Friday 18 March 2011

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
Commission
Revised Written Answers

OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER

Arms-Length Bodies

Mr J Craig asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, for each Department, to (i) list each Arms-length body which was in existence five years ago; (ii) list each Arms-Length body which currently exists; (iii) detail the annual cost of each Arms-Length body which was in existence five years ago; (iv) detail the annual cost of each Arms-Length body which is in existence today; (v) detail the number of staff employed in each Arms-Length body which was in existence five years ago; (vi) detail the number of staff employed in each current Arms-length body; and (vii) to detail the departmental Arms-Length bodies which are in the process of being set up, including those for which legislation is currently progressing.

(AQW 3223/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): The information requested was not all readily available and departments have had to collate the details and we apologise for the delay in answering.

Information on many of the Arms length Bodies (ALBs) in existence five years ago and currently is published in the Public Bodies 2006 report and the Public Bodies and Public Appointments Annual Report 2009/10 publications, which are available on the internet at:

http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/Assets/publicbodies2006_tcm6-2474.pdf

and

http://www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/microsoft_word_-_of1_10_0152180__public_bodies___annual_report_-_pdf.pdf

Information on ALBs not included in the publications above and lists of those ALBs in the process of being set up have been placed in the Assembly Library.

The Department of Justice (DoJ) came into existence on 12 April 2010. DoJ has indicated that details of expenditure and staff numbers relating to ALBs before that date are a matter for the previous department. DoJ is therefore unable to provide an answer to parts (i), (iii) and (v) of the Question.

Child Poverty Strategy

Ms D Purvis asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what specific measurements and targets they will use to (i) calculate the reduction in child poverty levels when implementing the Child Poverty Strategy; and (ii) meet the requirement to report annually on progress.

(AQW 5058/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The measurements and targets that will be used to calculate the reduction in future child poverty levels here will be those set out in the Child Poverty Act 2010.

Child Poverty Act

Ms D Purvis asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether, as part of Northern Ireland’s obligations under the Child Poverty Act, they have considered the models established by the Scottish Parliamnent and National Assembly for Wales which set clear, specific and measurable targets to gauge their progress in reducing child poverty .

(AQW 5059/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: In developing a Child Poverty Strategy we have taken advice from officials who have considered a number of similar strategies put in place by other administrations, including those in Scotland and Wales. Officials monitor progress across jurisdictions, not least to ensure that we comply with the requirements of the Child Poverty Act 2010 which makes requirements on administrations across the UK, individually and collectively.

Our strategy will be supported by a Delivery Plan which will set clear, specific and measurable targets, that are both appropriate to the particular needs of children and families here and that will allow us to effectively measure the progress being made in reducing child poverty. The Delivery Plan is currently being prepared with inputs from across government departments and from key stakeholders represented on the Ministerial-led Poverty Stakeholder Forum.

Child Poverty Strategy

Ms D Purvis asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether they have considered adopting the standard established by the National Assembly for Wales to match the lowest child poverty rate in Europe of 5 per cent before housing costs in developing the Child Poverty Strategy.

(AQW 5060/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: In considering possible changes to the draft Child Poverty Strategy which was published for a period of public consultation on 6 December 2010, our officials have taken account of a wide range of inputs including an assessment of the child poverty strategy proposals for Scotland and Wales.

We are currently considering some proposed changes to our draft strategy, in light of some of the comments made during the public consultation period and an agreed Executive strategy is on schedule to be laid before the Assembly before its dissolution on 24 March, in line with the requirements of the Child Poverty Act 2010.

Severe Child Poverty in Northern Ireland

Mrs D Kelly asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for their assessment of the recent Save the Children report, Severe Child Poverty in Northern Ireland, which includes a call for an emergency plan to tackle severe child poverty in the Chancellor’s Budget and the Child Poverty Strategy.

(AQW 5075/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: We welcome the production of Save the Children’s recent report on severe child poverty here.

The report is a v aluable addition to the body of evidence that our officials are considering in developing the Child Poverty Strategy’s Delivery Plan that will be necessary when the Executive publishes its Child Poverty Strategy in March 2011.

As members of the recently re-established Ministerial-led Poverty and Social Inclusion Stakeholder Forum, which met for the second time on Thursday 3 March 2011, Save the Children will be actively involved in both the development and implementation of the delivery plan.

Appointment of a New High Court Judge

Mr A Maginness asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to outline the reasons for the delay by the NI Judicial Appointment Commission in the recruitment and appointment of a new High Court Judge.

