This publication contains the written answers to questions tabled by Members. The content of the responses is as received at the time from the relevant Minister or representative of the Assembly Commission and has not been subject to the official reporting process or changed in any way.

Friday 23 April 2010

Written Answers to Questions

Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Agriculture and Rural Development
Culture, Arts and Leisure
Education
Employment and Learning
Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Environment
Finance and Personnel
Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Justice
Regional Development
Social Development
Northern Ireland Assembly Commission
Revised Written Answers

OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER

Strategic Investment Board

Mr R McCartney asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what temporary arrangements are being put in place to provide leadership to the Strategic Investment Board following the resignation of the Chief Executive.

(AQO 1015/10)

First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness):

The Strategic Investment Board is responsible for making arrangements to cover the vacancy for the Chief Executive post when this arises.

SIB has advised that the Chief Operating Officer will be undertaking the duties of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) pending the appointment of a permanent CEO as soon as possible through open competition.

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Single Farm Payment

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline the criteria used to assess Single Farm Payment applications.

(AQW 6052/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms M Gildernew):

Applications to the Single Farm Payment (SFP) Scheme must meet the following eligibility criteria:

The applicant must be a farmer undertaking agricultural activity;
The applicant must hold SFP entitlements and have eligible agricultural land;
Any individual field declared to claim payment must be at least 0.1 hectares;
Land used to support the claim must be at the applicant’s disposal on 15 May in the year of the claim.

In return for SFP, farm businesses must maintain all of the agricultural land on the holding in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) and comply with a number of specific legal requirements known as Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs). These requirements, known as Cross-Compliance, apply for the whole calendar year.

A penalty may be applicable to claims which do not meet the scheme rules or do not comply with the cross compliance requirements.

Single Farm Payment

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how many farmers in the East Antrim constituency are currently in receipt of the Single Farm Payment.

(AQW 6053/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development:

A total of 38,609 potentially eligible applications were submitted under the 2009 Single Farm Payment Scheme. As at 13 April 2010, 37,219 claims had been paid and a further 41 had been determined as not due payment because of the application of penalties under scheme rules.

The Department does not hold Single Farm Payment details on a constituency basis. The data is currently held by county and postcode where known. A list of the total number of applications received and the total number of claims finalised as at 13 April 2010 for each postcode area is attached at Annex A.

Annex A

SFP 2009 – Finalised Claim Details at 13 April 2010 (By Postcode)

Postcode	Claimed	Paid	Penalised
BT1	24	17	0
BT2	9	3	1
BT3	0	0	0
BT4	29	27	0
BT5	40	39	0
BT6	30	30	0
BT7	11	9	0
BT8	115	106	0
BT9	38	35	1
BT10	6	6	0
BT11	6	6	0
BT12	1	0	0
BT13	4	4	0
BT14	44	41	0
BT15	12	11	0
BT16	42	41	0
BT17	18	18	0
BT18	53	53	0
BT19	79	78	0
BT20	17	16	0
BT21	68	65	0
BT22	463	459	0
BT23	585	562	0
BT24	594	571	4
BT25	587	565	2
BT26	260	255	1
BT27	298	290	0
BT28	367	354	0
BT29	380	368	3
BT30	887	862	0
BT31	475	467	0
BT32	763	743	1
BT33	145	135	0
BT34	1966	1910	0
BT35	1715	1642	2
BT36	113	108	0
BT37	14	14	0
BT38	196	190	1
BT39	642	632	0
BT40	431	417	0
BT41	701	682	0
BT42	1002	978	0
BT43	469	457	0
BT44	1426	1382	2
BT45	1474	1437	0
BT46	547	537	0
BT47	1112	1071	1
BT48	66	61	0
BT49	457	440	0
BT50	0	0	0
BT51	940	910	1
BT52	162	153	0
BT53	884	866	0
BT54	282	267	0
BT55	31	30	0
BT56	39	37	0
BT57	201	195	0
BT58	0	0	0
BT59	0	0	0
BT60	1680	1634	1
BT61	485	466	0
BT62	679	662	1
BT63	302	294	0
BT64	0	0	0
BT65	5	4	0
BT66	304	290	0
BT67	338	329	0
BT68	87	86	0
BT69	205	200	0
BT70	1373	1326	1
BT71	1150	1114	2
BT72	0	0	0
BT73	0	0	0
BT74	534	484	4
BT75	299	287	0
BT76	205	195	0
BT77	140	134	0
BT78	1737	1655	4
BT79	1587	1519	2
BT80	1038	1005	4
BT81	558	535	0
BT82	665	631	1
BT83	0	0	0
BT84	0	0	0
BT85	0	0	0
BT86	0	0	0
BT87	0	0	0
BT88	0	0	0
BT89	0	0	0
BT90	0	0	0
BT91	0	0	0
BT92	1570	1489	1
BT93	1024	977	0
BT94	1013	979	0
No BT Postcode Held	311	272	0
Totals	38609	37219	41

Single Farm Payment

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how many farmers in the East Antrim constituency have been found to be violating the terms for receipt of the Single Farm Payment in each of the last three years.

(AQW 6054/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: As at 16 April 2010, a total of 3,405 farm businesses were the subject of a Single Farm Payment (SFP) penalty in 2007. The numbers for 2008 and 2009 are 2,459 and 1,745 respectively. Depending on the level of the discrepancy involved, the application of a penalty may result in no financial adjustment to the claim or a partial or full reduction in the amount payable.

The Department does not hold SFP details on a constituency basis. The data is currently held by county and postcode where known. A list of the total number of farm businesses which were the subject of penalty to their

SFP awards in each of the years 2007, 2008 and 2009, as at 16April 2010, for each postcode area is attached at Annex A.

Annex A

Numbers of farm businesses which had a penalty applied to Single Farm Payment awards in the 2007 to 2009 Scheme Years

Postcode	2007	2008	2009
BT1	3	3	1
BT2	2	0	0
BT3	0	0	0
BT4	3	1	0
BT5	3	2	0
BT6	1	3	0
BT7	1	1	0
BT8	9	3	6
BT9	2	3	2
BT10	0	0	0
BT11	0	0	0
BT12	1	1	0
BT13	0	0	0
BT14	5	4	1
BT15	2	1	1
BT16	5	3	3
BT17	3	2	0
BT18	1	1	0
BT19	7	6	4
BT20	2	1	0
BT21	4	0	1
BT22	32	23	20
BT23	46	26	15
BT24	37	34	24
BT25	46	35	26
BT26	19	17	14
BT27	21	14	5
BT28	22	14	13
BT29	40	25	11
BT30	105	61	45
BT31	33	21	21
BT32	56	41	30
BT33	11	12	10
BT34	174	127	109
BT35	137	98	85
BT36	8	3	0
BT37	1	1	0
BT38	17	13	6
BT39	60	38	29
BT40	35	26	19
BT41	44	37	27
BT42	70	48	31
BT43	30	22	12
BT44	129	88	63
BT45	128	103	60
BT46	40	34	29
BT47	150	111	79
BT48	4	4	3
BT49	50	31	24
BT50	0	0	0
BT51	84	60	43
BT52	13	9	3
BT53	70	47	28
BT54	34	27	25
BT55	1	0	0
BT56	7	3	1
BT57	24	17	18
BT58	0	0	0
BT59	0	0	0
BT60	124	104	90
BT61	37	14	15
BT62	68	29	27
BT63	17	14	9
BT64	0	0	0
BT65	0	1	1
BT66	18	22	13
BT67	23	15	13
BT68	9	8	6
BT69	15	12	9
BT70	111	91	56
BT71	70	61	53
BT72	0	0	0
BT73	0	0	0
BT74	52	43	22
BT75	32	25	12
BT76	19	12	12
BT77	16	7	7
BT78	180	123	85
BT79	188	147	105
BT80	81	58	38
BT81	54	45	26
BT82	73	52	33
BT83	0	0	0
BT84	0	0	0
BT85	0	0	0
BT86	0	0	0
BT87	0	0	0
BT88	0	0	0
BT89	0	0	0
BT90	0	0	0
BT91	0	0	0
BT92	144	109	70
BT93	125	92	55
BT94	77	40	30
No BT Postcode Held	40	30	11
Total	3405	2459	1745

Assistance to Sheep Farmers

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what assistance her Department is able to provide to sheep farmers who have lost lambs during the recent bad weather.

(AQW 6066/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: I am fully aware of the impact the recent severe weather has had here and I sympathise with farmers who are understandably distressed.

The Department has issued practical advice to help minimise losses particularly in regard to ewes with young lambs. Sheep farmers seeking practical advice to minimise losses as a result of the poor weather were advised to contact their local DARD Development Advisor.

There are currently no financial support measures available for farmers’ losses due to the severe weather, and my Department is currently facing significant financial resource pressures, across the board. However, with Executive Colleagues’ approval I recently met with the DFP Minister to discuss hardship funding in respect of crops damaged by severe weather in January 2010. During the course of the meeting I outlined the initial outcome of the recent crop damage assessment exercise and took the opportunity to raise the difficulties facing sheep farmers. We had a discussion on the problems faced by these farmers and how these might be addressed. At the Executive meeting on Thursday 15 April I brought the matter to the attention of Executive colleagues and secured agreement that a bid could be brought forward in the June monitoring round.

In the meantime, I have asked my officials to consider positively any individual requests for force majeure to avoid losses of LFA payments because of lamb or sheep fatalities that have resulted in the farm stocking level falling below the required minimum stocking density. Farmers need to set out their particular circumstances in writing and notify the Department within 10 days of being in a position to do so.

DARD Office in the Comber/Ballygowan Area

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she would consider opening a DARD office in the Comber/Ballygowan area, given the large farming community in the area.

(AQW 6067/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: In January 2009, I announced my decision to roll out the DARD Direct one stop shop approach to 12 locations across the north of Ireland. I am confident that 12 offices will meet the needs of the vast majority of farmers and represents value for money. The 12 locations I have selected are, Omagh, Dungannon, Armagh, Newry, Downpatrick, Newtownards, Ballymena, Coleraine, Claudy, Magherafelt, Enniskillen and Central South & East Antrim.

Once the DARD Direct model has been rolled out farmers from the Comber /Ballygowan area can visit the office most convenient for them, which is likely to be Newtownards.

Forestry Service

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline her Department's policies concerning the preservation, enhancement and promotion of historic demesnes under the control and management of the Forestry Service.

(AQW 6105/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: My Department (Forest Service) manages any historic demesnes within its ownership under its policy and strategic objectives, which are published in the NI Forestry Strategy for Sustainability and Growth in 2006. Forest Service has no specific remit for the preservation, enhancement and promotion of historical demesnes, however, it engages with other parties with interests in historical demesnes.

Reservoirs, Dams and Millponds

Mrs N Long asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what work is being undertaken by her Department to identify which is the competent authority to oversee the safety and maintenance of (i) reservoirs; (ii) dams; and (iii) millponds and to manage the risks associated with them.

(AQW 6213/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: Reservoir safety was identified as a policy gap in the government endorsed policy framework document "Living with Rivers & the Sea" which recommended the need to take forward appropriate legislation to provide for regulatory control. Work carried out by my department associated with the EC Floods Directive has confirmed that flood risk from this source needs to be effectively managed. Consideration is currently being given to the statutory mechanisms that are available to progress the issue of reservoir regulation and my officials are in discussion with other departments to determine how this will be taken forward.

Reservoirs, Dams and Millponds

Mrs N Long asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (i) to detail the number of (a) reservoirs; (b) dams; and (c) millponds in Northern Ireland; (ii) how many of each are under the responsibility of a Government Department; and (iii) for how many of each of the remainder is the owner or responsible agent known.

(AQW 6214/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment for the north of Ireland, as required by the Water Environment (Floods Directive) Regulations (NI) 2009, identified that there are 156 impoundments which are in excess of 10,000m³. "Impoundments" is the term used to describe all retained water bodies including reservoirs, dams, and mill ponds.

Approximately one third of the impoundments are under the responsibility of a Government Department. Ownership and responsibility for the remainder has not been determined as it was not required for completion of the Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment.

Single Farm Payments

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for the cost of processing Single Farm Payments last year.

(AQW 6223/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The Single Farm Payment Scheme costs approximately £9m per year to administer.

Single Farm Payment

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how many people in the (i) Larne; (ii) Carrickfergus; and (iii) Newtownabbey areas are in receipt of the Single Farm Payment.

(AQW 6236/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: A total of 38,609 potentially eligible applications were submitted under the 2009 Single Farm Payment Scheme. As at 13 April 2010, 37,219 claims had been paid and a further 41 had been determined as not due payment because of the application of penalties under scheme rules.

The Department does not hold Single Farm Payment details on a town area basis. The data is currently held by county and postcode where known. A list of the total number of applications received and the total number of claims finalised as at 13 April 2010 for each postcode area is attached at Annex A.

Annex A

SFP 2009 – Finalised Claim Details at 13 April 2010 (By Postcode)

Postcode	Claimed	Paid	Penalised
BT1	24	17	0
BT2	9	3	1
BT3	0	0	0
BT4	29	27	0
BT5	40	39	0
BT6	30	30	0
BT7	11	9	0
BT8	115	106	0
BT9	38	35	1
BT10	6	6	0
BT11	6	6	0
BT12	1	0	0
BT13	4	4	0
BT14	44	41	0
BT15	12	11	0
BT16	42	41	0
BT17	18	18	0
BT18	53	53	0
BT19	79	78	0
BT20	17	16	0
BT21	68	65	0
BT22	463	459	0
BT23	585	562	0
BT24	594	571	4
BT25	587	565	2
BT26	260	255	1
BT27	298	290	0
BT28	367	354	0
BT29	380	368	3
BT30	887	862	0
BT31	475	467	0
BT32	763	743	1
BT33	145	135	0
BT34	1966	1910	0
BT35	1715	1642	2
BT36	113	108	0
BT37	14	14	0
BT38	196	190	1
BT39	642	632	0
BT40	431	417	0
BT41	701	682	0
BT42	1002	978	0
BT43	469	457	0
BT44	1426	1382	2
BT45	1474	1437	0
BT46	547	537	0
BT47	1112	1071	1
BT48	66	61	0
BT49	457	440	0
BT50	0	0	0
BT51	940	910	1
BT52	162	153	0
BT53	884	866	0
BT54	282	267	0
BT55	31	30	0
BT56	39	37	0
BT57	201	195	0
BT58	0	0	0
BT59	0	0	0
BT60	1680	1634	1
BT61	485	466	0
BT62	679	662	1
BT63	302	294	0
BT64	0	0	0
BT65	5	4	0
BT66	304	290	0
BT67	338	329	0
BT68	87	86	0
BT69	205	200	0
BT70	1373	1326	1
BT71	1150	1114	2
BT72	0	0	0
BT73	0	0	0
BT74	534	484	4
BT75	299	287	0
BT76	205	195	0
BT77	140	134	0
BT78	1737	1655	4
BT79	1587	1519	2
BT80	1038	1005	4
BT81	558	535	0
BT82	665	631	1
BT83	0	0	0
BT84	0	0	0
BT85	0	0	0
BT86	0	0	0
BT87	0	0	0
BT88	0	0	0
BT89	0	0	0
BT90	0	0	0
BT91	0	0	0
BT92	1570	1489	1
BT93	1024	977	0
BT94	1013	979	0
No BT Postcode Held	311	272	0
Totals	38609	37219	41

Single Farm Payments

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how many farmers received Single Farm Payments last year; and the total amount allocated.

