Rathlin Sound Festival Equality Screening 2024 Part 1
S75 Equality And Good Relations Screening Form
General Information: Policy, Procedure and Strategy
This a revised policy, procedure, and strategy
Operational Area: Leisure & Development
Title: Rathlin Sound Festival– 24th May – 2nd June 2024
Brief Summary:
This long established 10 day festival takes place on Friday 24th to Sunday 2nd June in Ballycastle Seafront area and Rathlin Island Seafront area. The event is a celebration of the people, the tradition and their heritage. The activities begin on the Friday with the blessing of the boats and music on The Pier. The following 2 weekends are jam packed with music, storytelling, wild cooking demonstrations, have a go activities, circus skills and walkabout animation.
What is it trying to achieve? (intended aims and outcomes)
- Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is committed to creating and maintaining a most inclusive environment for visitors attending an event.
- Take all reasonable steps to ensure that facilities and services at events are accessible to all.
- Ensure that all S75 groups attending events do not experience any form of harm, discrimination or degrading treatment.
Who owns and who implements each element of the function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?
Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council via different directorates.
Other policies etc. which have a bearing on this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance?
- Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council’s full range of policies.
Studies, Publications, Statistics and Guidance:
- Northern Ireland Statistics & Research Agency – Census 2021
Available Evidence
Evidence to help inform the screening process may take many forms. Public authorities should ensure that their screening decision is informed by relevant data.
What evidence/information (both qualitative and quantitative have you gathered to inform this function, service, policy, procedure, project, strategy, plan or guidance? Specify details for relevant Section 75 categories.
It is proposed that all Section 75 categories will be considered via:
- Quantitative evidence has been sourced via the NI Census in 2021 and the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey 2021.
Section 75 Category
Details of Evidence/Information:
- The Census statistics in 2021 collated by NISRA statistics detailed the usual resident population of Causeway Coast & Glens Local Government District to be 141,746 accounting for 7.45% of the N.I. total. Statistical information with regards to the Districts makeup and individuals therein was also reviewed.
Religious Beliefs
The 2021 Census outlined:
Religion / religion brought up in:
Census 2021 CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
Roman Catholic 40.12% 45.70%
Protestant & Other Christian
(including Christian related) 51.17% 43.48%
Other Religions 0.78% 1.50%
None/Not stated 7.94% 9.32%
Staff breakdown by Religious Belief / Community Background (Figures as at 21 October 2022)
Religious Belief / Community Background Gender Number of Staff
Roman Catholic Male 119 (19.67%)
Female 126 (20.82%)
Protestant Male 199 (32.89%)
Female 128 (21.16%)
Non-Determined Male 17 (2.81%)
Female 16 (2.65%)
Total 605
In 2021 the last census in Northern Ireland identified the main current religions were: Catholic (42.3%); Presbyterian (16.6%); Church of Ireland (11.6%); Methodist (2.5%); Other Christian denominations (6.9%); Other religions (1.3%). In addition there were individuals who stated they had no religion (17.4%) and the remaining population (1.6%) did not answer this question.
There was a similar picture in Causeway Coast and Glens where the main current religions were: Catholic (37.6%); Presbyterian (23.2%); Church of Ireland (15%); Methodist (0.7%); Other Christian denominations (6.4%); Other religions (0.7%). In addition there were individuals who stated they had no religion (15%) and the remaining population (1.4%) did not answer this question.
By comparing statistics in 2011 and 2021 and religion of upbringing (see tables above) it is clear that residents in our area as in the whole of Northern Ireland are becoming more secular. This mirrors the trend across Northern Ireland as a whole.
There is no indication or evidence to suggest that the event will have a negative impact on this Section 75 Group. Ballycastle Church Action Group help organise a small interdenominational dedication during the Blessing of the Boats with local clergymen and choirs involved.
Political Opinion
The Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey (2021) provides the following information on the political parties people in Northern Ireland feel closest to (this information is not available at local government level) :
%
DUP/Democratic Unionist Party 12
Sinn Féin 13
Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) 13
Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) 13
Alliance Party 19
Green Party 5
Other Party 4
None of these 11
Other answer 1
Don't know 9
Northern Ireland Life and Times survey (NILT 2019-21 dataset) found respondents from Causeway Coast and Glens felt relationships between Protestants and Catholics had improved over the last 5 years (43%), compared to the NI average (38%). Respondents in our area were also more likely to think relations between Protestants and Catholics will be better in 5 years' time than now (40%) compared to the NI average (32%).