(AQW 5077/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission was established to enhance the independent process for the appointments of judicial office holders to courts and tribunals. Whilst OFMDFM holds resourcing and sponsorship responsibility for the Commission it has no locus in appointment matters. It may be helpful therefore for you to direct your enquiryto the Northern Ireland Judicial Appointments Commission.

Decentralisation of Public Sector Jobs

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the implementation of the plan to decentralise public sector jobs within their Department, and its agencies, since the publication of the Bain Report.

(AQW 5119/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The decentralisation/relocation of posts within OFMDFM remains under consideration.

Playboard: Funding

Ms A Lo asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the funding that has been allocated to Playboard from April 2011.

(AQW 5247/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: You may be aware that our Department has been co-ordinating a package of funding, through the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children and Young People, to enable those after school projects originally supported by the Children and Young People’s Funding Package via PlayBoard to continue whilst work on the future delivery of childcare here was progressed.

With the existing funding package due to end on 31 March 2011, we are currently considering a number of options in regard to the future funding of the projects beyond that date, but no decisions have yet been taken. However, we expect to make an announcement on this issue shortly.

European Micro-Loan Funding

Ms D Purvis asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister why Northern Ireland has not drawn down any of the European micro-loan funding for businesses.

(AQW 5248/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The first call for applications under the new EU microfinance facility ‘PROGRESS’ was launched by the European Investment Fund (EIF) in October 2010. The facility is aimed at microfinance organisations across the EU who provide loans to individuals or micro-companies in the social economy who would otherwise find it difficult to access finance from mainstream sources. The EIF will not make direct loans to individuals or businesses.

PROGRESS aims to provide up to €500 million to eligible organisations but there are no pre-allocated amounts set aside for different regions: it is entirely up to interested microfinance providers to apply directly to the EIF in response to open calls for applications.

We have followed the development of the PROGRESS facility very closely in the context of the special EU Barroso Task Force for Northern Ireland. In November 2010, soon after the first call was published, the Junior Ministers met with a range of microfinance bodies including the credit unions, The Prince’s Trust and the banks to promote awareness of the new EU facility and to encourage take-up where applicable.

The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Invest Northern Ireland and the Department for Employment and Learning have information about PROGRESS on their websites and are promoting awareness among their client bases.

To date, The Prince’s Trust is the only organisation considering an application under the current call which offers microfinance guarantees and an official in our Department is assisting them with the application process. We understand that further calls will be issued by the EIF in the coming years offering different forms of financial support which may prove more attractive to microfinance providers.

We understand that to date, the EIF has awarded two contracts under PROGRESS, one in Belgium and the other in the Netherlands. Our office will continue to monitor the development of PROGRESS and track future calls for applications.

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Consultation Documents

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to list the number and titles of all consultation documents published by her Department since May 2007.

(AQW 4993/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms M Gildernew): A total of 240 consultations have been published by my Department since May 2007. A list of these consultations is attached at Annex A.

Annex A

EU Nitrates Directive

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, in respect of compliance with the EU Nitrates Directive, if she is aware of the processes and costs involved in the disposal of poultry litter in the Republic of Ireland; and whether any lessons can be learned from it.

(AQW 5063/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The potential of poultry litter as a nutrient source and organic fertiliser is well recognised. Approximately 70% of the poultry litter produced annually in the north is currently land spread as an organic fertiliser. However, this practice needs to be carefully managed at farm level to ensure that excess nutrients, particularly phosphorus, are not over applied. Precautions also need to be taken to prevent disease risk, particularly Botulism in cattle.

Currently approximately 43,000 tonnes of poultry litter per year are disposed of by exporting to the south of Ireland. This is used in mushroom compost and for land spreading as an organic fertiliser on arable crops. The costs of these disposal options are estimated to range from £12 - £15 per tonne.

While there is a higher proportion of arable land in the south the constraints of the Nitrates Directive also apply there. Therefore, there is little scope to expand this disposal route as no additional capacity in the south has been identified.

Additional controls on the application of phosphorus will apply in the south from January 2013. This will further limit the land available for spreading poultry litter, which has a high phosphorus content relative to other livestock manures.

Experience has demonstrated that spreading poultry litter on land at levels which over supply crop nutrients can cause a build up of excess nutrients in the soil and consequent water pollution. The purpose of good agricultural practice and the EU Nitrates and Water Framework Directives is to prevent such pollution occurring.

Ireland: GM-free Zone

Mr B Wilson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she has had any discussions with her counterpart in the Republic of Ireland in relation to making the island of Ireland a GM-free zone.

