village Area of South Belfast; and, approaches taken in other jurisdictions to assist owner-occupiers in redevelopment areas.

The Independent Living Fund
The purpose of this paper is to provide background information on the Independent Living Fund; the Coalition Government’s rationale for the closure of the fund; and an overview of some of the concerns/issues raised by local stakeholders.

Child abuse inquiries: victims and survivors who were abused in other settings
This paper examines five child abuse inquiries in other jurisdictions, three from the Republic of Ireland and two from Australia.

European Commission Legislative and Non-Legislative Proposals 2013 Q1
This paper provides spreadsheets detailing European Commission legislative and non-legislative proposals 2013 Q1.

Follow up Questions to Quarter 1 Commission Work Programme Briefing
This paper provides a response to a number of questions raised by the Committee for Employment and Learning following a RaISe briefing on the European Commission Work Programme 2013 for the 1st Quarter of 2013.

The following paper provides an overview of Enterprise Zones in England, Scotland and Wales. Three questions are addressed:

• How many Enterprise Zones have been introduced and where are they located?
• What incentives are in place to attract business into these zones?
• What has their impact been?

Financial Forecasting by the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister for 2012-13
This Briefing Paper provides the Committee for the Office of First Minister and deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) with the most up-to-date data available on the OFMDFM’s forecast outturn for the current financial year.

European Social Fund and the Department for Employment and Learning
This paper discusses the European Social Fund and how it is allocated to applicant organisations in Northern Ireland.  The paper will also discuss the most recent funding tranche (Call 2, Priority 1) including the funding streams, the assessment process and the amounts allocated

Speaking rights of Attorneys General/Law Officers in legislatures
This paper outlines precedent and processes used in other legislatures where the Attorney General/Law Officer is required to speak in plenary in respect of guidance s/he has issued.

Northern Ireland and international educational studies
Northern Ireland has participated in a number of international educational studies in recent years that aim to allow for international benchmarking on students’ performance. This paper considers the findings of recent studies, discusses the common attributes of high performing countries and limitations of such studies.

Census 2011: Key Statistics at Northern Ireland and LGD level
This paper presents a selection of key statistics from Census 2011 at the Northern Ireland and local government district (LGD) level.  The paper covers twelve categories, including demography, religion, ethnicity, marital status, lone parents, health, economic activity and housing.  An appendix to the paper presents the main LGD results in tabular format

Eu Work Programme 2013: Areas of Potential Interest to the Committee for OFMdFM
This paper is written in the context of the responsibility of the Research and Information Service (RaISe) to monitor and disseminate key developments in the European Union that may impact on policy development in Northern Ireland

Update on Fiscal Devolution and Devolved Funding
This Research Paper provides an up-to-date review of developments across the United Kingdom (UK) in relation to fiscal devolution and funding arrangements for the devolved administrations.  The paper suggests some issues arising from the review that the Committee for Finance and Personnel may wish to consider as part of its future inquiry into the Barnett formula.

Rural schools
This Research Paper considers rural schools in Northern Ireland and explores the evidence on issues affecting rural schools, the implications of rural school closures and approaches in other jurisdictions.

Briefing on EU priorities relating to culture, arts and leisure
This paper highlights issues and possible areas of interest for the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee along with some suggestions for potential actions which could be taken.

Update on European issues relating to culture, arts and leisure
This paper documents recent policy activity at a European level on culture, arts and leisure issues. It deals largely with the European Union but also references the Council of Europe.

Consultant-led Outpatient Appointments
This paper provides Members with data in relation to consultant-led outpatient appointments in Northern Ireland, paying particular attention to appointments that are cancelled by hospital providers.

Green Job Estimates – supplementary
This paper provides supplementary information to RaISe paper ‘Green’ job estimates: Northern Ireland (Paper 09/13). The purpose of this paper is to address a query raised during the Committee’s discussion on the previous research. In this respect this paper revisits the Department of Employment and Learning (DEL)/ECORYS estimates of skills needed outlined in the previous research and provide further details on the potential skills gap identified in the DEL report.

Apprenticeships in Germany
This paper briefly describes the apprenticeship system in Germany, explores some advantages and challenges, and offers some analysis of its applicability to other contexts.

Financial Forecasting by the Department of Justice for 2012-13 
This Briefing Paper provides the Committee for Justice with the most up-to-date data available on the Department of Justice’s (DoJ) forecast outturn for the current financial year

Access and Liability Briefing
The following paper is the briefing given to the Environment Committee on Access and Liability legislation in Northern Ireland, and should be read in conjunction with the Research Paper Access to the countryside in Northern Ireland – occupiers’ liability (Paper 19/13)

Access to the countryside in Northern Ireland – occupiers’ liability
This briefing paper has been prepared in response to a request from the Environment Committee for information regarding occupiers’ liability in terms of access to the countryside. The paper provides a contextual look at this issue by providing an indicative list of key legislation, types of access land and the amount of publically owned land for outdoor recreation. Concerns and perceptions regarding occupiers’ liability are addressed and details on the actual number of claims made are provided.

Pupil Premium
This paper provides an overview of the Pupil Premium in England; sets out initial findings on it and estimates the potential cost of introducing the Premium in Northern Ireland.

Reintroduction of fallen or rejected Bills
This briefing paper has been prepared for the Committee on Procedures following its meeting on 27 November 2012. At that meeting, Members had considered a letter from the Speaker of the Assembly in relation to Standing Order 32(2) which relates to reasoned amendments to Bills. The letter asked the Committee to consider whether Standing Orders should be amended to state a period during which a Bill rejected at Second Stage cannot be reintroduced. The Committee asked that research be carried out into practice in other legislatures.

Barroso Northern Ireland Task Force
This paper provides an overview of The Barroso or Northern Ireland Task Force.

Grassroots sport in Northern Ireland: A summary of participation and potential challenges
This research paper seeks to describe current levels of participation in grassroots sport in Northern Ireland and to highlight some potential issues and challenges.

Employment Law: A Comparison of Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland
This paper briefly compares the employment legislation of Northern Ireland, Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland in the context of the review of employment law by the Department for Employment and Learning.

Update on the PEACE IV Programme
The paper provides an update on the status of the development of a future PEACE IV Programme from 2014

‘Green’ job estimates: Northern Ireland
The following paper provides a current estimate of jobs in Northern Ireland’s low carbon and environmental sector and examines a number of studies which assess the potential for job creation in the renewable sector.

The budgetary flexibility of Invest Northern Ireland
This Research Paper presents evidence relevant to the Committee for Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s consideration of the case for increased budgetary flexibility for Invest Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland’s Economy and Labour Market
This paper provides a discussion of the Northern Ireland Economy and Labour Market. It includes consideration of economic growth, employment and unemployment and levels of economic activity.

CERN -The Potential Benefits of Links with Northern Ireland
The following paper discusses CERN (Conseil Européen pour la Recherche Nucléaire - the European Organisation for Nuclear Research) and possible opportunities for Northern Ireland.

Relationship between Employment Regulation and Labour Market Flexibility
The following paper considers the potential impact regulation has on employment levels and labour market flexibility.

Labour Force Survey Methodology
This paper briefly discusses the methodology used in the United Kingdom and the European Union to gather data for the Labour Force Survey (LFS) and working age definitions.

The University of Geneva and CERN
This Briefing Note provides information on the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the links it has developed with CERN.