About The Department
The Department for Regional Development (DRD) is one of 12 Northern Ireland Departments.
Making Contact
You can find all the relevant contact information in the Contact Us section of this Web site.
Main Responsibilities
- regional strategic planning and development policy;
- transport strategy and sustainable transport policy;
- provision and maintenance of all public roads;
- public transport policy and performance;
- certain policy and support work for air and sea ports; and
- policy on water and sewerage services and management of the Department’s shareholder interest in Northern Ireland Water.
Our Business Plan for 2011-12 is available through the link below:
Vision, Values and Strategic Objectives
The vision of the Department is:
“A region with modern, safe and sustainable roads, transport and water services which improve quality of life for all.”A number of core values underpin the culture within which the Department works to fulfil its mission. These are:
- Commitment to Delivery;
- Leadership with Purpose;
- Learning and Improving;
- Support for our People;
- Teamwork and Participation;
- Working in Partnership; and
- Professionalism and Corporate Responsibility.
Our Strategic Objectives are:
- Supporting the economy by planning, developing and maintaining safe and sustainable transportation networks; promoting airport and harbour services; addressing regional imbalance in infrastructure; and shaping the long-term future of the region; and
- Contributing to the health and well-being of the community and the protection of the environment by maintaining and developing the policy and regulatory environment which provides sustainable, high quality water and sewerage services.
Management of the Department
The Minister for Regional Development, Danny Kennedy MLA, has overall political responsibility and accountability for all the Department's activities. He sets the strategic policy and resources framework for the Department, which is headed by a Permanent Secretary, David Orr.
David Orr chairs the Departmental Board, which is a key element in the delivery of Corporate Governance within the Department. Corporate Governance is the way in which an organisation is directed and controlled. Details of all the arrangements which have been established to ensure proper and effective management of the Department's affairs are set out in a Corporate Governance Framework.
In addition to David Orr, the Departmental Board comprises a further five Executive members and two non-Executive Independent members, Allen McCartney and Brian Carlin. The latter ensure that executive members are supported and constructively challenged in their role. The executive members of the Board include the Deputy Secretary for Regional Planning and Transportation; the Deputy Secretary for Finance, Resources and Water Policy, the Chief Executive of Roads Service; and the Director of Human Resources and Organisational Change and the Director of Finance. The Board meets once a month to review the Department's performance, to provide advice to the Minister and to provide corporate leadership to the organisation as a whole. Three sub-committees; the Audit Committee; the Finance Sub-Committee and the Arm’s Length Bodies Sub-Committee, also report to our Board. The minutes of the Departmental Board are available in the Publications section of this website.
The Core Groups in the Department are ...
Finance, Resources and Water Policy:
Responsible for water policy, management of the Department’s shareholder interest in Northern Ireland Water and a range of corporate services. This includes human resources, strategic planning, information systems, organisational change, finance, internal audit, central claims and coordination of North-South and equality issues.
Regional Planning and Transportation:
Responsible for regional development and transport planning, sustainable transport, public transport, air and sea ports and public transport performance.
The Department has one Executive Agency:
Roads Service:
Responsible for ensuring that the public road network is managed, maintained and developed. Roads Service has a key responsibility in ensuring that measures are taken to implement the roads aspects of both the Regional Transportation Strategy for Northern Ireland 2002-12 and the Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland 2008-18. The agency is responsible for just over 25,000 kilometres of public roads, approximately 9,700 kilometres of footways, 5,800 bridges, 271,000 streetlights and 370 public car parks.
The Department’s Role in Relation to its Arm’s Length Bodies
The Department has an important role in relation to each of the following separate organisations. These organisations, while seat arm’s length to the Department, have their own Board of Directors and Corporate Governance arrangements:
Northern Ireland Water (NIW)
NIW is a Government Owned Company and the statutory water and sewerage undertaker, operating under licence and at arm’s length from central government structures. The Minister retains overall policy and political oversight and sets strategic objectives. The actual delivery of water and sewerage services is, however, the responsibility of the Company, subject to regulatory oversight by the NI Authority for Utility Regulation and environmental regulators.
The Department monitors NIW’s business performance and outlook and engages with the Company Board, Chair and Executive Team on strategic and shareholder matters. We are also responsible for making loans to the company to part fund its capital programme under the terms of a Subscription Agreement. In keeping with the company’s Articles of Association the Department is responsible for making appointments to the Board of NIW.
Phone: Waterline 0845 744 0088Text phone: 0845 702 3206
E-mail: customerservices@niwater.com
Website: www.niwater.com
Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHC)
NITHC is a public corporation and the parent company of the publicly owned bus and rail companies in the region. These companies, Northern Ireland Railways, Ulsterbus and Citybus (trading as Metro) operate under the brand name of Translink. NITHC’s statutory duties are to manage public transport properties and to oversee the activities of Translink.
We provide financial assistance to Translink as part of the Executive’s investment in public transport here. We are also responsible for setting specific targets for NITHC and monitoring the extent to which these targets are achieved. Furthermore, we are also responsible for ensuring that appropriate financial and management controls are in place and that compliance with those controls is effectively monitored. We are responsible for appointing the Chair and members of the NITHC Board.
22 Great Victoria StreetBelfast
BT2 7LX Phone: 028 9024 3456
Fax: 028 9033 1165
Website: www.translink.co.uk/nithco
Northern Ireland Trust Ports
We are responsible for ports policy and the legislative framework within which ports operate in Northern Ireland.
There are five commercial ports in Northern Ireland – four Public Trust Ports (Belfast, Londonderry, Warrenpoint and Coleraine) and one in private ownership (Larne). Public Trust Ports are autonomous, self-financing statutory bodies whose constitutions are set out in legislation. They operate on a commercial basis with the profit generated by their activities reinvested to improve their facilities.
We appoint the chair and members of the trust ports at Belfast, Londonderry and Warrenpoint. We also appoint the Donaghadee Harbour Commissioners.
Belfast Harbour Commissioners
Belfast Harbour Commissioners are responsible for the improvement, maintenance and management of the port of Belfast and the accommodation and facilities therein. The Commissioners are empowered to do so under the Belfast Harbour Order (NI) 2002.
Corporation SquareBelfast
BT1 3AL Phone: 028 9055 4422
Fax: 028 9055 4411
E-mail: info@belfast-harbour.co.uk
Website: www.belfast-harbour.co.uk
Londonderry Port & Harbour Commissioners
Londonderry Port & Harbour Commissioners are responsible for the improvement, maintenance and management of the port of Londonderry and the accommodation and facilities therein. The Commissioners are empowered to do so under the Londonderry Harbour Order (NI) 2002.
Harbour officePort Road
Lisahally
Londonderry
BT47 6FL Phone: 028 7186 0555
Fax: 028 7186 1168
E-mail: info@londonderry-port.co.uk
Website: www.londonderryport.com
Warrenpoint Harbour Authority
Warrenpoint Harbour Authority is responsible for the improvement, maintenance and management of the port of Warrenpoint and the accommodation and facilities therein. The Commissioners are empowered to do so under the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Order (NI) 2002.
WarrenpointCo. Down
BT34 3JR Phone: 028 4177 3381
Fax: 028 4175 2875
E-mail: info@warrenpointharbour.co.uk
Website: www.warrenpointharbour.co.uk