There is no indication or evidence to suggest that the event will have a negative impact on this Section 75 Group.
Racial Group
On Census Day 21 March 2021 the resident population was:
Census 2021 CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
White 98.55% 96.55%
Irish Traveller 0.03% 0.14%
Roma 0.01% 0.08%
Indian 0.15% 0.52%
Chinese 0.22% 0.50%
Filipino 0.10% 0.23%
Pakistani 0.03% 0.08%
Arab 0.03% 0.10%
Other Asian 0.10% 0.28%
Black African 0.12% 0.42%
Black Other 0.04% 0.16%
Mixed 0.51% 0.76%
Other ethnicities 0.11% 0.19%
The 2021 Census detailed 98.55% of our population is white, with 1.45% from an ethnic background. The largest minority ethnic groups in Causeway Coast and Glens are the Chinese (0.22%), Indian (0.15%) and Filipino (0.10%). The proportion of ethnic groups from a non-white background has increased in Causeway Coast and Glens over the last 10 years by 0.95% slightly increasing the diversity in our population.
Country of Birth (basic detail)
Table MS-A16: Census 2021 CC&G Borough Council
Europe: United Kingdom: Northern Ireland 127,171
Europe: United Kingdom: England 5,991
Europe: United Kingdom: Scotland 1,556
Europe: United Kingdom: Wales 234
Europe: Republic of Ireland 1,931
Europe: Other EU countries 2,733
Europe: Other non-EU countries 149
Africa 384
Middle East and Asia 825
North America, Central America and Caribbean 499
South America 55
Antarctica, Oceania and Other 219
Number of people born outside UK/Ireland in CC&G Borough Council for the years 2011 and 2021
Census 2021 2011 2021
Number of people born outside UK/Ireland 4,100 4,900
Of the total population in Causeway Coast and Glens 3.45% of our residents were born outside the UK/Ireland as demonstrated in the table above this is an increase over the last 10 years of 0.56%.
National identity (person based)
Census 2021 CC&G Borough Council
British only 38%
Irish only 22%
Northern Irish only 23%
British & Irish only <1%
British & Northern Irish only 9%
Irish & Northern Irish only 2%
British, Irish & Northern Irish only 1%
Other national identities 5%
Main Language
Census 2021 CC&G Borough Council
English 98%
Other languages 2%
Although our population is becoming more diverse 97.8% speak English as their main language. The other main languages spoken are Polish, Irish and Portuguese closely followed by Arabic, Bulgarian, Chinese and Cantonese.
Main Language (Count)
Census 2021 MS-B12a
All usual residents aged 3 and over CC&G Borough Council
English 134,147 (97.80%)
Polish 1,524 (1.11%)
Lithuanian 49 (0.04%)
Irish 231 (0.17%)
Romanian 79 (0.06%)
Portuguese 39 (0.03%)
Arabic 63 (0.05%)
Bulgarian 66 (0.05%)
Chinese (not otherwise specified) 68 (0.05%)
Slovak 32 (0.02%)
Hungarian 18 (0.01%)
Spanish 50 (0.04%)
Latvian 36 (0.03%)
Russian 29 (0.02%)
Tetun 6 (0.00%)
Malayalam 24 (0.02%)
Tagalog/Filipino 46 (0.03%)
Cantonese 69 (0.05%)
Other languages 584 (0.43%)
All Residents 137,160
It is important to note that while other family members may be able to support translation, 1.30% or 750 households do not speak English as their main language and therefore would require translation services.
