About Us

In Northern Ireland it is the Government Department responsible for arts and creativity, museums, libraries, sport, inland waterways and inland fisheries, linguistic diversity, public records, and for advising on National Lottery distribution.

The Department's remit includes raising the profile of Northern Ireland culture internationally and funds the post of Cultural Affairs Officer at the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington DC.

The Department also draws on the expertise of the Education and Training Inspectorate.

Our Core Divisions

The work of the Department is divided into four core divisions.

Culture: - responsible for arts and creativity; libraries policy; cultural and language diversity policy; and linguistic operations.

Sport, Museums and Recreation: - responsible for policies on inland waterways and inland fisheries, museums, sport and lottery; Northern Ireland's involvement in the  London 2012 Olympics.

Corporate Services: - responsible for issues relating to accounts and accountability, internal financial matters; central management (responsible for co-ordinating issues across the Department); economic services; freedom of information; personnel issues; the day to day running of the department; media relations; Minister's Office; and statistics and research.

PRONI: - The Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) is the official archive for Northern Ireland.  It aims to identify and preserve records of historical, social and cultural importance and make them available for the information, education and enjoyment of the public.

Our Goals

Our goals are to:

• Enable as many people as possible to experience and appreciate the excellence of our cultural assets;
• Promote creativity and innovation and lifelong learning;
• Encourage respect for and celebration of diversity;
• Ensure the sustainable management of our cultural infrastructure;
• Develop and deliver quality cultural products and services;
• Reform and modernise our service delivery.

Our Minister

Nelson McCausland is our Minister: a profile of our Minister can be obtained here

Our Permanent Secretary

Rosalie Flanagan is our Permanent Secretary.a profile of the permanent secretary can be obtained here

Our Departmental Board

The work we do is organised and monitored by a Departmental Board.  This is chaired by Permanent Secretary, Rosalie Flanagan, and includes Deputy Secretary, Edgar Jardine, the Directors of our four Divisions, Arthur Scott (Culture); Mick Cory ( Director Sport, Museums and Recreation,Organisational Change Programme); Deborah Brown (Corporate Services), Aileen McClintock  (PRONI); Stephanie Lowry (Independent Non-Executive Director);  and Maureen Bennett, (Education and Training Inspectorate).

The Departmental Board meets on a monthly basis to examine and take forward the Department’s strategic aims and objectives, manage Departmental resources and monitor performance objectives.  It also sets the Department’s standards and values, maintains a transparent system of prudent and effective controls, assesses and manages risk and leads in organisational development.

Our Vision and Mission

The Department’s vision is of “a confident, creative, informed and vibrant community."

The DCAL mission is “to protect, nurture and grow Northern Ireland's cultural capital by providing strategic leadership and resources for the promotion and sustainable development of the culture, arts and leisure sectors."

Our Service Standards and Complaints Procedure

Our standards follow the Northern Ireland Civil Service Customer Service Principles. ,

You can obtain a copy of our Service Standards and Complaints Procedure here (373KB)  If you would like a copy in another format or language please write to Central Management Branch, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, Causeway Exchange,1-7 Bedford Street,Belfast,BT1 7FB.  Alternatively you can request a copy by telephone (028) 90258825; by fax (028) 90258906; by textphone (028) 9052 7668 or by email dcal@dcalni.gov.uk

Our Sustainable Development Policy

Sustainable development is an integral part of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure's vision of a  confident, creative, informed and vibrant community”.  Our mission - to protect, nurture and grow Northern Ireland's cultural capital by providing strategic leadership and resources for the promotion and sustainable development of the culture, arts and leisure sectors - espouses the sustainablilty theme.  A copy of our first action plan for SustainableOperations on the Government Estate which refers to the Interpoint Building , Colby House (OSNI) and the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland can be obtained here.(347KB)

Our Resources

DCAL employs 290 staff in a wide range of grades and disciplines, both administrative and professional.  

In 2008/09 the Department had an opening budget of £175.1million (£110.6 million resource and £64.5million capital). The Department's opening budget position for 2009/10 is £187.8 million (£113.7 million resource and £74.1 million capital). click here to view DCAL budget 2008-2011

Our Statutory Bodies

DCAL supports a wide range of statutory bodies including the Armagh Observatory, the Armagh Planetarium, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, Libraries NI, , National Museums Northern Ireland, , the Northern Ireland Museums Council and Sport Northern Ireland  DCAL also co-sponsors (with its Irish counterparts) two North/South Implementation Bodies, Waterways Ireland and the Language Body, comprising Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster-Scots Agency.