Debate contribution: Rating System: Proposed Changes
Debate contribution by Dr Caoimhe Archibald on .
- MLA
- Dr Caoimhe Archibald
- Party at the time
- Sinn Féin
- Date
- 5 November 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Rating System: Proposed Changes
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4631855
Read the official Assembly record
Text
All of us want to see our town centres and shopping areas thriving. The difference that a bustling business can make to a once-empty property on the main thoroughfare of a town is very clear. The enhanced Back in Business scheme, which was reinstated in May, aims to bring vibrancy, footfall and investment back to our high streets. My aim now is to build on the success of that scheme and look at how we continue to tackle the blight of vacant properties by working alongside Executive colleagues and commercial stakeholders to help to progress the regeneration of high streets and grow a sustainable decarbonised built environment that underpins the rates system. I was heartened when I listened to the debate yesterday about the rejuvenation of high streets and town centres. Many of the areas that were touched on, including how we can help enhance access to cash, recognising that consumer preferences are changing and how to strategically address the issue of long-term derelict properties from a rating perspective, are contained in the proposals on my strategic road map on rating policy.
That is with the Executive for consideration.
My officials are working in partnership with a number of councils on the area of vacant units, including ascertaining the barriers to getting vacant properties reoccupied and brought back into use. I want to progress a reduction in rates relief for empty properties, but it needs to be sequenced with the other initiatives that I referred to to create the optimum environment for reoccupation, redevelopment or reuse. Given the cross-party support in the Chamber yesterday in those areas, I hope that my ministerial colleagues will support my proposals in that regard.
280 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
Assessment
Jev’s structured answers met the documented threshold for “not flagged”.
- Overall probability that the activity is being used to promote, exploit or escalate an identity-based controversy: 0.02 (flagging needs at least 0.70; at or below 0.30 is not flagged).
- None of the five culture-war criteria was met (each was below 0.60).
- Assessed as legitimate policy scrutiny (0.92).
- No identity-based framing was identified (1.00).
- The overall probability was at or below the not-flagging threshold.
This is an AI-generated assessment of the text, made against published criteria. It is not a finding of fact about the MLA or their intentions. The Assembly record itself is the fact.
Jev’s structured answers
| Question | Probability | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Identity framing | 0.02 | No |
| Sectarian or communal antagonism | 0.01 | No |
| Cultural grievance politics | 0.01 | No |
| Dog-whistle messaging | 0.01 | No |
| Controversy escalation | 0.02 | No |
| Legitimate policy scrutiny | 0.92 | Yes |
| Overall judgement | 0.02 | At or below not-flagging threshold |
| Option | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-based framing (chosen) | 1.00 |
| Reports or questions it | 0.00 |
| Criticises or condemns it | 0.00 |
| Adopts it | 0.00 |
| Subject | Probability |
|---|---|
| No identity-related subject | 1.00 |
| Flags, emblems, symbols, names and memorials | 0.00 |
| Parades, bonfires and commemorations | 0.00 |
| Irish language, Ulster-Scots and language policy | 0.00 |
| Sport (including the GAA), the arts and cultural bodies | 0.00 |
Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:30 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.
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