Household language (Count)
Census 2021 MS-B11a CC&G Borough Council
All people aged 16+ years have English as a main language 56,063 (97.37%)
At least one but not all people aged 16+ years have
English as a main language 600 (1.04%)
No people aged 16+ years have English as a main language,
but at least one person aged 3-15 years has English as a
main language 163 (0.28%)
No people have English as a main language 750 (1.30%)
57,576
Knowledge of Irish
Census 2021 CC&G Borough Council
No ability in Irish 90%
Some ability in Irish 10%
Knowledge of Ulster-Scots
Census 2021 CC&G Borough Council
No ability in Ulster-Scots 81%
Some ability in Ulster-Scots 19%
Staff breakdown by Racial Group / Ethnic Origin (Figures as at 21 October 2022)
Racial Group / Ethnic Origin Number of Staff
Mixed Ethnic Group 1 (0.16%)
Other 2 (0.33%)
White / White European 546 (90.25%)
Unknown 56 (9.26%)
Total 605
All information pertaining to events is advertised on the Council website which can be translated into all languages included in the main languages table above.
We have worked with Glór na Maoile, Irish language community group in Ballycastle who are bringing us an element of this festival where Irish speaking is practiced in a gazebo at The Seafront.
If visiting the Council Headquarters a signed video can be availed of.
If there is a language barrier whilst on site at an event, staff can use a translate app such as Live Transcribe or Google Translate.
There is no indication or evidence to suggest that the event will have a negative impact on this Section 75 Group.
Age
Age: (NISRA Census 2021 – Table MS-A02)
CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
0-4 years 7,973 (5.62%) 113,820 (5.98%)
5-9 years 8,878 (6.26%) 124,475 (6.54%)
10-14 years 9,113 (6.43%) 126,918 (6.67%)
15-19 years 8,326 (5.87%) 113,203 (5.95%)
20-24 years 7,873 (5.55%) 111,386 (5.85%)
25-29 years 7,713 (5.44%) 116,409 (6.12%)
30-34 years 8,460 (5.97%) 126,050 (6.62%)
35-39 years 8,528 (6.02%) 127,313 (6.69%)
40-44 years 8,513 (6.01%) 122,163 (6.42%)
45-49 years 9,322 (6.58%) 121,670 (6.39%)
50-54 years 10,412 (7.35%) 130,967 (6.88%)
55-59 years 10,150 (7.16%) 129,276 (6.79%)
60-64 years 9,171 (6.47%) 113,049 (5.94%)
65-69 years 7,769 (5.48%) 93,464 (4.91%)
70-74 years 6,990 (4.93%) 83,467 (4.39%)
75-79 years 5,659 (3.99%) 66,377 (3.49%)
80-84 years 3,718 (2.62%) 43,776 (2.30%)
85-89 years 2,126 (1.50%) 25,879 (1.36%)
90+ years 1,051 (0.74%) 13,512 (0.71%)
TOTAL Population 141,745 1,903,174
Statistics in the table above highlight an ageing population.
Age Comparison for CC&G Borough Council for the years 2011 and 2021
Census 2021
Age Range (years) 2011 2021
0-14 19% 18%
15-39 33% 29%
40-64 33% 34%
65+ 15% 19%
It can be seen from the 2 tables above, that in the 44 and under groupings our borough statistics have decreased and are lower than the Northern Ireland average. Whereas the number of individuals aged 45 years and upwards has increased and our percentages in these groupings are higher than the Northern Ireland Average.
This is a trend which is forecast to continue as identified in NISRA’s 2020-based Interim Population Projections for Northern Ireland, which states that "by mid-2027, the number of people aged 65 and over is projected to overtake the number of children"
Staff breakdown by Age (Figures as at 21 October 2022)
Age Group Number of staff
22-29 21 (3.47%)
30-34 28 (4.63%)
35-39 64 (10.58%)
40-44 71 (11.74%)
45-49 99 (16.36%)
50-54 115 (19.01%)
55-59 92 (15.21%)
60-64 88 (14.54%)
65-120 27 (4.46%)
Total 605
There is no indication or evidence to suggest that the event will have a negative impact on this Section 75 Group.