(AQW 6276/10)

Single Farm Payment

Mr G Campbell asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how many farmers in the East Londonderry constituency are currently in receipt of the Single Farm Payment.

(AQW 6277/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development:

Annex A

2009 Single Farm Payment – Finalised Claim Details at 13 April 2010 (By Postcode)

Postcode	Claimed	Paid	Penalised
BT1	24	17	0
BT2	9	3	1
BT3	0	0	0
BT4	29	27	0
BT5	40	39	0
BT6	30	30	0
BT7	11	9	0
BT8	115	106	0
BT9	38	35	1
BT10	6	6	0
BT11	6	6	0
BT12	1	0	0
BT13	4	4	0
BT14	44	41	0
BT15	12	11	0
BT16	42	41	0
BT17	18	18	0
BT18	53	53	0
BT19	79	78	0
BT20	17	16	0
BT21	68	65	0
BT22	463	459	0
BT23	585	562	0
BT24	594	571	4
BT25	587	565	2
BT26	260	255	1
BT27	298	290	0
BT28	367	354	0
BT29	380	368	3
BT30	887	862	0
BT31	475	467	0
BT32	763	743	1
BT33	145	135	0
BT34	1966	1910	0
BT35	1715	1642	2
BT36	113	108	0
BT37	14	14	0
BT38	196	190	1
BT39	642	632	0
BT40	431	417	0
BT41	701	682	0
BT42	1002	978	0
BT43	469	457	0
BT44	1426	1382	2
BT45	1474	1437	0
BT46	547	537	0
BT47	1112	1071	1
BT48	66	61	0
BT49	457	440	0
BT50	0	0	0
BT51	940	910	1
BT52	162	153	0
BT53	884	866	0
BT54	282	267	0
BT55	31	30	0
BT56	39	37	0
BT57	201	195	0
BT58	0	0	0
BT59	0	0	0
BT60	1680	1634	1
BT61	485	466	0
BT62	679	662	1
BT63	302	294	0
BT64	0	0	0
BT65	5	4	0
BT66	304	290	0
BT67	338	329	0
BT68	87	86	0
BT69	205	200	0
BT70	1373	1326	1
BT71	1150	1114	2
BT72	0	0	0
BT73	0	0	0
BT74	534	484	4
BT75	299	287	0
BT76	205	195	0
BT77	140	134	0
BT78	1737	1655	4
BT79	1587	1519	2
BT80	1038	1005	4
BT81	558	535	0
BT82	665	631	1
BT83	0	0	0
BT84	0	0	0
BT85	0	0	0
BT86	0	0	0
BT87	0	0	0
BT88	0	0	0
BT89	0	0	0
BT90	0	0	0
BT91	0	0	0
BT92	1570	1489	1
BT93	1024	977	0
BT94	1013	979	0
No BT Postcode Held	311	272	0
Totals	38609	37219	41

Single Farm Payment

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how many farms in the Lagan Valley constituency are currently in receipt of the Single Farm Payment.

(AQW 6354/10)

Annex A

2009 Single Farm Payment – Finalised Claim Details at 13 April 2010 (By Postcode)

Claimed Postcode Paid Penalised

24 BT1 17 0

9 BT2 3 1

0 BT3 0 0

29 BT4 27 0

40 BT5 39 0

30 BT6 30 0

11 BT7 9 0

115 BT8 106 0

38 BT9 35 1

6 BT10 6 0

6 BT11 6 0

1 BT12 0 0

4 BT13 4 0

44 BT14 41 0

12 BT15 11 0

42 BT16 41 0

18 BT17 18 0

53 BT18 53 0

79 BT19 78 0

17 BT20 16 0

68 BT21 65 0

463 BT22 459 0

585 BT23 562 0

594 BT24 571 4

587 BT25 565 2

260 BT26 255 1

298 BT27 290 0

367 BT28 354 0

380 BT29 368 3

887 BT30 862 0

475 BT31 467 0

763 BT32 743 1

145 BT33 135 0

1966 BT34 1910 0

1715 BT35 1642 2

113 BT36 108 0

14 BT37 14 0

196 BT38 190 1

642 BT39 632 0

431 BT40 417 0

701 BT41 682 0

1002 BT42 978 0

469 BT43 457 0

1426 BT44 1382 2

1474 BT45 1437 0

547 BT46 537 0

1112 BT47 1071 1

66 BT48 61 0

457 BT49 440 0

0 BT50 0 0

940 BT51 910 1

162 BT52 153 0

884 BT53 866 0

282 BT54 267 0

31 BT55 30 0

39 BT56 37 0

201 BT57 195 0

0 BT58 0 0

0 BT59 0 0

1680 BT60 1634 1

485 BT61 466 0

679 BT62 662 1

302 BT63 294 0

0 BT64 0 0

5 BT65 4 0

304 BT66 290 0

338 BT67 329 0

87 BT68 86 0

205 BT69 200 0

1373 BT70 1326 1

1150 BT71 1114 2

0 BT72 0 0

0 BT73 0 0

534 BT74 484 4

299 BT75 287 0

205 BT76 195 0

140 BT77 134 0

1737 BT78 1655 4

1587 BT79 1519 2

1038 BT80 1005 4

558 BT81 535 0

665 BT82 631 1

0 BT83 0 0

0 BT84 0 0

0 BT85 0 0

0 BT86 0 0

0 BT87 0 0

0 BT88 0 0

0 BT89 0 0

0 BT90 0 0

0 BT91 0 0

1570 BT92 1489 1

1024 BT93 977 0

1013 BT94 979 0

311 No BT Postcode Held 272 0

38609 Totals 37219 41

Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure

Windsor Railway Halt, South Belfast

Mr A Maskey asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what consultation or contact his Department has had with the Department for Regional Development in relation to the extension or relocation of the Windsor railway halt, in light of the proposed development of Windsor Park, South Belfast.

(AQW 6100/10)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr N McCausland):

My Department has not consulted the Department for Regional Development in relation to the extension or relocation of the Windsor railway halt, in light of the proposed development of Windsor Park.

Consultants have been commissioned through Sport NI to produce an Outline Business Case (OBC) for Stadium Development in Northern Ireland. Once the OBC is finalised and the preferred option for football agreed, as with any major build or alteration of existing premises there will be planning, traffic management and other issues to be considered. This will require the involvement of other Departments and the statutory authorities on associated access/infrastructure requirements.

The Legacy of the Titanic in 2012/13

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what plans his Department or any of its agencies have to celebrate the legacy of the Titanic in 2012/13.

(AQW 6116/10)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure:

My Department, through its associated arms length bodies plans to celebrate the legacy of the Titanic in 2012-13 in the following ways:

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland has awarded £25,000 to the Titanic Festival, scheduled to take place in April 2012. This will fund the commissioning of new art work to mark the centenary, including a Requiem for the Titanic;
The Arts Council has also allocated £10,000 towards the commissioning of a major play by Owen McCafferty for the Ulster Bank Festival at Queens 2012. The play is based on the transcripts of survivors of the Titanic.
National Museums Northern Ireland is actively developing a programme of exhibitions and events to coincide with key Titanic centenary anniversaries in 2011-12. These will include a mix of permanent and temporary exhibitions at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, the Ulster Museum and the Ulster American Folk Park and a programme of events at all three sites. All of these initiatives are subject to normal approval procedures.
This programme of exhibitions and events will be underpinned by National Museums’ unique collections relating to Titanic and wider maritime and industrial history. National Museums Northern Ireland already provides a dedicated Titanic Website http://www.titanicinbelfast.com/welcome.aspx which will be developed and refreshed as part of its public programming.

Furthermore, a DCAL Project Steering Group has been established to develop a strategy to commemorate 400^th and 100^th anniversaries that occur in the period 2010 to 2022. The work of the group is at a very early stage and my Department will work closely with other departments on celebrations around the Titanic anniversary.

I trust you will find this information useful.

The Legacy of the Titanic in 2012/13

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure how much funding has been allocated to allow his Department or any of its agencies to (i) plan for; and (ii) promote the celebration of the legacy of the Titanic in 2012/13.

(AQW 6117/10)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure:

No detailed funding has yet been allocated to projects beyond the budget year 2010/11 however you may wish to note that organisations supported by DCAL plan to celebrate the legacy of the Titanic in 2012-13 in the following ways:

The Arts Council of Northern Ireland is supporting the Titanic Festival with funds in the region of £25k, scheduled to take place in April 2012. This will fund the commissioning of new art work to mark the centenary, including a Requiem for the Titanic;
The Arts Council is also contributing £10,000 towards the commissioning of a major play by Owen McCafferty for the Ulster Bank Festival at Queens 2012. The play is based on the transcripts of survivors of the Titanic.
National Museums Northern Ireland is actively developing a programme of exhibitions and events to coincide with key Titanic centenary anniversaries in 2011-12. These will include a mix of permanent and temporary exhibitions at the Ulster Folk & Transport Museum, the Ulster Museum and the Ulster American Folk Park and a programme of events at all three sites. All of these initiatives are subject to normal approval procedures.
This programme of exhibitions and events will be underpinned by National Museums’ unique collections relating to Titanic and wider maritime and industrial history. National Museums Northern Ireland already provides a dedicated Titanic Website http://www.titanicinbelfast.com/welcome.aspx which will be developed and refreshed as part of its public programming.

I trust you will find this information useful.

Library Headquarters

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if he has had any discussions with the relevant parties concerning locating the new library headquarters in Lisburn instead of Ballynahinch.

(AQW 6159/10)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: I have had no discussions with any party regarding the location for Libraries NI’s corporate (headquarters) functions.

The Libraries NI Board has responsibility for deciding on the location for its corporate functions and it would be inappropriate for me to intervene in this operational issue.

No final decision has been taken by the Libraries NI Board on the future location for its corporate functions.

Library Headquarters

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what consideration he has given to the effect on tourism of moving the Library Headquarters from the historical town of Ballynahinch to Lisburn.

(AQW 6202/10)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure:

The Libraries NI Board has responsibility for deciding on the location for its corporate (headquarters) functions and it would be inappropriate for me to intervene in this operational issue.

I understand that no final decision has been taken by the Libraries NI Board on the location for its corporate functions. It is for this Board to consider whether there is any potential material effect on tourism.

In due course, I will be briefed by my officials on the Board’s plan of action.

Library Headquarters

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what consideration he has given to the savings that could be made if the Library Headquarters were to remain in Ballynahinch instead of being moved to Lisburn.

(AQW 6204/10)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure:

The Libraries NI Board has responsibility for deciding on the future location for its corporate (headquarters) functions and it would be inappropriate for me to intervene in this operational issue.

I understand that no final decision has been taken by the Libraries NI Board on the location for its corporate functions. The Board will consider any potential savings in the decision making process.

In due course, I will be briefed by my officials on the Board’s plan of action.

Library Headquarters

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline the projected cost of the movement of book and artefact collections from Ballynahinch Library Headquarters to the three other proposed locations.

(AQW 6272/10)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: The public consultation on Libraries NI’s proposal to close the former SEELB Library Headquarters at Ballynahinch ended on 16 March 2010. I understand that Libraries NI are considering the responses to this consultation. No final decision has yet been taken.

Libraries NI have considered the implications of relocating the collections currently housed in this building. They estimate that the costs will be minimal.

Department of Education

GSCE and A' Level Questions in Irish

Mr J Wells asked the Minister of Education what percentage of pupils in Irish-medium schools, when given the option, chose to answer GSCE and 'A' Level questions in Irish for non-Irish language exams.

(AQW 6045/10)

Minister of Education (Ms C Ruane ): Tairgeann an Chomhairle Curaclaim, Scrúdúcháin agus Mheasúnaithe (CCSM), mar fhoras cáiliúcháin, aistriúcháin Ghaeilge ar a n-ábhair scrúdaithe agus mheasúnaithe agus féadann sí iad a mharcáil agus a ghrádú dá réir sin. Cé is moite de Bhéarla agus Litríocht an Bhéarla ag GCSE agus Litríocht an Bhéarla ag Ardleibhéal, a chaithfear a ghlacadh trí mheán an Bhéarla, féadann Gaelscoileanna leas a bhaint as roinnt de cháilíochtaí CCEA nó as gach cáilíocht CCEA agus iarraidh ar aistriúcháin ar ábhair ghaolmhara.

The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA), as an awarding body, offers Irish translations of its examination and assessment materials and can mark and grade them accordingly. With the exception of GCSEs in English and English Literature and A level English Literature, all of which must be taken through the medium of English, Irish Medium schools can avail of any or all CCEA qualifications and request translations of related materials.

In the Summer 2009 examination series, Irish-medium post-primary school pupils entered for CCEA’s GCSE and A level qualifications (other than English or English Literature) answered the examination questions through the medium of Irish. It is not possible to provide the information requested in relation to pupils in Irish Medium post-primary units.

Staff-Pupil Ratio in Irish-Medium and Integrated Schools

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of Education to detail the current staff-pupil ratio, in each school year, in (i) each Irish-medium school; and (ii) each integrated school.

(AQW 6090/10)

Minister of Education: Ní choinníonn an Roinn eolas ar chóimheas daltaí-múinteoirí do blianta scoile aonair. Leagann na táblaí thíos na cóimheasa iomlána daltaí-múinteoirí, sa bhliain 2008-2009, do (i) gach Gaelscoil agus (ii) gach scoil chomhtháite.