(AQO 1282/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: Roles and responsibilities for the full range of issues raised by the genetic modification of food and animal feed are distributed across several local departments and agencies, including the Department of the Environment and the Food Standards Agency.

My Department’s role in relation to genetic modification is limited to the enforcement of European law controlling the import of animal feed stuffs and seed certification.

I have discussed the issue of making the island of Ireland a GM free zone with both Brendan Smith the previous Agriculture Minister in the South and with junior Minister Trevor Sargent and I will continue to have discussions with the new government. I am personally and politically opposed to the growing of GM crops on the island of Ireland.

Given the roles and responsibilities of other Departments and Agencies in the north, any policy on a GM free zone would certainly be a matter for cross cutting discussion and would require Executive agreement.

Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how may recorded disagreements there have been during the last four years between livestock owners and the Department's valuation officers regarding the value of animals that had to be removed from herds following outbreaks of Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis.

(AQO 1292/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: During the last four years there have been recorded disagreements between 24 livestock owners and the Department’s valuation officers regarding the value of animals that had to be removed from herds following outbreaks of bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis.

Over the same 4 year period there were 55,932 animals valued. Of the 24 livestock owners referred to, this relates to 381 animals.

Farm Modernisation Programme

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline which areas have benefited from Tranche 2 of the Farm Modernisation Programme.

(AQO 1286/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 5 and 12 together.

As the process of issuing Letters of Offer for Tranche 2 of the Farm Modernisation Programme is ongoing and will not be completed until the end of March at the earliest, it is therefore much too early to identify which geographical areas have benefited from funding. It is anticipated that approximately 2,300 Letter of Offer will be issued to beneficiaries and as of Monday 14 March 895, had been processed. A full analysis of the areas which have benefited from Tranche 2 funding will be undertaken once all the Letters of Offer have issued and this information will be used to feed into preparatory work for a further Tranche of this Programme later this year.

Farm Moderisation Programme: South Antrim

Mr T Clarke asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development which areas in South Antrim have benefited from Tranche 2 of the Farm Modernisation Programme.

(AQO 1293/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: As the process of issuing Letters of Offer for Tranche 2 of the Farm Modernisation Programme is ongoing and will not be completed until the end of March at the earliest, it is therefore much too early to identify which geographical areas have benefited from funding. It is anticipated that approximately 2,300 Letter of Offer will be issued to beneficiaries and as of Monday 14 March 895, had been processed. A full analysis of the areas which have benefited from Tranche 2 funding will be undertaken once all the Letters of Offer have issued and this information will be used to feed into preparatory work for a further Tranche of this Programme later this year.

Rural Communities

Mr A Bresland asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what action her Department is taking to build capacity within rural communities.

(AQO 1294/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: I am supporting rural community capacity building through a contract for the delivery of rural community development services being delivered by a consortium consisting of the Rural Community Network, the 9 Rural Support Networks and the Northern Ireland Rural Women’s Network. The contract is in place from 1 September 2010 to 31 March 2011 and it is hoped that it will be extended to August 2011.

The contract specifically requires the consortium members to create lasting capacity and leadership capability in rural areas; continue to recognise changes in rural areas and provide support to communities to manage these changes. The local Rural Support Networks have been to the forefront in providing this support to rural communities, for many years and have done some exemplary work often in challenging circumstances. I was very pleased to learn recently that under my Department’s Rural Challenge Programme the Omagh Forum for Rural Associations has been working in partnership with The National Autistic Society NI to deliver Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) training for staff at the Omagh Leisure Centre and in turn encouraging young people with Autism to use the Leisure Centre facilities.

As part of Budget 2010 I announced my intention to commit £16m to anti-poverty measures in rural areas over the next four years. The capacity building work will be funded from within these anti-poverty resources, as it has been in the previous Budget period.

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise, CAFRE, provides a range of further and higher education programmes to provide suitably qualified people for employment in the agri-food industry. The College also delivers industry support programmes to assist the development of competitive and sustainable farm and rural businesses.

Brucellosis: Keady

Mr C Boylan asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for an update on the Brucellosis situation in the Keady area and to outline how she is working with local farmers to tackle the disease.

(AQO 1295/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: In 2010, the Keady area had eleven confirmed brucellosis breakdowns, with no new reactor herds coming to light there since November. Although this is welcome news, DARD surveillance measures and vigilance from herd keepers must remain at a high level because of the nature of the disease, its variable incubation period and how easily it can spread.

In June of last year, a farmers’ meeting was held in Keady mart to discuss the brucellosis situation with the local farming community and to allow them to give voice to their concerns. Members of the local Veterinary Office as well as senior Veterinary Service staff, working specifically with brucellosis, attended that meeting.