Marital Status
Marital status by former legacy Council area (most recent figures available from Census 2021):
Marital and civil partnership status MS-A30: Census 2021 CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
Single (never married or never registered a civil partnership) 40,720 (35.67%) 576,708 (38.07%)
Married 54,576 (47.81%) 690,509 (45.59%)
In a civil partnership 155 (0.14%) 2,742 (0.18%)
Separated (but still legally married or still legally in
a civil partnership) 3,795 (3.32%) 57,272 (3.78%)
Divorced or formerly in a civil partnership which is
now legally dissolved 7,258 (6.36%) 91,128 (6.02%)
Widowed or surviving partner from a civil partnership 7,655 (6.71%) 96,384 (6.36%)
All usual residents aged 16 and over 114,159 1,514,743
Causeway Coast and Glens follows a similar pattern to that of Northern Ireland in that the highest percentage of residents are married (47.81% compared with the NI average of 45.59%). The patterns are all higher than the NI average with the exception of Individuals in a civil partnership which at 0.14% is slightly lower than the NI average of 0.18%.
Same-sex marriage in Northern Ireland has been legal since 13 January 2020. (Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc) Act 2019)
Staff breakdown by Marital Status (Figures as at 21 October 2022)
Marital Status Number of staff
Unknown 60 (9.92%)
Married \ Civil Partnership 336 (55.54%)
Divorced 12 (1.98%)
Other 19 (3.14%)
Separated 12 (1.98%)
Single 164 (27.11%)
Widowed 2 (0.33%)
Total 605
There is no indication or evidence to suggest that the event will have a negative impact on this Section 75 Group.
Sexual Orientation
The 2021 census for the first time included a question on sexual orientation.
Sexual orientation
MS-C01: Census 2021 CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
Straight or heterosexual 104,205 (91.28%) 1,363,859 (90.04%)
Gay or lesbian 906 (0.79%) 17,713 (1.17%)
Bisexual 596 (0.52%) 11,306 (0.75%)
Other sexual orientation 135 (0.12%) 2,597 (0.17%)
Prefer not to say 4,502 (3.94%) 69,307 (4.58%)
Not stated 3,816 (3.34%) 49,961 (3.30%)
All usual residents aged 16 and over 114,160 1,514,743
Sexual orientation by broad age bands
MS-C02: Census 2021 CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
All usual residents aged 16 and over 114,158 1,514,745
Straight or heterosexual 104,203 (91.28%) 1,363,859 (90.04%)
Gay, lesbian, bisexual,
other sexual orientation 1,637 (1.43%) 31,617 (2.09%)
Prefer not to say/ Not stated 8,318 (7.29%) 119,269 (7.87%)
Usual residents aged 16-24 years 14,576 201,369
Straight or heterosexual 13,099 (89.87%) 175,346 (87.08%)
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, other sexual
orientation 517 (3.55%) 9,283 (4.61%)
Prefer not to say/ Not stated 960 (6.59%) 16,740 (8.31%)
Usual residents aged 25-39 years 24,700 369,770
Straight or heterosexual 22,732 (92.03%) 330,734 (89.44%)
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, other
sexual orientation 649 (2.63%) 13,991 (3.78%)
Prefer not to say/ Not stated 1,319 (5.34%) 25,045 (6.77%)
Usual residents aged 40-64 years 47,568 617,126
Straight or heterosexual 44,419 (93.38%) 571,502 (92.61%)
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, other
sexual orientation 419 (0.88%) 7,459 (1.21%)
Prefer not to say/ Not stated 2,730 (5.74%) 38,165 (6.18%)
Usual residents aged 65+ years 27,314 326,480
Straight or heterosexual 23,953 (87.69%) 286,277 (87.69%)
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, other sexual orientation 52 (0.19%) 884 (0.27%)
Prefer not to say/ Not stated 3,309 (12.11%) 39,319 (12.04%)
The council currently has no data specific to its workforce.
There is no indication or evidence to suggest that the event will have a negative impact on this Section 75 Group.
Men and Women Generally Gender:
(Census 2021 – Table MS-A07)
CC&G Borough Council Northern Ireland
Male 69,848 (49.28%) 936,132 (49.19%)
Female 71,898 (50.72%) 967,043 (50.81%)
Staff breakdown by Gender (Figures as at 21 October 2022)
Gender Number of staff
Male 335 (55.38%)
Female 270 (44.62%)
Total 605
There is no indication or evidence to suggest that the event will have a negative impact on this Section 75 Group.
Rathlin Sound Festival Equality Screening 2024 Part 2