The Department does not hold information to allow the pupil-teacher ratio for individual school years to be calculated. The tables below sets out the overall pupil-teacher ratios, in 2008-2009, for (i) each Irish medium school and (ii) each integrated school.

PUPIL: TEACHER RATIOS, 2008-2009

(i) Irish medium schools			(ii) Integrated schools

(i) (a) Irish medium primary schools		Pupil: Teacher Ratio	(ii) (a) Integrated primary schools		Pupil: Teacher Ratio
Bunscoil an tSleibhe Dhuibh	Belfast	18.7	Cranmore Integrated Primary School	Belfast	21.9
Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagain	Belfast	14.1	Hazelwood Primary School	Newtownabbey	21.2
Bunscoil Mhic Reachtain	Belfast	15.8	Enniskillen Integrated Primary School	Enniskillen	21.2
Bunscoil Phobal Feirste	Belfast	17.0	Oakgrove Integrated Primary School	Derry	18.6
Gaelscoil an Lonnain	Belfast	14.1	Omagh Integrated Primary School	Omagh	16.4
Gaelscoil na bhFál	Belfast	15.3	Roe Valley Integrated Primary School	Limavady	20.8
Gaelscoil na Mona	Belfast	17.2	Acorn Integrated Primary School	Carrickfergus	22.5
Scoil an Droichid	Belfast	14.2	Braidside Integrated Primary School	Ballymena	22.5
Bunscoil an Traonaigh	Lisnaskea	10.3	Corran Integrated Primary School	Larne	19.5
Bunscoil Cholmcille	Derry	20.1	Maine Integrated Primary School	Randalstown	20.3
Gaelscoil Eadain Mhoir	Derry	21.3	Millstrand Integrated Primary School	Portrush	17.7
Gaelscoil na gCrann	Omagh	12.5	Spires Integrated Primary School	Magherafelt	23.3
Gaelscoil Uí Dhochartaigh	Strabane	18.7	Cedar Integrated Primary School	Crossgar	24.0
Bunscoil an Chaistil	Ballycastle	15.4	Drumlins Integrated Primary School	Ballynahinch	16.6
Gaelscoil Eanna	Newtown- abbey	13.0	Loughview Integrated Primary School	Belfast	21.8
Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach	Crumlin	15.0	Millennium Integrated Primary School	Saintfield	20.3
Gaelscoil na Spéiríní	Magherafelt	12.0	Oakwood Integrated Primary School	Belfast	22.2
Bunscoil Bheanna Boirche	Castlewellan	14.5	Rowandale Integrated Primary School	Moira	11.3
Scoil na Fuiseoige	Belfast	13.8	Bridge Integrated Primary School	Banbridge	23.5
Bunscoil an Iuir	Newry	20.8	Phoenix Integrated Primary School	Cookstown	16.4
Gaelscoil Uí Neill	Coalisland	15.8	Portadown Integrated Primary School	Portadown	24.7
			Saints & Scholars Integrated Primary School	Armagh	18.4
			Windmill Integrated Primary School	Dungannon	21.9
Primary Irish medium sector average		16.3	Primary integrated sector average		20.6

PUPIL: TEACHER RATIOS, 2008-2009

(i) (b) Irish medium post-primary schools		Pupil: Teacher Ratio	(ii) (b) Integrated post-primary schools		Pupil: Teacher Ratio
Colaiste Feirste	Belfast	11.3	Hazelwood College	Newtownabbey	14.5
			Malone Integrated College	Belfast	14.0
			Drumragh College	Omagh	15.1
			Erne Integrated College	Enniskillen	12.2
			Oakgrove Integrated College	Derry	14.4
			North Coast Integrated College	Coleraine	11.6
			Slemish College	Ballymena	14.6
			Sperrin Integrated College	Magherafelt	12.4
			Ulidia Integrated College	Carrickfergus	13.3
			Blackwater Integrated College	Downpatrick	10.4
			Lagan College	Belfast	15.5
			Shimna Integrated College	Newcastle	12.9
			Strangford Integrated College	Carrowdore	14.5
			Armagh Integrated College	Armagh	7.1
			Integrated College Dungannon	Dungannon	13.6
			New-Bridge Integrated College	Banbridge	14.4
Post-primary Irish medium sector average		11.3	Post-primary integrated sector average		13.7

Whitehouse Primary School, Newtownabbey

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Education for an update on the provision of a new build for Whitehouse Primary School, Newtownabbey.

(AQW 6095/10)

Minister of Education: Beidh a fhios agat go bhfuil an t-athbhreithniú ar gach tionscadal ollchaipitil, lena n-áirítear an ceann sin do Whitehouse Primary School, ar siúl go fóill agus tá mo chuid feidhmeannach ag obair chun an próiseas a chríochnú. Mar gheall ar an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an tásc seo, áfach, is riachtanach go mbailítear fianaise láidir agus go dtugtar lánbhreithniú do gach tionscadal, sula ndéantar aon chinneadh. Cé go n-aithním na himthosca dúshlánacha sa chás seo agus i mórán cásanna eile, níl mé in ann dátaí sonracha le haghaidh chríochnú an athbhreithnithe nó le haghaidh dhul chun cinn aon scéime ar leith sa todhchaí a thabhairt faoi láthair.

You will be aware that the review of all proposed major capital work projects, including that for Whitehouse Primary School, is ongoing and my officials are working to complete the process. Given the importance of this task, however, it is essential that robust evidence is collated and that full consideration is given to each project, before a decision is taken. While I recognise the challenging circumstances in this case and in many others, I am not in a position at present to give specific dates for completion of the review or future progress of any particular scheme.

Community Alternative Education Provision

Ms J McCann asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 5610/10, what plans she has for the 2010/11 academic year for community alternative education provision currently funded by the Belfast Education and Library Board.

(AQW 6098/10)

Minister of Education: The best place for children and young people to be educated is in school. It is recognised, however, that for some young people a school placement cannot be sustained and that some form of alternative education provision may be necessary to meet their educational and other needs. Responsibility for making provision, for these young people, rests with the relevant Education and Library Board.

Soláthraítear maoiniú le haghaidh oideachas malartach do na Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlainne agus tá sé de dhualgas orthu a chinneadh cén chaoi is fearr a n-úsáidfear é seo chun riachtanais na ndaoine óga ina gceantair a bhaint amach. Féadann Boird, mar a tharla i limistéar Bhord Oideachais agus Leabharlainne Bhéal Feirste (BOLBF), trácht ar shocruithe comhpháirtíochta a bhunú le hearnáil an phobail nó áiteanna i soláthar reatha atá bunaithe sa cheantar a cheannach.

Funding is provided to the Education and Library Boards for alternative education and it is for them to decide how this can be used to best meet the needs of the young people in their area. Boards can, as is the case in the Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB) area, consider entering into partnership arrangements with the community sector or to purchase places in existing community based provision.

It is therefore a matter for the BELB to take forward, not the Department of Education.

Schools Capital Budgets

Lord Browne asked the Minister of Education to detail her Department's contribution to the capital budgets of (i) controlled primary schools; (ii) Catholic maintained primary schools; and (iii) Irish-medium primary schools in each of the last five years.

(AQW 6099/10)

Minister of Education: Seo a leanas an caiteachas caipitil ar scoileanna Rialaithe, scoileanna Caitliceacha faoi Chothabháil agus Gaelscoileanna i ngach bliain de na cúig bliana a chuaigh thart:

Capital expenditure on Controlled, Catholic Maintained and Irish-Medium schools in each of the last five years was as follows:

Primary School Sector	2004/05 (£000s)	2005/06 (£000s)	2006/07 (£000s)	2007/08 (£000s)	2008/09 (£000s)
Controlled	26,021	30,938	32,005	26,154	33,271
Catholic Maintained	18,905	17,807	15,583	16,501	18,267
Irish Medium	1,280	212	78	148	556

New Build for Lurgan College

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 5584/10, what steps she has taken to ensure that the policy framework and statutory obligations are in place to complete the area based planning process for the new build for Lurgan College.

(AQW 6110/10)

Minister of Education: I dtaca le Pleanáil de réir Ceantair, leag Páipéar Polasaí 22 RPA amach an cur chuige ardleibhéil polasaí le glacadh leis. Beidh lánfhreagracht ar an Údarás um Oideachas agus Scileanna, nuair a bhunófar é, as pleanáil an eastáit laistigh den chreat straitéiseach agus polasaí atá leagtha ag an RO agus, mar sin de, as pleananna de réir ceantair a thabhairt ar aghaidh.

In relation to Area Based Planning, RPA Policy Paper 22 set out the high level policy approach to be adopted. The Education and Skills Authority, when established, will have overall responsibility for planning of the estate within the policy and strategic framework set by DE and thus for bringing forward area-based plans.

In the interim period, my Department is working closely with all school managing authorities to develop a strategic approach to planning throughout the north of Ireland. All projects will be examined within the wider policy framework and for post primary school particular emphasis will be placed on the potential to deliver the Entitlement Framework.

In the Craigavon area, my Department has asked the SELB to review the capital investment needs of Lurgan College, within the wider context of delivery of the Entitlement Framework by all schools, with the view to bringing forward a strategic plan for the whole area. The plan is awaited.

Funding for Preparatory Schools

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Education for an estimate of the potential savings to be made by her Department through the withdrawal of funding for preparatory school places.

(AQW 6136/10)

Minister of Education: Mar is eol duit, thug mo Roinn údarás do Sheirbhís Comhairleachta Gnó na Roinne Airgeadais agus Pearsanra, i mí Eanáir 2009, chun athbhreithniú a dhéanamh go neamhspleách ar an mhaoiniú do rannóga ullmhúcháin tar éis na moltaí i dTuairisc Bain agus chun tuairisc a sholáthar ar a cuid torthaí. Bhain a Tuairisc, a tugadh dom i mí Mheán Fómhair 2009, de thátal as gur cheart don Roinn maoiniú na rannóga ullmhúcháin a tharraingt siar mar gheall ar chomhionannas rochtana.

As you know my Department commissioned the Business Consultancy Service of the Department of Finance and Personnel, in January 2009, to independently undertake a review of the funding to preparatory departments following on from recommendations in the Bain Report and to provide a report of their findings. Their Report, which was provided to me in September 2009, concluded that the Department should consider the withdrawal of funding to preparatory departments on the basis of equality of access.

This recommendation was in line with the view of the Equality Commission, which stated in its document "Every Child an Equal Child" that a key component of a quality education system is the provision of equality of access to good education.

However, before reaching a decision on this recommendation, I asked for an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) to be carried out under Section 75 of the 1998 NI Act. The EQIA consultation closed on 4 March 2010 and I am giving conscientious consideration to the responses received to this consultation prior to making my decision.

The proposal to withdraw funding from preparatory departments is on the basis of equality of access and not a financial matter.

Funding for Preparatory Schools

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Education what consideration she has given to the continuation of funding for those pupils currently in preparatory schools and the cessation of funding for new preparatory school places, as opposed to a complete withdrawal of funding in September 2010.

(AQW 6137/10)

Minister of Education: Mar is eol duit, tar éis molta i dTuairisc Bain maidir le hathbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar an réasúnacht taobh thiar de rannóga ullmhúcháin a mhaoiniú, choimisiúnaigh mo Roinn athbhreithniú neamhspleách a mhol gur cheart don Roinn breithmheas a thabhairt do mhaoiniú na rannóga ullmhúcháin a tharraingt siar mar gheall ar chomhionannas rochtana.

As you know, following a recommendation in the Bain Report about reviewing the rationale for funding preparatory departments, my Department commissioned an independent report which recommended that consideration should be given to the withdrawal of funding to preparatory departments on the basis of equality of access.

I am giving conscientious consideration to the responses received to this consultation prior to making my decision. Some of the responses received touched on similar issues to those included in your question and as such these will be considered as part of my deliberations

School Boards of Governors

Mr R McCartney asked the Minister of Education what measures are in place to address the long-term non-attendance of members of school Boards of Governors.

(AQW 6147/10)

Minister of Education: Déanann an scéim um bainistíocht do gach scoil dheontaschúnta foráil maidir le ball den Bhord Gobharnóirí a dhícháiliú ar bhonn neamhfhreastail leanúnaigh, mar seo a leanas:

The scheme of management for each grant-aided school makes provision to disqualify a member of the Board of Governors on the basis of continuous absence as follows:

‘Where a voting or co-opted member is absent from 3 consecutive meetings of the Board of Governors, or for 6 months consecutively, whichever is the greater period, the secretary shall report the matter at the next meeting, and unless the Board of Governors is satisfied that her/his failure to attend was occasioned by illness or other unavoidable cause, the member shall be deemed to have resigned her/his membership and shall cease to be a member.’

Review of Capital Projects

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Education to outline the completion framework for the review of capital projects; and the number of projects subject to this review.

(AQW 6156/10)

Minister of Education: Tá an t-athbhreithniú caipitil ar siúl go fóill agus tá mo chuid feidhmeannach ag obair chun an próiseas a chríochnú. Mar gheall ar an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an tásc seo, áfach, is riachtanach go mbailítear fianaise láidir agus go dtugtar lánbhreithniú do gach tionscadal, sula ndéantar aon chinneadh. Níl mé in ann dátaí sonracha le haghaidh chríochnú an athbhreithnithe seo a thabhairt faoi láthair, ach aithním go gcaithfear an obair a dhéanamh go gasta.

The capital review is ongoing and my officials are working to complete the process. Given the importance of this task, however, it is essential that robust evidence is collated and that full consideration is given to each project, before a decision is taken. I am not in a position at present to give specific dates for completion of this review however I recognise that this work needs to be carried out expeditiously.

All potential major capital works projects will be subject to review.

Post-primary Schools

Ms D Purvis asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) the number of post-primary schools in each Education and Library Board Area that are below the minimum enrolment of 500; and (ii) the number of post-primary schools closed down in each Education and Library Board area since 2007.

(AQW 6174/10)

Minister of Education: The information requested is detailed in the table below.

Post primary schools with fewer than 500 pupils¹ by ELB, 2009/10 and school closures from 2007

ELB	No of schools below the threshold enrolment	No of schools closed since 2007	No of schools closed since 2007 due to amalgamation
BELB	8	4	0
WELB	24	1	0
NEELB	21	1	3 forming 1
SEELB	18	3	0
SELB	22	1	0
TOTAL	93	10	3 forming 1

Source: School census.