Following on from that, I personally attended the next meeting in Keady mart in September of last year. I was encouraged by the level of co-operation from the farming community in what are difficult circumstances for farmers trying to keep their herds free of disease. On both occasions Veterinary staff from DAFF in the south of Ireland attended and contributed to the open discussions on the necessary steps towards eradication.

However, very recently, you will be aware that there has been another disappointing development regarding brucellosis in the Keady area. On 1 March 2011 a Keady farmer reported finding part of a calf carcase in silage and we cannot rule out the possibility it had been deliberately placed there. If infected with brucellosis, it is obviously extremely worrying and would again threaten our aim of brucellosis eradication.

My Department’s vets and the PSNI have launched an investigation into the incident. The carcase has been submitted to the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) laboratory for brucellosis testing and for DNA analysis and we will be taking action depending on the results of those tests and investigations.

Rural Development Programme

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how much funding under Axis 3 of the Rural Development Programme has been committed to each Rural Development Programme cluster to date.

(AQO 1296/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: All clusters submitted Local Rural Development Strategies and developed implementation plans for the full period of the programme 2007-2015. To date the clusters have committed by way of letter of offer:-

• ARC Assisting Rural Communities North West£4,500,000;
• DRAP Down Rural Area Partnership £2,600,000;
• GROW Generating Rural Opportunities Within south Antrim £2,000,000;
• LRP Lagan Rural Partnership £1,360,000;
• NER North East Region £2,665,000;
• SOAR Southern Organization for Action in Rural Areas £3,445,000;
• SWARD South West Action for Rural Development £6,760,000.

Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure

2010/11 In-Year Monitoring Rounds

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (i) how much additional funding his Department was allocated as a result of the 2010/11 in-year monitoring rounds; (ii) how much of this funding was allocated for direct spend by his Department; (iii) how much each arm's-length and statutory body was allocated from this funding; (iv) what criteria and processes were used to determine the allocation of this funding to arm's-length and statutory bodies; (v) to detail any money that arm's-length and statutory bodies received from this funding that they subsequently allocated to another agency or group; and (vi) what criteria and processes were used by arm's-length and statutory bodies to determine the allocation of funding to other agencies.

(AQW 4960/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr N McCausland): (i) The additional funding my Department was allocated through in-year monitoring rounds was as follows:

(ii/iii) Of this additional £5,126k received through in year monitoring rounds, £4,343k was for spending within the Department and £783k was for spend through the Department’s Arms Length Bodies.

(iv) DFP commissions four budget monitoring rounds each year. These monitoring rounds give Departments and their Arm’s Length Bodies (ALBs) the opportunity to bid for additional funding or to return reduced budget requirements.

The Department scrutinises bids developed by its ALBs to ensure these are consistent with its objectives and priorities and represent responses to genuine budget pressures. The additional funding for them was obtained via this process.

(v/vi) The £260k provided to Sport NI was allocated to a specific project under Motorsport Safety. Distribution of funds through this programme was based on identified need at various venues, developed through formal business cases. Funding was awarded through letters of offer and delivered on the completion of milestones. Sport NI's funding verification processes are designed to ensure that all funding provided is used for the purpose intended.

Department's Capital or Current Spend Projects

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail (i) the social clause requirements in his Department's capital or current spend projects, including (a) the creation of apprenticeships; and (b) the employment of long-term unemployed persons; and (ii) any proposals his Department has to expand such opportunities.

(AQW 4981/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: The social clause requirement currently applies to construction contracts entered into from December 2008 and whose value lies above £2m. None of my Department’s current construction contracts meet these criteria and so the social clause is not relevant.

It is not this Department’s role to expand opportunities under the social clause. However, I can report that the Central Procurement Directorate is working with the Department of Employment and Learning to consider how expanding social clause targets would integrate with wider Government programmes.

Decentralisation of Public Sector Jobs

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure for an update on the implementation of the plan to decentralise public sector jobs within his Department, and its agencies, since the publication of the Bain report.

(AQW 5087/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: The Minister for Finance and Personnel has made clear his position on the Bain Report into the Review of Policy on the Location of Public Sector Jobs on a number of occasions. The Minister has indicated that in the current financial climate and in light of the spending pressures facing all departments spending £40 million on relocating public sector jobs is simply not affordable at present.

No plans have been made to decentralise any posts within my Department and at this time there are no plans to do so in the immediate future.

