Home Affairs, Ministry of

Repository: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland

Identity Statement

TitleHome Affairs, Ministry of
Archive ReferenceGB 0255 PRONI/HA
Web Link to this Entryhttps://iar.ie/archive/home-affairs-ministry
Creation Dates1921-1973
Extent MediumContact PRONI Archives Service for information

Context

Creator(s): Home Affairs, Ministry of

  • Administrative History ↴

    The Ministry of Home Affairs, which was established in 1921 under the Government of Ireland Act 1920, began operations in June 1921. The Ministry of Home Affairs portfolio was large and covered many areas, such as: police; preservation of the peace; prisons and borstals; training schools; the probation service; County Court services; magistrates courts; Crown solicitors; appointments of sheriffs, magistrates, justices of the peace and children's guardians; control of firearms, explosives and dangerous drugs, vivisection and other matters; the exercise of the prerogative of mercy; licensing laws; roads and road safety; bridges; ferries; elections and franchise; the Fire Service, fire protection and prevention; and provision and maintenance of courthouses and accommodation for magistrates courts. Divisions of the Ministry included: the Home Office Division; Local Government Division; the Probation Service; and the County Court Service. The Ministry of Home Affairs was responsible for the administration of health and welfare until 1944 when the Ministry of Health and Local Government was created. In June 1940 the Ministry of Public Security was established, but was abolished four years later when Home Affairs assumed its functions. The Ministries (Northern Ireland) Order 1973 abolished the Ministry of Home Affairs, and powers were transferred to: the Department of Finance; the Department of Commerce; the Department of Health and Social Services; and the Department of the Environment. Powers that were reserved under the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 remained as such. Those functions were further subdivided and reallocated under the Departments (Northern Ireland) Order 1999, which was enabling legislation under the Northern Ireland Act 1998 that allowed for the establishment of a new government and parliament.
  • Archival History ↴

    Acquired directly from the Ministry of Home Affairs
  • Immediate Source Acquisition ↴

    Official Transfer

Content & Structure

  • Scope & Content: Home Affairs, Ministry of ↴

    Contact PRONI Archives Service for information

  • Appraisal Destruction ↴

    Permanent Retention
  • Arrangement ↴

    Contact PRONI Archives Service for information

Conditions of Access & Use

Access Conditions The collection can be consulted in accordance with PRONI guidelines.
Conditions Governing ReproductionContact PRONI for guidelines
Creation Dates1921-1973
Extent MediumContact PRONI Archives Service for information
Material Language ScriptEnglish

Allied Materials

There are no Allied Materials

Descriptive Control Area

Archivist NotePublic Record Office of Northern Ireland
Rules/ConventionsISAD(G): General International Standard Archival Description. 2nd ed. Ottawa: International Council on Archives, 2000. National Council on Archives: Rules for the Construction of Personal, Place and Corporate Names. Chippenham: National Council on Archives, 1997. UK Archival Thesaurus (UKAT)
Date of Descriptions41699