Note:

The enrolment threshold relates to 500 pupils in Years 8 – 12. This is equivalent to 100 pupils in each year group for Junior Highs (Years 8 – 10) and for Senior Highs (Years 11 – 12).
The figures provided include two or more schools amalgamating to form one school.

Cuimsítear an tairseach rollaithe de 500 dalta do Bhlianta 8-12 (méid is ionann le 100 dalta in aghaidh an bhliainghrúpa) i m Beartas um Scoileanna Inbhuanaithe de chuid na Roinne, a shonraíonn sé chritéar le húsáid in inmharthanacht scoile a mheas, Ní druidtear scoileanna go huathoibríoch má thiteann rolluithe faoi na tairseacha sin, ach cíortar iad ar bhonn cás go cás i gcoinne na sraithe critéar atá leagtha amach sa bheartas sin. Is í an tsaincheist is tábhachtaí ná caighdeán an oideachais a sholáthraítear.

The enrolment threshold of 500 for Years 8 – 12 (equivalent to 100 per year group) is included in the department’s Sustainable Schools Policy which specifies six criteria to be used in assessing a school’s educational viability. Schools are not closed automatically if enrolments fall under the thresholds, but rather are considered on a case-by-case basis against the full set of criteria set out in the policy. The overriding consideration is the quality of education provided.

Development Proposals

Ms D Purvis asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of development proposals agreed across the controlled, maintained, integrated and Irish-medium sectors since 2007.

(AQW 6176/10)

Minister of Education: Faomhadh 78 togra forbartha ó 1 Eánair 2007. Mionsonraíonn an tábla thíos líon na gceaduithe de réir earnála.

A total of 78 development proposals have been approved since 1 January 2007. The table below details the number of approvals according to sector.

Sector	Controlled	Maintained	Grant-maintained Integrated (GMI)	Irish-medium
Number of Development Proposals Approved	45	16	5	12

Bangor Central Integrated Primary School

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Education what plans she has to provide additional accommodation for Bangor Central Integrated Primary School.

(AQW 6186/10)

Minister of Education: Beidh a fhios agat go bhfuil an t-athbhreithniú ar gach tionscadal molta ollchaipitil, lena n-áirítear an ceann sin do Bangor Central Integrated Primary School, ar siúl go fóill agus tá mo chuid feidhmeannach ag obair chun an próiseas a chríochnú. Mar gheall ar an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an tásc seo, áfach, is riachtanach go mbailítear fianaise láidir agus go dtugtar lánbhreithniú do gach tionscadal, sula ndéantar aon chinneadh. Níl mé in ann, mar sin, sonraí a thabhairt faoi láthair ar amscála i leith an fhoignimh mholta nua do Bangor Central Integrated Primary School.

You will be aware that the review of all proposed major capital work projects, including that for Bangor Central Integrated Primary School, is ongoing and my officials are working to complete the process. Given the importance of this task, however, it is essential that robust evidence is collated and that full consideration is given to each project, before a decision is taken. I am not, therefore, in a position at present to give details of a timescale for the proposed new build for Bangor Central Integrated Primary School.

Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin, North Belfast

Ms C Ní Chuilín asked the Minister of Education to provide an update on the new build for Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin, North Belfast.

(AQW 6192/10)

Minister of Education: D’fhaomh mo Roinn Breithmheas Eacnamaíochta do scéim fhéideartha um oibreacha ollchaipitil le haghaidh Bhunscoil Bheann Madagáin. Beidh a fhios agat, áfach, go bhfuil an t-athbhreithniú ar gach tionscadal ollchaipitil, lena n-áirítear an ceann sin do Bhunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin, ar siúl go fóill agus tá mo chuid feidhmeannach ag obair chun an próiseas a chríochnú. Mar gheall ar an tábhacht a bhaineann leis an tásc seo, áfach, is riachtanach go mbailítear fianaise láidir agus go dtugtar lánbhreithniú do gach tionscadal, sula ndéantar aon chinneadh. Cé go n-aithním na himthosca dúshlánacha sa chás seo agus i mórán cásanna eile, níl mé in ann dátaí sonracha le haghaidh chríochnú an athbhreithnithe nó le haghaidh dhul chun cinn aon scéime ar leith sa todhchaí a thabhairt faoi láthair.

My Department has recently approved an Economic Appraisal for the potential major capital works scheme for Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin. However you will be aware that the review of all proposed major capital work projects, including that for Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin, is ongoing and my officials are working to complete the process. Given the importance of this task it is essential that robust evidence is collated and that full consideration is given to each project, before a decision is taken. While I recognise the challenging circumstances in this case and in many others, I am not in a position at present to give specific dates for completion of the review or future progress of any particular scheme.

Area Based Planning

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of Education whether she has set deadlines for the delivery of Area Based Planning in the Lurgan and Portadown areas and if any of these deadlines have been breached.

(AQW 6197/10)

Area Based Planning

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of Education whether educational or curricular shortfalls have been identified by the Area Based Planning process in the Lurgan and Portadown areas.

(AQW 6198/10)

I CAN Early Years Centre in Ballynahinch Primary School

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Education how much funding she will set aside to prevent the closure of the I CAN Early Years Centre in Ballynahinch Primary school; and (ii) if she is aware of the value for money and savings provided by the centre.

(AQW 6203/10)

Minister of Education: The ICAN centre in Ballynahinch Primary School provides a high quality and valued service to children and their parents.

The Department of Education (DE) does not provide direct funding to services such as the ICAN Early Years Centre. The Department distributes to Education and Library Boards (ELBs) a block grant each year from which they fund a range of services, including special education. This funding is distributed on an equitable basis to Boards who have a statutory duty to identify and make provision for children with special educational needs. They are best placed to direct those funds to local provision that most effectively meets the special educational needs of children in their Board area.

In 2006/07 DE was able to release the sum of £83k to each of the ELBs to relieve pressures on special educational needs (SEN) within each Board area. This was to be spent entirely at the discretion of the ELB in meeting local needs and it was the decision of the SEELB to direct that sum towards the funding of ICAN. It was also the SEELB’s decision, in conjunction with the South-Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, to provide funding in the succeeding years.

I have visited the Centre and have seen for myself the work they are doing for young children. It is generally accepted that early intervention to address barriers to learning can make a difference to life chances and may result in lower spend at later stages.

D’iarr mé ar an BOLOD comhairle a thabhairt dom ar straitéis an Bhoird chun riachtanais gach páiste a bhfuil deacrachtaí urlabhra agus cumarsáide acu i luathbhlianta a bhaint amach, lena n-áirítear riachtanais na bpáistí sin atá ag freastal ar Ionad ICAN faoi láthair, agus scríobh mé chuig an Aire Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteacht an Phobail faoin chaoi a bhféadfadh ár n-earnálacha a obair le chéile i dtaca leis an chineál soláthair seo.

I have asked the SEELB to advise me of the Board’s strategy to meet the needs of all children with speech language and communication difficulties in early years, including those currently attending the ICAN Centre, and I have written to the Minister for Health Social Services and Public Safety about how our sectors might continue to work together in relation to this type of provision.

Capital Building Projects

Ms C Ní Chuilín asked the Minister of Education to list (i) the capital building projects which have been completed since 2000 in the North Belfast constituency; (ii) those currently underway; and (iii) those which are at the planning stage.

(AQW 6217/10)

Minister of Education: Since 2000 four major capital school projects have been completed in the North Belfast constituency. The projects are as follows:-

School	Project Details	Capital Cost £m	Completion Date
Cavehill P.S. Belfast	New school	1.8	August 2004
Lowwood P.S. Belfast	New school	2.0	August 2004
Dominican College, Belfast	Extension & Refurbishment	13.1	June 2006
Cedar Lodge Special School, Belfast	New school	4.54	August 2007

There are two major capital projects where construction work is currently underway. These are:-

School	Project Details	Estimated Capital Cost £m
Belfast Boys Model	New school on existing site	32.7
Belfast Model School for Girls	New school on existing site	30.1

The following four major capital school projects in the North Belfast constituency are currently at various stages of the planning process:-

School	Project Details	Estimated Capital Cost £m
Little Flower Girls S.S. Belfast	New school on existing site	8.96
Whitehouse P.S. Newtownabbey	New school on existing site	4.3
Edenderry Nursery School, Belfast	New school on new site	0.97
Glenwood P.S. Belfast	New school on existing site	10.37

The Economic Appraisal (EA) for Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagain has recently been approved by my Department. Further progress on the project is, however, subject to the outcomes of the ongoing review of capital projects and the availability of funding for future projects.

Beidh a fhios agat gur choimisiúnaigh mé, í mí Dheireadh Fómhair 2009, athbhreithniú ar gach tionscadal reatha atá fós ag an chéim phleanála. Cuideoidh an t-athbhreithniú caipitil le cur chuige níos straitéisí a fhorbairt ar chinntí infheistithe caipitil agus ar bhainistíocht eastát na scoileanna. Sa timpeallacht gheilleagrach reatha, cinnteoidh an t-athbhreithniú go n-úsáidfear gach acmhainn atá ar fáil chun na torthaí is fearr do pháistí agus an luach is fearr don cháiníocóir a bhaint amach. Mar gheall air seo, tá sé tábhachtach go ndearbhaíonn muid go bhfuil gach tionscadal caipitil ina n-infheistíonn muid inmharthana san fhadtéarma.

You will be aware that in October 2009, I commissioned a review of all current projects still in planning. This review will inform a more strategic approach to capital investment decisions and the management of the schools estate. In the current economic climate the review will ensure that available resources are used to secure the best outcomes for children and maximum value for the taxpayer. In light of this it is important that we validate that the capital projects in which we invest are viable in the long term.

It is critically important that investment in the education estate is consistent with and supportive of the policy framework I am putting in place and that it adheres to our statutory duties in relation to equality and targeting on the basis of objective need. At the heart of this is Every School a Good School, Revised Curriculum, Sustainable Schools, Irish Medium Review and the Entitlement Framework.

As area based planning develops, these policies will drive the reshaping of our estate and the consequential investment plans. As Minister for Education, I need to ensure that the substantial resources we are now investing produce the best outcomes for children and value for the taxpayer.

Education and Library Board Structure

Mrs N Long asked the Minister of Education for her assessment of for how long the current Education and Library Board structure will continue.

(AQW 6227/10)

Minister of Education: Gheall an Coiste Feidhmiúcháin go mbeadh 1 Eanáir ina dháta bunaithe don Údarás nua um Oideachas agus Scileanna (ESA) a ghlacfaidh feidhmeanna na mBord Oideachais agus Leabharlainne ar láimh. Ní dheachaigh an Bille um Oideachais ar aghaidh chuig an chéim bhreithnithe, áfach, cionn is nach ndearna an Coiste Feidhmiúcháin cíoradh ar na leasuithe a bhí curtha síos agam, ag an Coiste Oideachais ná ag baill aonair. Creidim go n-aithníonn mo chomhghleacaithe ar an Choiste Feidhmiúcháin an gá le dul ar aghaidh go práinneach leis an leasú riachtanach seo sa riarachán oideachais d’fhonn go bhféadfar an tÚdarás nua seo a bhunú ag an dáta is luaithe is féidir. Leanfaidh na Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlainne dena bheith ag feidhmiú don idirthréimse roimh bhunú an ESA.

The Executive committed itself to 1 January 2010 as the establishment date for the new Education and Skills Authority (ESA) which is to take over the functions of the Education and Library Boards. However, the Education Bill has not proceeded to Consideration Stage because the Executive has yet considered the amendments that have been tabled by the Education Committee, by individual Members and by myself. I trust that my Executive colleagues recognise the need to proceed urgently on this much-needed reform of education administration so that the new authority can be established at the earliest possible date. The Education and Library Boards will continue to operate for the transitional period until the establishment of ESA.

Department for Employment and Learning

South Eastern Regional College

Mr D Bradley asked the Minister for Employment and Learning how many staff have been employed within the communications department of the South Eastern Regional College in each of the last three years.

(AQW 6093/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning (Sir Reg Empey):

The number of staff employed in the Communications Department of South Eastern Regional College in each of the last three academic years is outlined in the table below.

ACADEMIC YEAR NO. OF STAFF EMPLOYED BY SOUTH EASTERN REGIONAL COLLEGEIN ITS COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT

2007/08 7

2008/09 7

2009/10 7

ACADEMIC YEAR	NO. OF STAFF EMPLOYED BY SOUTH EASTERN REGIONAL COLLEGEIN ITS COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT
2007/08	7
2008/09	7
2009/10	7

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Northern Ireland Tourist Board

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to provide a breakdown of bonuses paid to staff at the Northern Ireland Tourist Board in each of the last three years.

(AQW 6074/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Mrs A Foster):

Details of bonuses paid to staff at the Northern Ireland Tourist Board in each of the last three years are as follows:

Financial Year:	Bonuses Paid:
2007/08	£ 6,000
2008/09	£15,000
2009/10	£ 1,000
Total:	£22,000

These amounts recorded are Gross Amounts before tax. The bonuses were paid under the Senior Civil Service Pay Strategy and the provisions of the Special Bonus Scheme for staff.

Project Kelvin

Ms M Anderson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to outline the opportunities for schools in the Foyle constituency to benefit from high-speed reliable internet connections as a result of Project Kelvin.

(AQW 6372/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Project Kelvin will not have an immediate direct impact on broadband for schools. However, as for Small Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs), Project Kelvin will enable more Internet Service Providers to provide broadband access within Northern Ireland. We have already seen evidence of this, with North West Electronics (NWE) providing wireless access in the North West. Kelvin enables providers like these to access the Points of Presence and also obtain connectivity to internet exchanges in London and Dublin in order to provide low cost Internet Protocol Transit (IPT). Schools may, therefore, benefit from increased connectivity options and potential price reductions.

Schools may also benefit from the next generation broadband project, which I announced on 3 December 2009, when my Department awarded an £18 million contract, part funded from EU Structural Funds, to BT to deliver access to next generation broadband services to 85% of businesses by 2011. A facility to allow interested parties to check for information on specific upgrades in their areas is available at www.fasterbroadbandni.com.