Decentralisation of Public Sector Jobs

Mrs M Bradley asked e Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, for each of the last three years, to detail the number of public sector jobs within his Department and its agencies that have been (i) decentralised from Belfast to another location, broken down by the new location; and (ii) relocated to Belfast from another location, broken down by the original location.

(AQW 5092/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: There is currently no centralised programme for the location or relocation of public sector or civil service jobs.

In the last three years no posts within the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure have been decentralised from Belfast to another location or relocated to Belfast from another location.

Lough Neagh Navigation Marker System

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what action his Department is taking to repair the damage caused to the Lough Neagh navigation marker system.

(AQW 5171/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has the statutory responsibility for dredging the entrance to the Sixmilewater river and additionally maintains 47 markers on Lough Neagh as a public service.

The recent severe cold weather caused extensive ice damage to markers on Lough Neagh. Details of the damage to the 29 markers (out of 47) maintained by DCAL was reported to my Department. My officials are currently working with the Rivers Agency to progress a programme to repair/replace the damaged markers.

While my Department is aware of the need for urgent action on this matter, the nature of the work makes it subject to the availability of replacement markers, weather conditions and contractor commitments. Rivers Agency has started work on the production of new markers but it is unlikely that this work will begin before April due to existing commitments of the contractor.

Funds Allocated to the Three Regional Sports Stadia

Mr D O'Loan asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (i) to detail the revised spending profile for funds allocated to the three regional sports stadia; (ii) to outline the anticipated progress on each stadium up to 2015; and (iii) whether the level of planned commitment in the four year period to 2015 is such that each scheme will be assured of eventual completion within a six year period.

(AQW 5202/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure:

(i) The indicative profile for expenditure of the public funding provisionally allocated for the development of the three regional sports stadiums is as follows:

2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

£1m £20m £20m £69m

(ii) Meetings are currently underway to take forward planning of the individual projects and at this early stage it is not possible to provide detail on the anticipated progress of each individual project across the next 4 year period.

(iii) The level of public funding provided (£110m) is consistent with that set out in the Outline Business Case, recently approved by DFP. As such it is considered sufficient, alongside the funding to be provided by the governing bodies, to ensure completion of the projects.

Additional Funding for Libraries

Mr T Clarke asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure how much additional funding has been allocated for libraries in the 2011-15 budget period.

(AQW 5255/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure:

Details of the additional allocation to Libraries is as follows:

Note:

• £596k of libraries capital over the four years was reclassified to resource.
• £4,250k of libraries resource was reclassified to capital in respect of EFNI

Libraries NI will be responsible for identifying the specific areas to which this extra funding will be allocated. These allocations will be subject to review and approval by the Department.

I trust this is helpful

Irish Cricket Team

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure whether he intends to invite the Irish Cricket Team to Parliament Buildings to celebrate it's victory over England in the Cricket World Cup in Bangalore.

(AQW 5256/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: I was delighted to learn about the Ireland cricket team’s victory over England at the 2011 ICC World Cup. I was also especially pleased to see that players from Northern Ireland contributed to this victory. As the tournament is still ongoing, however, I have not given any consideration to inviting the team to a reception in Parliament Buildings. I will consider whether and how best to mark the achievements of the team, and the Northern Ireland players involved, once the tournament is over.

Funding to Boxing Clubs

Mr B McElduff asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure how much funding his Department has allocated to boxing clubs in each of the last two years, including the name of the club and the amount of each allocation.

(AQW 5270/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) is responsible for the development of sport in Northern Ireland including the distribution of funding. In the last two financial years, 2008/09 and 2009/10, SNI has, through its Awards for Sport programme, provided £41,759 to boxing clubs towards the purchase of sports equipment. This is broken down as follows:

Amateur Boxing

Mr Pat Sheehan asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to provide a breakdown of the allocation of funding for amateur boxing in each of the last two years.

(AQW 5273/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) is responsible for the development of sport in Northern Ireland including the distribution of funding. In the last two financial years, 2008/09 and 2009/10, SNI has allocated £223,576 to amateur boxing. This is broken down as follows:

2008/09

2009/10

Irish Amateur Boxing Association

Mr B McElduff asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the level of funding that his Department has awarded to the Irish Amateur Boxing Association in each of the last two years.

(AQW 5280/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) is responsible for the development of sport in Northern Ireland including the distribution of funding. In the last two financial years, 2008/09 and 2009/10, SNI has provided no funding to the Irish Amateur Boxing Association.

Department of Education

Impact of Draft Budget: Upper Bann

Mr S Moutray asked the Minister of Education what impact the Department’s draft budget will have on the proposed capital builds for schools in Upper Bann.

