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Latest News on Equality and Human Rights
Equal Opportunities
As of May 2004 the Equal Opportunities function has been amalgamated with that of Equality and Human Rights. Input of monitoring data will continue at County Hall but the Fair Employment Monitoring Return, the tri-annual Article 55 Review and other Equal Opportunity functions are now the responsibility of the Equality Manager.
Equal Opportunities Policy
The revised 2006 policy is available on the Board’s website or in hard copy from the Equality Manager.
New Disability Duties
Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, as amended (‘the Act’) public authorities, when carrying out their functions must have due regard to the need to:-
- Promote positive attitudes towards disabled people; and
- Encourage the participation of disabled people in public life.
The new legal duties also require public authorities to prepare a disability action plan showing how they propose to fulfil the disability duties in relation to their functions.
The Equality Commission has granted an exemption to the Board from the requirement to produce a Disability Action Plan. The Board is still subject to the general duty to have due regard to the need when carrying out its function to fulfil the above duties. The exemption was granted because of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the RPA and the fact the Board will cease to exist on the 31 March 2009.
Disability Survey of Statemented PupilsA pilot survey of statemented pupils which included schools in the NEELB area was carried out during the month of June.The main purpose of the pilot was to test the survey materials with a view to running a fuller survey across all Boards in the future. The returns are now being considered and it is hoped to report on the pilot by September 2008.
EQIA News
Implementation of the Job Evaluation Schemes
Stage 5 - Formal consultation.Registration and Grant Aid Schemes for Local Voluntary Youth Groups
Consideration is being given to the implementation of the new policy.
Five Year Review of the Board’s Equality Scheme
The Review concluded that the Board’s Equality Scheme was fit for purpose.
ESA, NILA and Equality/Equal Opportunities.
Work has commenced at Inter-Board Level to facilitate the convergence process and ensure that ESA provides the same levels of good practice in equal opportunities and equality that the Boards and the other legacy organisations have established.
Welcome Pack
The latest edition of the Ballymena Inter-Agency Ethnic Support Group’s Welcome Pack is available on the Board’s website. The pack provides contact details for schools, libraries and youth services as well as a range of other services in the greater Ballymena area. It is available in English, Polish, Czech and Romanian.