It is, however, important to note that responsibility for computer connections for schools rests with the Department of Education (DE). DE has advised that a managed Information Communication Technology (ICT) service, Classroom 2000 (C2k) provides all schools in Northern Ireland with internal networks and computers and access to the internet using the local BT infrastructure. Connections to UK mainland and Republic of Ireland are delivered through the public internet and the Joint Academic Network (JANET) service. All international connections are made across the public internet. Where this public internet traffic utilizes the Kelvin infrastructure, all schools across Northern Ireland will benefit from it. However, C2K has had no direct dealings with the Kelvin project.

Department of the Environment

St Patrick's Day Celebrations 2010

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of the Environment to provide a breakdown of the total cost to (i) his Department; and (ii) Belfast City Council of the St Patrick's Day celebrations 2010 in the Holyland area of Belfast.

(AQW 5812/10)

Minister of the Environment (Mr E Poots): My department has not incurred any direct costs for the St Patrick’s Day 2010 celebrations in the Holyland area.
The total estimated costs to Belfast City Council for these events are approximately £11,600. These costs include preparation and planning for the event, media and communication about the event, additional staff hours and clean up costs. As this figure is an estimate it may be subject to change.

Taxi Licence

Dr W McCrea asked the Minister of the Environment if, under the terms of their licence, a taxi driver can acquire a saloon vehicle which has PSV status.

(AQW 6055/10)

Minister of the Environment: On the sale or other change of ownership of a vehicle, an existing PSV licence may be transferred, provided this is done through my Department and in accordance with the appropriate procedures.

Gobbins Path Project

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of the Environment for an update on the Gobbins Path project in the East Antrim constituency.

(AQW 6057/10)

Minister of the Environment: My Department issued planning permission for the reinstatement of the Gobbins Path in September 2009. The project is led by Larne Borough Council in partnership with the National Trust. I understand they are in the process of securing the funding required to allow the project to progress.

Rose Energy Incinerator Proposal

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of the Environment how many times he has met with representatives from the Ulster Farmers' Union in relation to Rose Energy's proposal for a poultry litter incinerator at Glenavy.

(AQW 6064/10)

Minister of the Environment: I met with the President of the Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) on 3 November 2009 to discuss the business of the UFU. The Rose Energy proposal for a biomass fuelled power plant at Ballyvannon Road, Glenavy was one of the items on the agenda at that meeting.

Tyrone- Cavan Interconnector

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of the Environment if his Department has held any meetings with the residents involved in the Safe Energy for Armagh and Tyrone action group in relation to the proposed Tyrone- Cavan interconnector; and whether he would consider arranging such a meeting.

(AQW 6086/10)

Minister of the Environment: My Department has not held any meetings with the Safe Energy for Armagh and Tyrone (SEAT) action group. However in response to a request from Cllr William Irwin MLA, I met him and three representatives of the SEAT action group on Tuesday 20 April 2010.

Recycling by Councils

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of the Environment what action he is taking to ensure that recycling by councils meets the highest standard.

(AQW 6133/10)

Minister of the Environment: I am committed to ensuring that waste collection and treatment methods adopted by councils generate the optimal quality and quantity of recyclates enabling Northern Ireland to meet statutory targets for recycling and landfilled waste. The annual funding which my Department has provided and continues to provide to the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) has enabled WRAP to work directly with councils, individuals and businesses across Northern Ireland providing best practice guidance on the collection and recycling of waste.

Over the last year WRAP has worked directly with 19 local councils. This assistance has been of critical importance in helping councils to plan effective and efficient waste collection systems.

My Department’s funding to WRAP includes a contribution of £1.5m towards the costs of an In-vessel composting facility in Dunmurry. The facility, which I opened in November 2009, will enable 60,000 tonnes of garden and food waste to be composted to PAS 100 standard each year from households across NI. This will make a substantial contribution to improving recycling/composting rates for many councils across Northern Ireland.

Whilst there has been a significant increase in household recycling rates there is considerable variation between councils in the rates achieved. I have asked my officials to consider the potential to effect further increases in recycling rates.

Vandalism

Rev Dr R Coulter asked the Minister of the Environment how much local councils spent in 2009 on repairing damage caused by vandalism to (i) community centres; (ii) youth clubs; and (iii) play areas.

(AQW 6215/10)

Minister of the Environment: Information in the form requested is not readily available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost.

Department of Finance and Personnel

Land Held by Government Departments

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel (i) to list all the lands in the Upper Bann constituency which is currently held by Government Departments; and (ii) to detail (a) its purpose; (b) its value; and (c) any future plans for each of these holdings.

(AQW 6022/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr S Wilson): Please see attached Annex A

Annex A

Name of Land or Building	Postal Address (if available)	Owned or Leased	Current use of Land/building	Current value of land/ building	Proposed future use
DFP (all values are from asset register)
Marlborough House	2 Central Way CraigavonBT64 1AD	Owned	Office accommodation	£4,919,080	Same as current use
Banbridge JBO	Crown Buildings, 18 Castlewellan Road Banbridge BT32 4AZ	Owned	Jobs & Benefits Office	£1,581,595	Same as current use
Portadown JBO	Crown Building 84-140 Jervis Street Portadown BT62 1HA	Owned	Jobs & Benefits Office	£855,510	Same as current use
Lurgan JBO	Crown Buildings, 10 Alexandra Crescent Lurgan BT66 6BB	Owned	Jobs & Benefits Office	£2,090,943	Same as current use
	6-8 Scarva Street Banbridge BT32 3DA	Leased	SDG/VS Office accommodation	£5,732	DARD occupation ending July 2010. Lease ending 30 September 2010 and building to be vacated at this time
	45 Newry Street Banbridge BT32 3EA	Leased	Office accommodation	No value on asset register	Same as current use
	2 Scarva Street Banbridge BT32 3DA	Leased	Office accommodation	No value on asset register	Same as current use
Magowan Buildings	1^st floor 23-27 Magowan Buildings West Street Portadown BT62 3PN	Leased	Office accommodation	£167,651	Same as current use
Banbridge Business Centre	62 Scarva Road Banbridge BT32 3QD	Leased	Office accommodation	No value on asset register	Same as current use
DSD
M1/M12 Motorway Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£465,750	Disposal
22 Carbet Road Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£581,130	Disposal
Carbet Road Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£2m	Disposal
Kilvergan Road Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£61,830	Disposal
Drumnagoon Road Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£146,655	Disposal
Charlestown Road Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£2.8m	Disposal
Drumnagoon Road Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£624,825	Disposal
Lisniskey, Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£31m	Disposal
Kernan Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£90,000	Disposal
Kernan Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£450,000	Disposal
Knockmenagh Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£19m	Disposal
Westacres Craigavon	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£998,400	Disposal
Moyraverty Craigavon	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£3.8m	Disposal
Moyraverty Craigavon	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£18,450	Disposal
Ardowen Craigavon	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£614,400	Disposal
Tannaghmore North Road Lurgan	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£61,771	Disposal
Ballynamoney Lane Lurgan	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£6.2m	Disposal
Carbet Road Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	Awaiting value from LPS	Disposal
Drumgor Park	N/A	Owned	Surplus	Nominal	Disposal
Knockrammer Park Lurgan	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£42,000	Disposal
Tarsan Lane Lurgan	N/A	Owned	Surplus	Awaiting value from LPS	Disposal
Kernan Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£362,250	Disposal
Franklyn Park Lurgan	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£113,400	Disposal
Tarsan Lane Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	N/A	999 Year lease
Derryvore Lane Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	Awaiting value from LPS	Disposal
Seagoe Road Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£25,000	Disposal
10 Ballynamoney Lane Lurgan	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£129,875	Disposal
57 Carbet Road Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£50,467	Disposal
Carbet Road Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£217,350	Disposal
Seagoe Industrial Estate Portadown	N/A	Leased	Leased	N/A	42 year lease
Avondale Craigavon	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£5,175	Disposal
Franklyn Park Lurgan	N/A	Leased	Leased	N/A	999 year lease
Seagoe Industrial Estate	N/A	Owned	Surplus	Awaiting value from LPS	Disposal
Silverwood Business Park Lurgan	N/A	Owned	Surplus	Awaiting value from LPS	Disposal
Peacefield Ballinacor Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£55,000	Disposal
55 Carbet Road Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£48,600	Disposal
Bocombra Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	N/A	999 year lease
Bocombra Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	N/A	999 year lease
Tannaghmore West Road Lurgan	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£100,000	Leased
Brownlow Craigavon	N/A	Leased	Leased	N/A	999 year lease
Rathmore Craigavon	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£40,000	Disposal
Bocombra Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£37,500	Disposal
Brownlow Craigabon	N/A	Owned	Surplus	Awaiting value from LPS	Disposal
Silverwood Road Lurgan	N/A	Owned	Surplus	Awaiting value from LPS	Disposal
Carbet Road Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	Awaiting value from LPS	Disposal
M1/M12 Motorway Craigavon	N/A	Owned	Surplus	Awaiting value from LPS	Disposal
Carbet Road Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	Awaiting value from LPS	Disposal
Oakfields Craigavon	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£1,350	Disposal
Drumellan Craigavon	N/A	Owned	Surplus	£75,000	Disposal
Brownlow Craigavon	N/A	Owned	Surplus	Awaiting value from LPS	Disposal
Tullygally Craigavon	N/A	Leased	Leased	N/A	999 year lease
Franklyn Park Lurgan	N/A	Owned	Surplus	Awaiting value from LPS	Disposal
Kernan Portadown	N/A	Leased	Leased	Awaiting value from LPS	999 year lease
Charlestown Road Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	Awaiting value from LPS	Disposal
Charlestown Road Portadown	N/A	Owned	Surplus	Awaiting value from LPS	Disposal
DCAL
DCAL Inland Fisheries	1 Mahon Road Portadown	Owned	DCAL Public Office/Outstation/Administration	£275,000	DCAL Public Office/Outstation/Administration
DCAL Inland Fisheries Boathouse	40 Derrycrow Road Lurgan BT66 6PT	Access Rights leased from landowner	To secure, launch, maintain and repair fishery protection vessels on Lough Neagh	Lease £350 per annum	To use and maintain for foreseeable future
Lands at Whitecoat Point, Upper River Bann	Tandragee Road Portadown	Leased	Lands pathway along the Bann Cusher intersect downstream towards Portadown Town Centre – Public pathway used for the purposes of Water Recreation	Rental £215 per annum	Transfer to Local Council under RPA 2011
DOE
Driver Vehicle Testing Agency	3 Diviny Drive Carn Industrial Estate Craigavon	Owned	Vehicle and Driver Testing	£888,000	Same as current use
Driver Vehicle Agency Weighbridge Facility	3 Diviny Drive Carn Industrial Estate Craigavon	Owned	Vehicle Weighbridge Facility	£115,000	Same as current use
Driver Vehicle Agency Weighbridge Facility	Dublin Road Loughbrickland	Owned	Vehicle Weighbridge Facility	£120,000 building	Same as current use
Brackagh Bog Nature Reserve	Brackagh Moss Road Portadown	Freehold/Owned	Land managed as a Nature Reserve	£30,000	Continue with existing management
Lisnamintary Rath	Ballyargan Road Craigavon	Freehold/Owned	Managed to protect historic site	£1,500	Continue with existing management
Turmoyra Marsh	Kinnego Embankment Lurgan	Freehold/Owned	Used for experimental grazing and lay back land	£15,000	Continue with existing management
Lisnavaragh Fort	Lisnavaragh Road Banbridge	Freehold/Owned, boundary uncertain	Managed to protect historic site	£1,300	Continue with existing management
Lisnagade Fort	Silverford Road Banbridge	Freehold/Owned, boundary uncertain	Managed to protect historic site	£1,900	Continue with existing management
Montiaghs Moss	Featherbed Road Aghagallon	Freehold/Owned	Managed for European designated feature interest	£360,000	Continue with existing management
Peatlands Park	Derryhubbert Portadown	Freehold/Owned	European designated site (part Country Park, offices, storage infrastructure	Not possible to provide this within the time frame	Continue with current uses.

Population Figures for Crumlin, County Antrim

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for a summary of the population growth and the associated population figures for the town of Crumlin, County Antrim over the last 20 years.

(AQW 6123/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The population of Crumlin settlement as reported in the 1991 Census was 2,697 people. This population was based on a 2km square covering the settlement. For the equivalent spatial area the population from the 2001 Census was 4,197 people – giving a growth rate over the decade of just over 50%.

From 2001 onwards settlement statistics are reported on a more accurate geographic basis namely the statutory settlement development limit as defined by the Planning Service. The population of Crumlin settlement as reported in the 2001 Census was 4,248 people and the latest mid-2008 estimate for the population resident in Crumlin settlement is 5,100 people – giving a growth rate over the seven year period of around 20%.

'Fuelstretcher' in Government Buildings

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel (i) what action he intends to take to ensure that government buildings adopt the most efficient and economic methods of heating; and (ii) what consideration he has given to installing 'fuelstretcher'.

(AQW 6132/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The Department of Finance and Personnel Properties Division ensures that the most efficient and economic methods of heating are achieved through detailed procurement specifications at design stage and through meeting statutory regulations. Additionally, the efficient operation of heating systems is given consideration during the implementation of planned preventative maintenance programmes.

Trials involving the ‘Fuelstretcher’ technology have been carried out in two large Government buildings. Following completion of the trials my Department was not satisfied with the performance of the Fuelstretcher device and has no plans to install this equipment in any other buildings.

Rates Deferment Scheme

Ms M Anderson asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel if he would consider introducing a rates deferment scheme for businesses which are struggling as a result of the economic recession.

(AQW 6220/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: A business rates deferment scheme was introduced in Great Britain last year to provide protection from increases in business rates. In Northern Ireland it was considered that there was no need for the introduction of an equivalent scheme given that business rates were frozen in money terms last year. This year’s modest increase of 2.7%, which was agreed by all parties in the Executive, provides a freeze in real terms given the level of inflation.

The holding of industrial rates at 30% as well as the introduction of a small business rate relief scheme has a combined annual cost of around £40m. This is money lost to pay for public services at a regional level. While I think that the measures we have taken to help businesses were the right thing to do, particularly during these difficult economic times, there are serious revenue implications in providing any additional concessions.

Total income from business ratepayers amounts to around £510m a year and if your enquiry relates to the introduction of a broadly based scheme that would allow the deferment of these payments, this would seriously affect the level of public finances and all the regional and district council services that are part funded through the rates, including our hospitals, schools and roads.