(AQW 4169/11)

Minister of Education (Ms C Ruane ): Tá seacht dtionscadal le haghaidh scoileanna i dtoghcheantar na Banna Uachtair i bPlean Seachadta Infheistíochta (IDP) na Roinne.

There are seven projects for schools in the Upper Bann constituency on the Department’s Investment Delivery Plan (IDP). The project for Banbridge Academy is currently under construction and will not be affected by the reduced budget. The other six projects are at various stages in planning.

The Draft Budget 2011-15 highlighted significant reductions in the capital budget for Education over the next four years which would have a detrimental effect on my Department’s ability to deliver the school building programme.

While I was successful in securing an additional £65.5 million of capital funding over the four year period in the Final Budget allocation, a gap still exists between the capital funding required to fully deliver the Department’s capital programme and the amount allocated. Any investment in new builds, if at all possible, is therefore likely to be intermittent and limited until 2014-15.

The reduction in the capital allocation will require a comprehensive reassessment of how the limited capital funds available should be deployed on a strategic and prioritised basis to address the most pressing needs. I will write to schools on the IDP, including the six in Upper Bann, to inform them of the position when this is finalised.

Departmental Budget

Mr D Bradley asked the Minister of Education how much money she intends to bid for to supplement her departmental budget.

(AQW 4210/11)

Minister of Education: Bhí an dréacht-thoradh Buiséid le haghaidh oideachais fíordhúshlánach agus tá sé léirithe agam riamh go leanfainn orm a dhéanamh stocaireachta ar bhreis acmhainní le hiarmhairt na laghduithe ar sheirbhísí oideachais a mhaolú, go háirithe ar an leibhéal maoinithe a bhíonn ar fáil do scoileanna.

The draft Budget outcome for education was particularly challenging and I have always made it clear that I would continue to lobby for additional resources to mitigate the impact of reductions on education services, particularly on the level of funding available for schools. Ahead of the Final Budget being agreed by the Executive, I submitted a request for additional funding from the Invest to Save Fund of £25m in each of the Budget years. In addition I also sought additional funding of £50/£75/£75/£100m to minimise the impact of any reductions on schools budgets as well as an additional £68/£44/£32/£10m in capital funding to invest in the schools estate.

As a result of my efforts the Executive’s Final Budget included an additional £114 million current expenditure while a further £40 million has been allocated for capital investment. This additional funding will help mitigate the challenges facing the education budget, particularly in year 1.

GCSE and GCE A Level Irish

Mr D Bradley asked the Minister of Education how many pupils sat (i) GCSE Irish; (ii) GCE AS Level Irish; and (iii) GCE A2 Level Irish in each of the last five years, broken down by school.

(AQW 4470/11)

Minister of Education: Ní choinníonn mo Roinn eolas maidir le scrúduithe GCE AS faoi láthair.

My Department does not currently hold information in respect of GCE AS Levels. However, it is expected that AS level entry information will be available from the 2010/11 academic year. Information in respect of GCSE and GCE A2 Levels in Irish are detailed in the tables below.

Source: RM data solutions database

Primary Schools that Currently Teach Irish and Spanish

Mr D Bradley asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of (i) maintained; (ii) controlled; and (iii) grant-aided integrated English-medium primary schools that currently teach (a) Irish; and (b) Spanish, broken down by school.

(AQW 4526/11)

Minister of Education: Ag leibhéal na bunscoile ní bhailíonn an Roinn faisnéis maidir le teangacha a ndéantar staidéar orthu i mbunscoileanna aonair lasmuigh de Chlár na d Teangacha Bunscoile a chuireann tacaíocht taistil ar fáil do bhunscoileanna ar mian leo Spáinnis, Gaeilge agus Polainnis a sheachadadh.

At primary level the Department does not collect information on languages studied at individual primary schools outside of the Primary Languages Programme which provides peripatetic support for primary schools wishing to deliver Spanish, Irish and Polish. Schools currently studying Irish and Spanish through the Primary Languages Programme by language and category of school requested are as follows:

Free School Meal Entitlement

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Education to detail the most up-to-date figures available for each primary school with a free school entitlement of more than 50%, the percentage of pupils achieving Level 4 or 5 in (i) Maths; and (ii) English at Key Stage 2, broken down by Education and Library Board area and management type.

(AQW 4543/11)

Minister of Education: Tá an t-eolas ar fáil sa tábla thíos.

The information is contained in the table below.

Percentage achieving Level 4 or above in Key Stage Two Assessments for pupils attending schools with a free school meal entitlement of more than 50% by Education and Library Board and by school Management type 200910.

