Department of the Environment (Northern Ireland) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Department of the Environment

Department overview
Formed	Unknown (on or before 1 January 1974)
Preceding Department	Ministry of Development
Dissolved	6 May 2016
Jurisdiction	Northern Ireland
Headquarters	Clarence Court, 10–18 Adelaide Street, Belfast, BT2 8GB
Employees	2,681 (September 2011)
Annual budget	£127.0 million (current) & £5.1 million (capital) for 2011–12
Website	www.doeni.gov.uk

The Department of the Environment (often called DOE or DOENI) was a government department in Northern Ireland. It was part of the Northern Ireland Executive, which is like the government's main team. A special person called the Minister for the Environment was in charge of the department.

This department worked to protect and improve the environment in Northern Ireland. It also looked after things like planning and road safety. The Department of the Environment was closed down on 6 May 2016. Its jobs were then taken over by other new government departments.

What the DOE Wanted to Achieve

The main goal of the Department of the Environment was to "work together" with different groups. This included people, businesses, and volunteer groups. Their aim was to help the "economic and social welfare of the community". This means they wanted to make life better for everyone in Northern Ireland.

They did this by "promoting sustainable development". This means using resources wisely so that future generations can also enjoy them. They also worked to "secure a better and safer environment for everyone". The last Minister in charge of the department was Mark H. Durkan.

What the DOE Was Responsible For

The Department of the Environment had many important jobs. These included:

• The natural environment: Looking after nature, wildlife, and green spaces.
• The built environment: Caring for buildings, towns, and historic places.
• Land use planning: Deciding how land could be used for building or other purposes.
• Road safety: Working to make roads safer for drivers, cyclists, and walkers.
• Regulating drivers and vehicles: Making rules for drivers, cars, and other vehicles.
• Local government: Working with local councils that manage towns and areas.

The DOE worked with similar departments in other governments. In the United Kingdom Government, its main partners were:

• The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
• The Department for Communities and Local Government.
• The Department for Transport.
• The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (for old buildings and heritage).

In the Irish Government, its main partners were:

• The Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.
• The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

History of the Department

The Department of the Environment has an interesting history. Before it existed, other government groups handled similar jobs. For example, the Ministry of Home Affairs was set up in 1921. It looked after local government matters.

Later, in 1965, the Ministry of Development was created. An environment department was also part of the government in 1974. When Northern Ireland was directly ruled by the UK government, this department was known as the Department of the Environment.

Even after the department closed, some people in Northern Ireland still use "DoE" to talk about the Roads Service. This service used to be part of the DOE. Now, it is managed by a different department called the Department for Regional Development.

Devolution and the DOE

After the Belfast Agreement in 1998, a new Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive were formed. This process was called devolution. It meant that Northern Ireland got back some of its own law-making powers from the UK government.

The Department of the Environment was one of six departments that continued after devolution began in December 1999. A local minister first took charge of the department on 2 December 1999.

However, devolution was stopped four times. During these times, the department was managed by "direct rule" ministers. These ministers were from the Northern Ireland Office in the UK government. The periods when devolution was stopped were:

• From 12 February 2000 to 30 May 2000.
• On 11 August 2001.
• On 22 September 2001.
• From 15 October 2002 to 8 May 2007.

The Department of the Environment was officially closed on 6 May 2016. Its responsibilities were then moved to other new departments.

Ministers of the Environment

The table below shows the people who served as Minister of the Environment in Northern Ireland. A minister is a senior government official who is in charge of a specific department.

	Minister	Image	Party	Took office	Left office
	Sam Foster		UUP	29 November 1999	11 February 2000
Office suspended
	Sam Foster		UUP	30 May 2000	20 February 2002
	Dermot Nesbitt		UUP	20 February 2002	14 October 2002
Office suspended
	Arlene Foster		DUP	8 May 2007	9 June 2008
	Sammy Wilson		DUP	9 June 2008	2 July 2009
	Edwin Poots		DUP	3 July 2009	4 May 2011
	Alex Attwood		SDLP	16 May 2011	15 July 2013
	Mark H. Durkan		SDLP	16 July 2013	30 March 2016
Office and department abolished

Direct Rule Ministers

When devolution was suspended, ministers from the Northern Ireland Office took over the department. These were:

• George Howarth (in 2000)
• Angela Smith (from 2002 to 2005)
• Lord Rooker (from 2005 to 2006)
• David Cairns (from 2006 to 2007)

Images for kids

• 

  Arlene Foster, a former Minister of the Environment.

• 

  Sammy Wilson, another former Minister.

• 

  Edwin Poots, who also served as Minister.

• 

  Alex Attwood, a former Minister.