The budgetary consequences of a business rates deferment scheme would need to be fully understood and accepted by all Ministers before any such proposal could be examined further; in terms of its scope and eligibility, impact and effectiveness, as well as the major operational and legislative implications. Ultimately any decision would be a cross cutting matter, which would be for the Executive to decide on and it is certainly not something that my Department would initiate, or even contemplate, in isolation.

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Roe Valley Hospital

Mr G Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for an update on the recruitment process to fill vacant (i) nursing; and (ii) consultancy posts in clinics at the Roe Valley Hospital.

(AQW 6048/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Mr M McGimpsey):

The Western Health and Social Care Trust is responsible for the recruitment of its staff and recruits as necessary to fill vacancies.

The Trust has advised me that there are no nursing vacancies in Roe Valley at the present time.

As a Consultant Dermatologist has retired, a locum Consultant dermatologist has now been secured and will commence work within the next week.

Ulster Hospital

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the plans for the expansion of the Ulster Hospital which necessitates the use of land currently leased to Knock Golf Club.

(AQW 6073/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety:

The current redevelopment plans for the Ulster Hospital at Dundonald are contained within the existing hospital site and the land formerly occupied by the Health Estates Agency, which is immediately to the north of the hospital. They do not require any of the land currently leased to Knock Golf Club.

Ban on the Display of Tobacco Products in Retail Outlets

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether he would reconsider the implementation date for the ban on the display of tobacco products in retial outlets, in light of the limited time available to retailers to make the necessary changes to their shops and those retailers already affected by the current economic downturn.

(AQW 6135/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: My primary objective in introducing further legislative controls on point of sale displays of tobacco products is to reduce the appeal, and consequently the uptake, of smoking by children and young people. Research has shown that young people are particularly susceptible to the marketing of tobacco products, which is why I propose to introduce a ban on displays from 1 December 2010, this being the earliest date possible in the legislative process. Retailers in Northern Ireland will have known from early February 2009 of my intention to introduce regulations in 2010, and will have had almost two years to prepare for this. Northern Ireland is also in a different position to the rest of the UK given our land border with the Republic of Ireland, where a display ban has been in place from July 2009.

A public consultation exercise on the proposed regulations will begin shortly, subject to Executive approval, and this will provide all retailers with the opportunity to examine the draft regulations in detail and offer views on the content and timing before they are finalised. When the consultation responses have been analysed, I will take a final decision on the timing of the display ban.

Review of Public Administration

Ms M Anderson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for an indication of the implications of the Review of Public Administration for staff within the western office of the Regional Health and Social Care Board.

(AQW 6141/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: In implementing the reforms under the Review of Public Administration, the Health and Social Care Board remains committed to maintaining a strong presence in all of its local offices in Londonderry, Armagh, Ballymena and Belfast. This is considered particularly important to ensure that the Local Commissioning Groups are able to meet their obligations delegated by the Health and Social Care Board to commission services for the population each covers.

Air Traffic Problems

Mr G Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what contingency plans his Department has in place to ensure that the current air traffic problems do not affect the stock of prescription medications available in local pharmacies.

(AQW 6286/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety:

There have been no reported shortages of prescription medications available in local pharmacies as a result of the air traffic problems caused by volcanic ash. Pharmacists are continuing, in accordance with their code of ethics, to maintain their supply of prescription medication to patients.

Women and Children’s Hospital

Mr F McCann asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if he has recently had discussions with, or made bids to, the Minister of Finance and Personnel in relation to the new women and children's hospital.

(AQO 1048/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I have previously met with both the current and former Ministers of Finance & Personnel on issues relating to both the total budget allocated to my Department and the funding required for the Women’s and Children’s Hospitals in particular. Current planning assumptions, which are constrained by my Department’s budgetary allocation, mean that site enabling works are due to start in 2011, with construction of the Women’s Hospital beginning in 2015/16 and construction of the Children’s Hospital starting in 2017/18. I continue to seek support from my Executive colleagues to try to accelerate this timetable.

North/South Feasibility Study

Mr A Attwood asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations in the North South feasibility study, which was commissioned jointly by his Department and the Department of Health and Children in Dublin and completed at the beginning of 2009.

(AQO 1055/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety:

My duty is to ensure that the people of Northern Ireland have access to safe high quality health and social care services. I have previously indicated in this House that I am prepared to support cross-border cooperation in the provision of health and social care where this can deliver real tangible benefits. The health and social care systems in each jurisdiction have proven that, where necessary, effective arrangements for closer working can be delivered on a project by project basis. The arrangements for access to radiotherapy services, to paediatric surgery services and the work on suicide prevention are but a few examples. I do not however intend to create unnecessary administrative structures around north/south cooperation, particularly in the current financial climate.

Neonatal and Maternity Services

Mr D Bradley asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans he has to invest in and improve neonatal and maternity services, given that the Every Baby Matters report revealed that 200 babies are stillborn or die shortly after birth each year and a further 2000 require urgent neonatal care.

(AQO 1056/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: My Department has invested extensively in both maternity and neonatal services in recent years. We strive to consistently meet the British Association of Perinatal Medicine standards for the ratio of neonatal nurses to cots at each level of care however, like other parts of the UK, peaks and troughs in demand mean that this is not always possible. Northern Ireland has a strong record on both stillbirth and neonatal mortality – the last official figures available show Northern Ireland performing better than any other UK region.

We do not however see this as grounds for complacency and are always striving to improve services to mothers and babies.

The figures quoted in these questions are however based on a report which is now a few years out of date. We are currently reviewing neonatal nurse staffing levels and once the results are available I will be in a position to take decisions on any further investment.

Termination of Pregnancy Guidelines

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline progress in relation to the revised guidelines on the termination of pregnancy, the law and clinical practice.

(AQO 1057/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety:

My Department’s guidelines on the termination of pregnancy does not change the current law on the termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland. The recent High Court ruling stated the Guidance did not mislead health professionals about the law relating to the termination of pregnancy in Northern Ireland and that in five of the seven contested issues the court found in my Department’s favour. However, he did state that the sections on Conscientious Objection and Counselling were potentially misleading and the Guidance should be withdrawn.

The two sections relating to counselling and conscientious objection have been revised and are currently being considered by Senior Counsel. The revised sections on counselling and conscientious objection will be then subjected to public consultation. Following consultation I will then submit them to the Executive Committee for consideration before being issued.

Adolescent Mental Health Services

Mr J Bell asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the pressures within adolescent mental health services and if these pressures are adequately reflected within the Health Trusts' assessment of service needs.

(AQO 1058/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Like all other health and social care services, demand for adolescent mental health services is increasing. Additional investment is required across the range of mental health services to address years of underfunding and to deliver the Bamford vision. That is why I have made Mental Health and Learning Disability my top priorities for service development.

The levels of efficiencies and budget cuts being imposed on my Department compel Trusts to provide services according to the resources available instead of providing services to meet the assessed health needs of our population.

Craigavon Area Hospital: Out-of-hours GP

Mr J O'Dowd asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans there are for changes to the out-of-hours GP service at the Craigavon Area Hospital site.

(AQO 1059/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: GP OOHs services will continue to be provided at Craigavon Area Hospital site in line with the Northern Ireland Quality Standards.

Hospital Appointments

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety why the Health Service failed to meet the Programme for Government target in the last quarter of 2009 that no person should wait longer than 9 weeks for a first out-patient appointment and 13 weeks for a first in-patient appointment.

(AQO 1061/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: My Department has made excellent progress in reducing hospital waiting times since 2005. The deterioration in performance during 2009/10 was the result of a number of factors, the most significant of which was the uncertainty around the financial position of the Health and Social Care sector in Northern Ireland. The fact that the health service is facing ever increasing demand for its services also has a substantial bearing on the delivery of the waiting times standards now and into the future.

Suicide Prevention

Mr G Adams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) to confirm whether suicide prevention remains a priority and whether his Department will reflect this in its budget for community-based suicide prevention in 2010/11; and (ii) if funding will continue to target those communities and areas afflicted by the highest rates of suicide and attempted suicide.

(AQW 6371/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety:

I recognise that sustained and long-term effort is necessary to reduce the incidence of suicide in Northern Ireland, particularly in those areas which experience disproportionately higher rates of suicide. Tackling suicide in our society remains a priority for my Department, working in partnership with other Government Departments, professional bodies, and the community and voluntary sectors.

Suicide Prevention budgets are managed by the Public Health Agency and the Health and Social Care Board. Funding will be made available in 2010/11 for community-based suicide prevention and an element of this will continue to be targeted at those areas with the highest rates of suicide.

Department of Justice

Racial Categories in Departmental Questionaires

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister of Justice why his Department and other bodies under its aegis do not include Arab as a racial category in any of their questionnaires, surveys or other documentation.

(AQW 6103/10)

Minister of Justice (Mr D Ford): Questionnaires, surveys and other documentation produced by the Department will typically include categories comparable with those outlined in the Equality Commission’s Guidance on Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, and those listed in the Northern Ireland Census.

Non-payment of Fines

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Justice how many people are currently serving jail sentences for non-payment of fines.

(AQW 6128/10)

Minister of Justice :

At 19 April there were 17 people in prison in Northern Ireland for non-payment of fines.

Women's Prison at Hydebank Wood

Ms C Ní Chuilín asked the Minister of Justice if he intends to visit the women's prison at Hydebank Wood in the near future; and if he plans to meet wth the Minister of Health, Social Services, and Public Safety regarding healthcare for prisoners.

(AQW 6165/10)

Minister of Justice : I visited the women’s prison at Hydebank Wood and the Young Offenders Centre as an early priority, on Thursday 15 April. This followed my visit to the Inspire Women’s Project on 13 April. I intend to meet at an early opportunity with the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to discuss prisoner healthcare. I will be paying close attention to developments in these important areas.

Maghaberry Prison

Ms C Ní Chuilín asked the Minister of Justice how he intends to address the 'work to rule' currently operated by staff in Maghaberry Prison.

(AQW 6166/10)

Minister of Justice :

The ‘withdrawal of goodwill’ by the Prison Officers’ Association (POA) ended on 9 April. The dispute related to the handling of disciplinary cases and NIPS management and the POA have agreed to appoint an Independent Appeal Panel to hear the appeals in these cases.

The Prison System

Ms C Ní Chuilín asked the Minister of Justice what action he intends to take to redress the current religious and gender imbalance within the prison system.

(AQW 6167/10)

Minister of Justice :

Prison Service launched a comprehensive Diversity Strategy in June 2008. It contains targets for job applicants of 35% Roman Catholic and 40% women by 2011, though recruitment opportunities are limited. An action plan sets out a range of positive measures, including partnership working with organisations and representatives from the voluntary and community sectors, affirmative action on advertising campaigns, a programme of school visits, offering summer work experience and representation at recruitment and careers exhibitions across Northern Ireland.

I have requested an early update on progress against the 2011 targets.

Contraband Mobile Phones in Prisons

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Justice how many contraband mobile phones have been recovered from prisoners in each of the last five years.

(AQW 6206/10)

Minister of Justice :

The total number of mobile phones recovered from prisoners in the last five years is 321. The table below shows the establishment breakdown in each year.

Year	Maghaberry	Magilligan	Hydebank Wood
2005	1	14	1
2006	28	9	1
2007	28	40	3
2008	47	74	6
2009	26	37	6
Total	130	174	17

Convictions for Domestic Violence

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Justice how many convictions for domestic violence were secured in each of the last two years, broken down by court division.

(AQW 6209/10)

Minister of Justice : I regret that the information sought on convictions for domestic violence is not available. Court conviction data do not contain background information in relation to offences committed, and it is therefore not possible to separate out the number of convictions for offences with a domestic motivation from other types of assault.

A wider range of information on the incidence and impact of domestic violence is however available from the Northern Ireland Crime Survey at

http://www.nio.gov.uk/08_northern_ireland_crime_survey.pdf and from PSNI statistics at http://www.psni.police.uk/2._08_09_domestic_incidents_and_crimes.pdf

Anti-Social Behaviour Orders

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Justice how many people are currently bound by Anti-Social Behaviour Orders in each constituency; and how many are juveniles.

(AQW 6210/10)

Minister of Justice :

The Department of Justice has been notified by the relevant authorities that as at 1 April 2010 there are 39 ASBOs, 28 Adult and 11 Juvenile, in place in Northern Ireland. The table below details the breakdown of these figures by District Council area. The information is not held by Constituency.

Current ASBOs⁽¹⁾ by District Council and Adult/Juvenile ⁽²⁾
District Council	Adult	Juvenile	Total
Ballymena	13	7	20
Banbridge	1	0	1
Belfast	4	1	5
Carrickfergus	1	0	1
Castlereagh	1	0	1
Coleraine	1	1	2
Craigavon	1	0	1
Down	1	0	1
Fermanagh	2	0	2
Larne	2	0	2
Newry	1	2	3
Total	28	11	39
Notes
1. ASBOs current as at 1st April 2010
2. A juvenile is under 18 at the start of the ASBONB: The Anti-social Behaviour (NI) Order2004defines relevant authority as district councils, PSNI or Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Youth Court Convictions

Lord Morrow asked e Minister of Justice how many youth court convictions in the last two years involved sexual offences, broken down by court division.

(AQW 6212/10)

Minister of Justice : The table below gives the number of 10-17 year olds convicted for sexual offences at the youth court by court division. Data cover the calendar years 2005 and 2006 (the latest year for which figures are currently available) and are collated on the principal offence rule; only the most serious offence for which an offender is convicted is included.

Number of 10-17 year olds convicted of sexual offences at the youth court¹ by court division 2005 and 2006

Total	6	7
	2005	2006
Youth Court
Antrim	1	0
Belfast	1	3
Craigavon²	1	1
Londonderry	3	3

1. Excludes convictions at the Crown Court.
2. Conviction in 2005 was at a magistrates’ court.

Convictions for Knife Crime

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Justice how many convictions for knife crime have been secured in each of the last 24 months.

(AQW 6258/10)

Minister of Justice : I regret that the information sought on convictions for knife crime is not available in the format requested. Court conviction data do not contain background information in relation to offences committed. It is therefore not possible to separate out the number of convictions for certain offences, such as murder, in which a knife was involved. It is possible only to provide conviction statistics for those offences which, in their definition, refer to an ‘offensive weapon’ or ‘article with blade or point’ (of which knives will be one sub-category).These are:

Armed with offensive weapon with intent to commit offence;Possessing offensive weapon in public place;Possessing article with blade or point in public place;Possessing article with blade or point on school premises;
Possessing offensive weapon on school premises.