* denotes fewer than 5 pupils

Suicide Prevention

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister of Education to outline where suicide prevention sits within her Department's Programme for Government.

(AQW 4853/11)

Minister of Education: Tá sé ríthábhachtach go n-oibríonn na Ranna i gcomhar lena chéile agus leis an phobal i gcoitinne agus an earnáil dheonach le cur chuige comhordaithe réigiúnach a bhaint amach um fhéinmharú a chosc.

It is vital that Departments work collaboratively and with the wider community and voluntary sector to achieve a co-ordinated regional approach to suicide prevention. The issue is a high priority for me, personally through my involvement in the Ministerial Co-ordination Group on Suicide Prevention and for my Department as a member of the Suicide Strategy Implementation Body which brings together key statutory and voluntary stakeholders.

The education sector can play a significant role in early intervention through awareness raising and the development of confidence and coping skills in young people to foster good emotional and mental health.

Both the primary and post-primary curricula have elements designed to develop the young person as an individual and to enhance young people’s own awareness of the stressors in their lives and their capacity to deal with them. Our schools have a responsibility to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils. Each school has a pastoral care system and all must have discipline and anti-bullying policies.

My Department’s Pupils Emotional Health and Wellbeing Programme is addressing how the entire school community should be engaged in promoting resilient emotional health for all pupils, what support systems are available for vulnerable pupils and those experiencing stress and what support is available to schools in the event of a crisis. The Programme is a vehicle to integrate individual policies and services in a consistent and coherent way and benefits from the active involvement of other departments and of the voluntary sector in building the capacity of schools to recognise and, where appropriate, address challenging issues.

I have established an independent professional counselling service available to young people in post primary schools during difficult and vulnerable periods in their lives. This service has recently been extended to post primary pupils in special schools. As part of the current arrangements for support following a critical incident, pupils in primary schools also have access to counselling support and I am considering the appropriateness of further interventions, including counselling, for primary age pupils.

One focus for intervention with pupils of primary age is around promoting resilience and coping skills. My Department has funded Women’s Aid to develop and deliver  a  programme of capacity building training for primary teachers using a Social Guardian’s model.  The training will   provide teachers with a better understanding of the impact of domestic violence on children and their families and the skills and confidence to deliver the Helping Hands Programme to pupils in the classroom.  This approach will increase the number of primary age children who benefit from the Helping Hands programme which encourages them to talk about issues affecting them, reassures them that they have the right to feel safe all the time and directs them to sources of help.

Irish Medium School: Castlederg

Mr A Bresland asked the Minister of Education how many children currently attend the Irish Medium School in Castlederg; and how much funding it has received in each of the last three financial years.

(AQW 4894/11)

Minister of Education: Chuaigh an grúpa súgartha deonach Gaeilge i gCaisleán na Deirge, Naíscoil na Deirge, isteach sa Chlár Leathnaithe Oideachais Réamhscolaíochta (PSEEP) i Meán Fómhair 2010 agus ní bhfuair sé, mar sin, maoiniú roimhe sin.

The Irish medium voluntary playgroup in Castlederg, Naíscoil na Deirge, entered the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme (PSEEP) in September 2010 and did not, therefore, receive funding previously. The group is in receipt of 7 funded places for children in their final pre-school year for the 2010/11 school year at a rate of £1,525 per place. If all 7 children continue to attend until the end of March it is anticipated that the playgroup will receive a total of £7,472.50 in the current financial year. As the group’s registration with the Western Health and Social Care Trust allows for up to 16 children to attend it is likely that younger children, for whom their parents pay a fee, also attend the group.

South Eastern Education and Library Board

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) why she did not reinstate the South Eastern Education and Library Board following the retraining of Board members in 2008; and (ii) the cost of this retraining.

(AQW 4970/11)

Minister of Education: Smaoinigh mé ar an Bhord a athshuíomh in 2008 agus glacadh roinnt réamh chéimeanna, lena n-áirítear oiliúint athnuachana a sholáthar.

I considered reinstating the Board in 2008 and a number of preliminary steps were taken, including the provision of refresher training. However, after careful consideration of all factors, including the timescale at that time for the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority (ESA), I decided that the Commissioners should remain in place until ESA was established.

The cost of the training provided to Board members in June 2008 was £4,136 excluding VAT.

