The Department for Communities in Northern Ireland has confirmed that Section 167 of the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 will be repealed following its 2025 consultation. The provision, which was never commenced, was intended to create a registration route for charities established outside Northern Ireland but operating there.
However, the Department for Communities has concluded that implementing Section 167 would create a “two‑tier landscape” and unnecessary duplication, giving a misleading impression of additional oversight by the Charity Commission for Northern Ireland.
Around 600 charities from across the UK and Ireland had been waiting to register under Section 167, but the planned repeal means they can continue operating under their home‑jurisdiction regulators, or choose full Northern Ireland registration under Section 16 if required.
This approach aims to reduce administrative burdens, avoid confusion, and maintain a clear, consistent regulatory framework for all charities working in or from Northern Ireland.
You can read the Department for Communities’ response to the consultation here.
The Department for Communities is now consulting on other aspects of charity law, to amend the Charities Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 in line with the recommendations from the Independent Review of Charity Regulation. The consultation runs until 26 April 2026. You can read more about the consultation, and provide your views, here.