The table below gives the number of convictions for these offences in 2005 and 2006 (the latest year for which figures are currently available) by month. Data are collated on the principal offence rule; only the most serious offence for which an offender is convicted is included.Number of convictions for offensive weapon offences by month¹

2005 and 2006

Month	2005	2006
January	10	17
February	13	16
March	23	16
April	11	13
May	20	13
June	29	25
July	11	16
August	18	17
September	13	24
October	25	24
November	22	34
December	14	27
Total	209	242

1. Month is based on date of sentencing.

Convictions for Driving Offences

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Justice how many convictions for (i) drink driving offences; and (ii) dangerous driving offences have been secured in each of the last 24 months.

(AQW 6259/10)

Minister of Justice : The table below gives the number of convictions for drink/drug related driving offences and dangerous driving offences for the calendar years 2005 and 2006 (the latest year for which figures are currently available) by month. Data are collated on the principal offence rule; only the most serious offence for which an offender is convicted is included.

Number of convictions for drink/drug driving offences and dangerous driving offences by month¹ 2005 and 2006

Month	2005	2006	2005	2006
	Drink/drug driving offences 2		Dangerous driving offences
January	288	306	32	44
February	241	229	39	52
March	220	227	37	40
April	250	221	46	21
May	252	228	30	42
June	292	294	45	38
July	211	176	28	30
August	256	210	23	36
September	210	240	35	31
October	217	268	36	40
November	226	227	36	34
December	144	183	21	36
Total	2807	2809	408	444

1. Month is based on date of sentencing.
2. Most of the convictions are for offences which refer to alcohol specifically in the definition, however, some are for offences which refer to alcohol or drugs and it is not possible to separate the two. Offences relating to ‘driving whilst unfit’ are also included.

Equal Pay Claims of Police Staff

Mr D McNarry asked Minister of Justice if he will keep the Assembly informed of his progress in determining the legal liability of his Department in respect of the equal pay claims of police staff.

(AQW 6356/10)

Minister of Justice : I shall ensure that the Assembly is advised of progress in the matter of the PSNI’s legal liability in respect of the equal pay claims of police staff.

Department for Regional Development

20 MPH Speed Limit

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development (i) in how many residential areas with the 20 mph speed limit is the limit (a) enforceable; and (b) advisable; (ii) how many 20 mph speed limits have been applied outside schools; and (iii) if he plans to extend this speed limit to other areas to detail the location and timescale.

(AQW 4937/10)

Minister for Regional Development (Mr C Murphy): I should explain that my Department’s Roads Service implement 20mph zones primarily in residential areas, where an extensive network of streets is involved and self-enforcing traffic calming measures can be provided to reduce vehicle speeds to approximately 20mph. Whenever speeds have been consistently reduced to this level, it is then possible to introduce a mandatory 20mph limit. If the reduction of speed is insufficient, then it is not possible to introduce a 20mph mandatory limit.Roads Service has advised that it has currently implemented sixty-five such zones across the North and, of these, sixty-three are mandatory speed limits, nine of which are located outside schools, with the remaining two being advisory.I can also advise that Roads Service is currently in discussions with the PSNI Roads Policing Unit about introducing one mandatory 20mph pilot zone in each Roads Service Division, where no self enforcing traffic calming measures will be provided. The PSNI has agreed to enforce these pilots on a trial basis.

Salt Boxes in the Bannside Area of Ballymena

Mr D McKay asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the number and location of salt boxes in the Bannside area of Ballymena.

(AQW 6062/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Road Service has advised that there are currently a total of 33 salt boxes provided within the Bannside ward of Ballymena Borough Council. Details of locations are listed in the table below:-

Road Name	Location
CULLYBACKEY
Kilmakevitt	House No. 1
Kilmakevitt- Lay-by	House No. 21
Kilmakevitt Square	Opposite House No. 18
Markstown Close	Light post No. 10
Fendale Park	Light post No. 1
Fendale Park	Light post No. 9
Queens Park, Dreen Road	Entrance at left hand side
Oaklands	Entrance at right hand side
Fendale Park	At Junction

AHOGHILL
Lismurn Park	Light post No. 2
Laurel Park	Opposite House No. 17
Glenhugh Road	School Entrance
Glenhugh Road	At Junction on left hand side
Glenhugh Road	Street light No. 4
Glenhugh Park	Street light No. 1
Brookfield Gardens	House No. 22
Church Road, Ahoghill	Opposite House No. 38
Beechwood Avenue	At Killane Road
Grove Road	Off Killane Park 2 No.
Glebe Cottage	Side of house No. 15
Straid Road	At Street light No. 7
New Road	At Junction

THE GRANGE
Moorlands	Front of House No. 15
Grange Corner	At junction of Taylorstown Hill
Taylorstown Road	Opposite street light No.4
Junction of Largy Road and Crosskeys Road	Low Side
Church Road	At Junction

GLARRYFORD
Station View	Rear of House No. 11
Station View	At Junction

PORTGLENONE
Mansfield Heights	At street light. No. 1
Garvaghy Avenue	At Entrance on the left hand side
Sperrin Heights	At Entrance
Gortgoal Road	At Hill

A4 between Granville and Ballygawley

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans are in place to ensure the installation of effective road designation and numbering for the remaining sections of the A4 between Granville and Ballygawley.

(AQW 6113/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that when the remaining length of the existing A4 between Granville and Ballygawley is superseded by the new dual carriageway, it will be downgraded and re-designated as the B34.Roads Service is content that the new signage on both the dual carriageway and the B34 will facilitate the safe movement of traffic.

Dual Carriageway between Dungannon and Ballygawley

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans are in place to ensure the installation of effective road designation and numbering on the new dual carriageway between Dungannon and Ballygawley.

(AQW 6115/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that when the new dual carriageway between the M1 at Dungannon and Ballygawley opens to traffic it will be designated as the A4. The new dual carriageway is currently programmed to open early in 2011.In addition to the new signage on the dual carriageway, it is presently estimated that over 40 existing signs, including advance direction signs, direction signs and route confirmation signs will be replaced. Roads Service is content that the new signage on the dual carriageway will facilitate the safe movement of traffic.

Manufacturers or Firms Supplying Services to Translink

Mr G Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the number of visits since January 2008 to manufacturers or firms supplying services to Translink by (i) departmental staff; and (ii) Translink staff at (a) the taxpayers' expense; and (b) the manufacturers' or firms' expense.

(AQW 6118/10)

Minister for Regional Development: Translink have advised me that the answer to this question would only be available at disproportionate cost. A similar position is relevant to those parts of the question relating to Departmental expenditure.

NI Water

Mr G Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development if NI Water has considered adopting the mains water and sewerage system to former Ministry of Defence dwellings now in private ownership.

(AQW 6119/10)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) that it has adopted part of the sewerage system at Hill Close/Forest Drive within the former Ministry of Defence estate at Ballykelly but has not considered adoption of the water infrastructure.It is the responsibility of the owners of former Ministry of Development sites to make an application to NIW requesting the adoption of the sewers within the site. NIW will only adopt sewerage systems which meet the current specification and construction standards contained in its Sewers for Adoption Procedures. Guidance Notes about the Sewer Adoption process are available on the NIW website at www.niwater.com. Watermains may also be offered for adoption by agreement subject to their installation complying with current NIW specification and they must comply with current regulations and standards of performance for provision of water supplies to premises in the area.

Disability Parking Bay Application Process

Mrs N Long asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline the reasons for the delay in the disability parking bay application process in the Roads Service Eastern Division.

(AQW 6139/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that applications received in its Eastern Division for disabled parking bays are dealt with within a 21-day period, by which time the applicant will be advised, either that they have met the necessary criteria for the provision of a bay, or of the reasons why their application is not being progressed. I should explain that disabled parking bays are authorised by means of a statutory rule (SR). Normally, details of applications that have been approved at divisional level across the North are batched on a two monthly basis and incorporated into a single draft SR. There are a number of steps involved in making an SR, including clearing the draft SR with the Department of Finance and Personnel’s Departmental Solicitor’s Office (DSO). In the past this has normally taken a couple of months, but I understand that over the past year, due to pressures on staff resources within the DSO, the timeframe for getting draft SRs cleared has increased significantly. Roads Service is in regular contact with the DSO about this issue and I understand DSO is seeking additional resources in order to address the backlog situation.I hope this has reassured you that Roads Service is dealing with all applications in an appropriate manner and that any delays currently being experienced are outside of its control. If you have particular concerns regarding any specific applications where you feel that delays are excessive, please provide me with the details and I will have the matter investigated.

Resurfacing Work on Abbot Drive, Newtownards

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to AQW 5333/10 why resurfacing work on Abbot Drive, in the Bowtown Estate, Newtownards has not commenced particularly in light of a recent near miss vehicle accident when a car slid across the road due to the poor conditions.

(AQW 6164/10)

Minister for Regional Development: As I advised in my reply to your recent Question AQW 5333/10, my Department’s Roads Service has programmed a resurfacing scheme for Abbot Drive, Newtownards. Whilst it had been hoped to have this work completed before the end of March, the contractor has been under pressure to complete other schemes which were already on the resurfacing programme. In addition, time was also lost due to the contractor closing for a holiday period during the Easter week. I am advised by Roads Service that the contractor hopes to be on site no later than week commencing 26 April 2010. Roads Service is not aware of any incident involving a car sliding across the road. However, I can confirm that interim repairs were carried out on the worst potholes last week on Abbot Drive, as a holding measure, pending the completion of the resurfacing scheme.

Land at Rushmere Shopping Centre in Craigavon

Mr J O'Dowd asked the Minister for Regional Development if and when his Department will make land at the east side of Rushmere Shopping centre in Craigavon available on the open market to allow development of the site.

(AQW 6171/10)

Minister for Regional Development: The Member will be aware that the proposed disposal of the subject land to the rear of Rushmere Shopping Centre has proved to be a very complex case. However, following my meeting with the Minister for the Department for Social Development, in December 2009, I instructed my Department’s Roads Service to explore with Department of Finance and Personnel's Land and Property Services (LPS), and our Departmental Solicitors Office (DSO), the option of offering the subject land for sale on the open market. This would be subject to a successful abandonment of the public road, which would contain conditions concerning the provision of alternative permanent facilities. I am pleased to report that, in the circumstances particular to this case, both LPS and DSO have agreed to proceed along these lines.The current position is that Roads Service has requested and is awaiting information from utilities, regarding the location of their apparatus in the subject area. Also, an additional adjacent plot of land has been identified, which could be put on the market at the same time. Once all this information is to hand, DSO will start preparing the contract for sale. We are therefore unable to indicate at this stage when the site might become available on the open market.

Windsor Railway Halt, South Belfast

Mr A Maskey asked the Minister for Regional Development what consideration his Department has given to the extension or relocation of the Windsor railway halt in light of the proposed development of Windsor Park, South Belfast.

(AQW 6183/10)

Minister for Regional Development: There currently is no halt at Windsor and the nearest halt is located at Adelaide. I understand NITHC/Translink have, however, had some recent discussions with the Irish Football Association (IFA) in relation to transport solutions to get fans to and from the ground and have advised the IFA that the costs associated with moving the halt to beside Windsor Park would be prohibitive. However they are currently considering other options, including providing a new pathway from Adelaide halt to Windsor Park and also to providing a number of dedicated bus services. My department is currently in the process of reviewing future Translink capital plans in the light of indicative resourcing.

Speed Limit for the Upper Saintfield Road

Ms A Lo asked the Minister for Regional Development what consideration he has given to implementing a reduction in the speed limit for the Upper Saintfield Road in order to improve road safety.

(AQW 6256/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that speed limits are set in line with guidelines, which take into account several factors including, for example, the character of the road, the density of development, the local environment, the collision history and traffic speeds. The existing 50mph speed limit on the Upper Saintfield Road, between Cairnshill Road and the Carryduff Roundabout has been in place since 1981. Roads Service reviewed the speed limit on this section of road in February 2010, when it was concluded that the current speed limit was appropriate. As such, there are at present, no plans to change the current speed limit at this location.

DRD: Irish Language Policy

Mr P Butler asked the Minister for Regional Development what progress his Department is making in implementing an Irish language policy under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

(AQO 1065/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department has made significant progress in developing an Irish language policy to fulfil the commitments in the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. The policy, which is set out in a Code of Courtesy, includes the following measures:

The translation of all Ministerial forewords to Plans, Reports and Consultation Documents into Irish;
The translation of all new or revised information leaflets and application forms into Irish;
The creation of a multilingual section on my Department’s website, to provide key information on Departmental functions in Irish;
The use of bilingual headlines in English and Irish on all advertisements placed by my Department in national and local press publications;
The ongoing publication of significant Departmental announcements in Irish language newspapers and the use of Irish language media in campaign advertising;
The provision of lunchtime training classes in Irish for staff to help them deal with correspondence and telephone calls received in Irish; and
The development of policy which will permit the erection of certain types of traffic sign in both English and Irish, on the request of local councils.

My Department’s Arms-Length Bodies are also developing Irish language policies.NITHCo/Translink has developed a variety of materials available in Irish in response to local needs, such as school safety publications, user guides, and information at bus stops in identified Irish language areas, including the Falls Road and Shaws Road in Belfast. Cross-border services from Derry, i.e. services 274 and 296, and Bus Éireann vehicles operating between Belfast and Dublin carry bilingual destination screens. NIW has provided Irish language posters and invitations for schools competitions, to encourage participation from Irish-medium schools. It is also formulating a Code of Courtesy for the Irish language.

Newry Cycle Lanes

Mr D Bradley asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans there are for the development of further cycle lanes in Newry City.

(AQO 1067/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that, due to the limited footway and carriageway widths within Newry City Centre, it has proven difficult to construct links between the cycle lanes already provided on the A2 Warrenpoint to Newry dual carriageway, at Kilmorey Street and on the Armagh Road.Roads Service has identified the possibility of providing cycle lanes on the hard shoulders of the existing Newry Bypass after the new A1 Newry Bypass has been completed. This option will be given further consideration once traffic patterns, under the new bypass arrangements, are known and the likely demand from cyclists can be better determined. Roads Service will continue to identify opportunities for cycle lanes, however, because of physical and financial constraints, it is unlikely that any further cycle lanes will be provided in Newry City in the near future.

