From Coordination Directorate

Mr Noel Austin Castle Buildings

(e-mail to: [FOI #9507 email]) Stormont Estate

Belfast

BT4 3SQ

Tel: 028 9052 0767

Fax: 028 9052 0535

E-mail: [email address]

Your Ref:

Our Ref: 19351

Date: 3 April 2009

Dear Mr Austin

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT 2000

I am writing to confirm that the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has now completed its search for the information which you requested on 18 March 2009.

The enactment of the Fire and Rescue Services (NI) Order 2006 is the responsibility of the DHSSPS as we are the sponsor Department for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. The enforcement of the Order is a matter for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service Board.

As outlined in The Fire and Rescue Services (2006 Order) (Commencement No.1) Order (Northern Ireland) 2006, the following parts of the 2006 Order have been commenced:

Those parts of the Order which were commenced have been implemented.

It was the Department's intention to commence other elements of Order relating to fire safety before now; however, the work involved took longer than anticipated. The draft Fire Safety Regulations (NI) 2009 are currently out for consultation and are available via the Department's website:

http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/showconsultations?txtid=33552

Currently the commenced parts of the 2006 Order place no obligations on the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. Once the Order is fully enacted and the Fire Safety Regulations (NI) 2009 have been made, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive will be required to comply with them.

The supply of information under the Freedom of Information Act does not give the recipient or organisation that receives it the automatic right to re-use it in any way that would infringe copyright. This includes, for example, making multiple copies, publishing and issuing copies to the public. Permission to re-use the information must be obtained in advance from the Controller of HMSO who has responsibility for the licensing of Crown copyright material. For further details on how to apply for a licence please see: http://www.opsi.gov.uk/click-use/index.htm

If you feel that the information we have provided does not fully meet your request please contact us at 028 9052 0767 in the first instance. You have the right to request a formal review by the Department within two calendar months of the date of this letter. If you wish to do so, please write to Mrs Charlene McQuillan, Departmental Information Manager, Room A.3.5b, Castle Buildings, Stormont, Belfast BT4 3SQ.

If after such an internal review you are still unhappy with the response, you have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner at Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, CHESHIRE SK9 5AF, who will undertake an independent review.

If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me. Please remember to quote the reference number above in any future communications.

Yours sincerely

Lynne Curran

Local Information Manager

Coordination Directorate