3A. Has the Public Authority taken steps to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas that are relevant to the Policy, Strategy, Plan or Public Service?

Yes.

3B. Please indicate which of the following methods or information sources were used by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas.

Consultation with Rural Stakeholders.

Surveys or Questionnaires.

3C. Please provide details of the methods and information sources used to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas including relevant dates, names of organisations, titles of publications, website references, details of surveys or consultations undertaken etc. 

The Belfast Stories visitor destination has been identified in several Belfast City Council strategies, including the A City Imagining cultural strategy (2019) and Make Yourself at Home tourism strategy (2022) and has been subject to rural needs assessment as part of the parent strategy.

A rural needs impact assessment was also carried out during the first public consultation on Belfast Stories. Over 4,000 people engaged during this period. Church, voluntary and community groups in the Hannahstown, Loughview and Edenderry areas of Belfast were contacted, asked to complete the online consultation survey and offered a focus group or workshop. No issues or local circumstances were identified during this process.   

3D. Please provide details of the social and economic needs of people in rural areas which have been identified by the Public Authority.

We are not aware of local circumstances which will result in a differential outcome at this stage.

3E. Please explain why no steps were taken by the Public Authority to identify the social and economic needs of people in rural areas?

Not applicable.