Water Supply

Dr A McDonnell asked the Minister for Regional Development how many dwellings do not have access to the public water supply.

(AQO 1069/10)

Minister for Regional Development: In answering this question it is important to distinguish between properties that are not served by a water main (in other words there is no water main nearby) and those which are not connected to a water main which is nearby.My Department has initiated a review of financial assistance for domestic properties not served by mains water. The review estimates that there may be up to 1,200 private dwellings that are not served by a mains water supply. This figure includes many householders who do not wish to be connected as they have an adequate private supply.NIW customer records indicate that there may be up to 8,000 domestic properties that are not connected. However, with the deferral of additional household payments NIW has been unable to use its billing system to update this information in order to confirm the accuracy of the figure.

A5 Consultation

Mr P Doherty asked the Minister for Regional Development what consultation has taken place between Roads Service and land owners located on the proposed A5 route.

(AQO 1070/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has had ongoing consultation with landowners and the public since the start of the A5 Dualling project. Consultation events were held in April 2008 to present the Study Area, in February 2009 to present the Route Options and in July 2009 to present the Preferred Route. Since the July 2009 consultation event, members of the project team have met directly with the affected landowners to discuss in detail the impacts of the project. A second round of meetings to discuss issues such as access and accommodation works is currently ongoing. A third round of meetings to confirm updated landtake and to further discuss proposed accommodation works, will take place in the summer of this year.

Belfast Rapid Transit System

Ms J McCann asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline progress in relation to the Belfast Rapid Transit project.

(AQO 1071/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department recently completed a public consultation on the policy proposals which will inform new primary legislation. Rapid Transit Division are currently finalising the Consultation Report and progressing the required legislation with a view to introducing it to the Assembly in June 2010.My Department hopes to be in a position to appoint consultants to assist with the preparation of an Outline Business Case for Belfast Rapid Transit later this year.Rapid Transit Division are currently preparing layout drawings for the route alignment options and these will, as part of the Outline Business Case process, form part of a public awareness exercise early in 2011.

Water Charges

Mr F Cobain asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline his Department's current position on water charges.

(AQO 1074/10)

Minister for Regional Development:

Through the budget process the Executive has agreed to continue to fund water and sewerage services for 2010/11 in line with existing arrangements. Additional household contributions will not be sought for 2010/11 and current non-domestic arrangements will continue. Decisions beyond 2010/11 will be taken by the Executive in the context of the 2010 Budget process.

Road Repairs

Mr A McQuillan asked the Minister for Regional Development how much of the additional £100m, announced by the Chancellor in his Budget for the repair of roads damaged by the recent bad weather, will be allocated to road repairs in Northern Ireland.

(AQO 1075/10)

Minister for Regional Development: All allocations received by the Executive through the Barnett Formula from additional funding announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer are unhypothecated. That is to say that they are available to the Executive to spend in correspondence with local needs and priorities.None of the funding announced by the Chancellor has been allocated to my Department for road repairs here at this stage.However the Executive has previously provided £15 million in additional funding for Roads Structural Maintenance, as part of the 2009-10 December Monitoring Round.

Road Safety

Mr A Bresland asked the Minister for Regional Development what action his Department is taking to improve road safety.

(AQO 1076/10)

Minister for Regional Development: Road Safety is a key priority for my Department’s Roads Service. To that end, Roads Service is guided by the Regional Transportation Strategy for NI 2002 – 2012, which identifies the importance of Local Transport Safety Measures (LTSM) and highlights some principal initiatives to be addressed. These initiatives include:-

local improvements in towns across the North, to assist pedestrians and cyclists;
elimination of 75% of the road maintenance backlog, with two thirds of this expenditure in rural areas; and
local highway infrastructure measures to improve safety, including collision remedial schemes and traffic calming schemes.

Eight years into the 10 year programme, Roads Service has invested some £198 million in Local Transport Safety Measures (LTSM). In a typical year, expenditure would average around £25 million, and for this Roads Service would expect to achieve an average of:-

37 collision remedial schemes;
traffic calming on 210 streets;
55 school travel and safety projects;
20 kilometres of new cycle lanes;16 kilometres of new footway;
30 controlled pedestrian crossings;
£1.5 million on travel information schemes; and
£10 million on minor works schemes (mainly rural).

I am pleased to report that the collision remedial programme has provided an excellent return on the investment, for example, in financial year 2005/06 Roads Service completed 59 such schemes. In the three years prior to this, there were 201 accidents at these 59 sites, however, in the three years following completion of the schemes, this had reduced to 55 accidents, equating to a 73% reduction.

There has also been a marked reduction in collisions after implementation of traffic calming schemes. In an average year, Roads Service would expect to implement 50 of these schemes. Typically, this type of scheme will be expected to deliver three fewer collisions in the three years following completion, equating to a total reduction of approximately 150 fewer collisions over a three year period.

Roads Service will also spend approximately £10m annually on network development schemes. These schemes are largely carried out in rural areas and are mainly corner or junction improvements to assist in the safety and progression of traffic.

In addition, my Department is committed to installing road safety facilities outside schools as part of the Travelwise Safer Routes to Schools initiative. This normally involves providing flashing school warning signs and enhanced road safety features near schools, to advise motorists of the presence of children.

My Department also aims to raise awareness of road safety through the Travelwise NI Schools initiative. It has been specifically developed for the education sector, to promote and support sustainable transport options for the school journey, in consultation with Travelwise partner organisations, including the Department of the Environment’s Road Safety Division. All Travelwise NI Schools resources and initiatives include road safety information and advice.

Department for Social Development

Renewable Energy in New Build Social Housing

Mr R McCartney asked the Minister for Social Development if her Department has developed a strategy for prioritising renewable energy in new build social housing.

(AQW 6101/10)

Minister for Social Development (Ms M Ritchie): New Social Housing must already conform to a minimum of code level 3 in the Code for Sustainable Homes. In effect these homes are now 25% more energy efficient than ever before. However to incentivise those Housing Associations who can build to even higher standards, I have made further funding available if they can build to code 4 standard, a standard that ultimately requires a greater use of renewable and more sustainable technology if it is to be achieved. I have also launched a pilot project that will see 70 new homes built to the very highest levels of the Code, right up to code 5/6 in a mixed tenure scheme that will go on site in South Belfast later this year. This ground breaking development will be one of only a few in the UK to be built to this level of sustainability and will provide important learning for the industry as we move towards our 2016 zero carbon aspiration. The Housing Executive is the Home Energy Conservation Authority for Northern Ireland with a responsibility to improve the energy efficiency of residential accommodation by 34%. As part of this responsibility they have been leading the way in testing the viability of renewable and emerging technologies, some of which are already installed in their homes.

Multi-Element Improvement Schemes

Mr A McQuillan asked the Minister for Social Development, pursuant to AQW 5605/10, when she will be in a position to advise of any forthcoming Multi-Element Improvement Schemes.

(AQW 6162/10)

Minister for Social Development: I outlined in the Adjournment Debate in the Assembly, on 23 March 2010, that multi element improvement schemes can only proceed if and when funding becomes available. My Department is again facing a significant shortfall in the housing budget in 2010/11 which will affect all programmes including multi element improvement schemes. I am currently exploring other options to deal with multi-element improvement schemes.

Northern Ireland Assembly Commission

Information Point and Internet Access Facility in the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings

Mr J Wells asked the Assembly Commission (i) whether it was consulted before the information point and internet access facility was installed in the entrance of the Great Hall of Parliament Buildings; (ii) for its assessment of whether the design of this facility is appropriate for the entrance of a listed building; and (iii) how many people have used this facility since it was installed.

(AQW 6051/10)

The Representative of the Assembly Commission (Mr S Moutray): In response to your question :

The Department of Finance and Personnel requested that a portable information internet kiosk to be installed in Parliament Buildings on a temporary basis. Similar installations are in the following government and public sites, Castle Buildings, Clare House and Causeway Exchange and other public areas such as Forrest side Shopping complex. The Assembly Commission has delegated all of its functions, subject to some exemptions and conditions, to the Clerk/Director General. On 16 October 2009 the Secretariat Management Group, which is chaired by the Clerk/Director General agreed to the installation of a touch-screen information kiosk in a public area of Parliament Buildings in order to provide a range of government-related information.
The information point is a movable facility that has been placed in the entrance area of Parliament Buildings on a trial basis and as such does not detract from the listed status of Parliament Buildings. The fabric of the building has not been altered in any way to facilitate the information point.
The Department of Finance and Personnel has provided the following statistics:

2,028 unique sessions from 17 December 2009 to 31 March 2010
This accounted for 23,000 navigations

Top sites visited include:

Facebook (3,928)
You Tube (818)
Job Centre Online (392)
Belfast City Online (317)
Driver & Vehicle Agency (212)
BBC News (158)
Goto Belfast.com (147)
Access 2 Benefits (137)

Car Parks at Parliament Buildings

Mr G Savage asked the Assembly Commission what plans it has to resolve car parking issues for staff at Parliament Buildings.

(AQW 6253/10)

The Representative of the Assembly Commission (Mr S Neeson): The Assembly Commission fully recognises the difficulties experienced in parking within the car parks, particularly on sitting days.

The lower East car park continues to be maintained by DFP and Assembly staff share that car park with NICS staff. Inevitably this results in that particular car park being used to full capacity and beyond on most days.

Enquiries to date have also concluded that it would not be possible to increase the number of parking spaces within the car parks without recourse to significant works and redevelopment.

Naturally, Security staff are on hand however within the upper car parks to ensure that the limited parking space available is used as efficiently as possible, and that inconvenience and obstruction is avoided.

The matter is being kept under review however and I can also confirm that the Commission has already requested that the Secretariat engage with DFP at senior level, to establish if there are any other measures that can be taken to resolve the broader problem of car parking. To that end DFP and Northern Ireland Assembly have now a Working Group to deal with this and other Estate related matters.

REVISED WRITTEN ANSWERS

Friday 23 April 2010

(AQW 5788/10)

My Department’s policy is that Grant Maintained Integrated schools should have at least 30% of pupils drawn from the minority community at the school. Existing schools transforming to integrated status (Controlled Integrated) must demonstrate the ability to achieve a minimum of 10% of their first year intake drawn from the minority tradition within the school’s enrolment and the potential to achieve a minimum of 30% in the longer term.

Pupils that are recorded as not belonging to either of the main traditions (Protestant or Catholic) are recorded as ‘other’ and are not included in the consideration of religious balance as there is no legislative requirement to do so.

There are currently 61 Integrated schools in the north of Ireland comprising of 41 Primary schools and 20 Post-primary schools

.Léiríonn daonáireamh scoile na bliana 2009 nach bhfuil 15 bunscoil agus 7 n-iarbhunscoil ag baint bheartas na Roinne amach um 30% den iontráil a ghlacadh ón phobal mionlaigh.

The 2009 school census indicates that there are 22 schools (15 Primary and 7 Post-primary) which do not currently meet the Department’s criteria of achieving a 30% minority enrolment drawn from the minority community.

Data from 2000 until the present indicates the following:-

No. of years unable to meet criteria	No. of schools
10	3
7	2
6	3
5	1
4	2
3	2
2	2
1	7

(AQW 5567/10)

A copy of the list has been placed in the Assembly Library drawn up from my Department’s records of all planning applications on which Sammy Wilson MP MLA made representations to the Planning Service in relation to his East Antrim constituency during his tenure as Environment Minister. The list includes details of correspondence where it relates to specific planning applications and to applications discussed in office meetings with the Divisional Planning Manager. The applications are open to public scrutiny by request to the appropriate Divisional Planning Office.

Friday 23 April 2010

Written Answers to Questions

OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER

Strategic Investment Board

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Single Farm Payment

Single Farm Payment

SFP 2009 – Finalised Claim Details at 13 April 2010 (By Postcode)

Single Farm Payment

Assistance to Sheep Farmers

DARD Office in the Comber/Ballygowan Area

Forestry Service

Reservoirs, Dams and Millponds

Reservoirs, Dams and Millponds

Single Farm Payments

Single Farm Payment

SFP 2009 – Finalised Claim Details at 13 April 2010 (By Postcode)

Single Farm Payments

Single Farm Payment

2009 Single Farm Payment – Finalised Claim Details at 13 April 2010 (By Postcode)

Single Farm Payment

2009 Single Farm Payment – Finalised Claim Details at 13 April 2010 (By Postcode)

Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure

Windsor Railway Halt, South Belfast

The Legacy of the Titanic in 2012/13

The Legacy of the Titanic in 2012/13

Library Headquarters

Library Headquarters

Library Headquarters

Library Headquarters

Department of Education

GSCE and A' Level Questions in Irish

Staff-Pupil Ratio in Irish-Medium and Integrated Schools

Whitehouse Primary School, Newtownabbey

Community Alternative Education Provision

Schools Capital Budgets

New Build for Lurgan College

Funding for Preparatory Schools

Funding for Preparatory Schools

School Boards of Governors

Review of Capital Projects

Post-primary Schools

Post primary schools with fewer than 500 pupils1 by ELB, 2009/10 and school closures from 2007

Development Proposals

Bangor Central Integrated Primary School

Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagáin, North Belfast

Area Based Planning

Area Based Planning

I CAN Early Years Centre in Ballynahinch Primary School

Capital Building Projects

Education and Library Board Structure

Department for Employment and Learning

South Eastern Regional College

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Northern Ireland Tourist Board

Project Kelvin

Department of the Environment

St Patrick's Day Celebrations 2010

Taxi Licence

Gobbins Path Project

Rose Energy Incinerator Proposal

Tyrone- Cavan Interconnector

Recycling by Councils

Vandalism

Department of Finance and Personnel

Land Held by Government Departments

Population Figures for Crumlin, County Antrim

'Fuelstretcher' in Government Buildings

Rates Deferment Scheme

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Roe Valley Hospital

Ulster Hospital

Ban on the Display of Tobacco Products in Retail Outlets

Review of Public Administration

Air Traffic Problems

Women and Children’s Hospital

North/South Feasibility Study

Neonatal and Maternity Services

Termination of Pregnancy Guidelines

Adolescent Mental Health Services

Post primary schools with fewer than 500 pupils¹ by ELB, 2009/10 and school closures from 2007