Education and Training Inspectorate

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Education, for each of the last three years, in relation to the Education and Training Inspectorate to detail (i) the number of permanent full-time inspectors; (ii) the budget allocated to the Inspectorate (iii) the qualifications and experience required for the post of an inspector; (iv) how the qualifications and experience of inspectors are updated; and (v) how many current inspectors have ICT qualifications at level 2, 3, 4 or above.

(AQW 4978/11)

Minister of Education:

(i) Is é líon na gcigirí buana lánaimseartha, mar a bhíonn ar 1 Aibreán, do gach ceann de na trí bliana seo caite ná:

(i) The number of permanent full-time inspectors, as of 1 April, for each of the last three years is:

2010/2011 68

2009/2010 67

2008/2009 67

(ii) The budget allocated to the Inspectorate, for each of the last three years is:

2010/2011 397,000

2009/2010 5,695,000

2008/2009 4,885,000

• The qualifications and experience required for the post of an inspector can vary depending on the specialism required and therefore certain additional qualifications or experience will apply . Typically, the following generic qualifications and experience would be required for an inspector’s post:

A degree level qualification which meets the requirement for recognition to teach in grant-aided schools in the North.

At least 10 years teaching experience, which have been gained in schools, colleges of further education, institutions of higher education or initial teacher education.

(iv) The qualifications and experience of inspectors are updated through their induction programme and through staff development of several types.  Some corporate staff development is centrally programmed for the whole inspectorate (a minimum of five days per annum); some is phase-specific, relating, for example, to primary education.  Some staff development is self-programmed staff development which has been approved by an inspector’s line-manager (up to five days per annum).  This can involve working with a more experienced colleague in or outside our organisation.  Others involve working with other organisations; for example, some inspectors have availed of opportunities provided by a link-up between ETI and Business in the Community to undertake professional development; others have undertaken Online Learning for Teachers and Educators courses under the auspices of the Regional Training Unit; others have undertaken post-graduate studies related to their particular specialism, often outside working hours.

(v) There are currently 19 inspectors who have specialist ICT qualifications at level 2, 3, 4 or above. However, all inspectors have developed a high level of ICT competence both in relation to their own specialism and as IT professional users. In addition, inspectors develop their own ICT competence during their ETI Induction programme, through the ETI’s Corporate Staff Development Programme and through self-programmed staff development.

Formal Intervention Programme

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Education to detail the funding allocated under her Department's Formal Intervention Programme to each school in the North Eastern Education and Library Board area in (i) 2009/10; (ii) 2010/11.

(AQW 5019/11)

Minister of Education: Ní chuireann an Roinn maoiniú breise ar fáil go díreach do scoileanna sa Phróiseas Foirmiúil Idirghabhála agus dá bhrí sin, níl aon mhaoiniú leithdháilte aici do scoileanna i mBord Oideachais agus Leabharlann an Oirthuaiscirt.

The Department does not provide additional funding directly to schools in the Formal Intervention Process and has not therefore allocated any funding to schools in the North Eastern Education & Library Board. Rather, a key aim of that process is to ensure that schools where provision is found through inspection to be less than satisfactory address the areas for improvement identified in the inspection report in a way that focuses first and foremost on the interests of the pupils.

Schools in the Formal Intervention Process receive focused support and guidance from the relevant Education and Library Board, working where appropriate with the relevant sectoral body, to enable them to improve the quality of their provision. While the Department expects that such support will normally be provided from within existing resources provided to the ELB, there are some specific circumstances in which the Education and Library Boards can make a bid to the Department to cover additional costs that they incur in providing support to schools in the Formal Intervention Process. I can advise the member that, the amount allocated to date in 2010-11 to the NEELB under these arrangements is £40,000.

Head Teachers: Restrictions

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Education whether there are restrictions on the number of hours per year that a head teacher can spend in an individual staff member's classroom, as is the case in the rest of the UK.

(AQW 5025/11)

Minister of Education: I measc na socruithe le haghaidh bhainistíocht feidhmíochta múinteoirí agus athbhreithnithe i Sasana agus i dtuaisceart na hÉireann tá teorainneacha, de thrí huaire an chloig agus uair a chloig faoi seach, maidir leis an fhad breathnóireachta ranga ba chóir a bheith ann de ghnáth mar chuid den tsraith bhliantúil athbhreithnithe.

The arrangements for teachers’ performance management and review in England and in the north of Ireland include limits, of three hours and one hour respectively, on the duration of classroom observation that should normally take place as part of the annual review cycle.

As in England, Principals in schools here have a duty to evaluate the standards of teaching and learning in the school, and ensure that proper standards of professional performance are established and maintained. Principals may consider that the classroom observations they have agreed for performance review are sufficient for this purpose. However, no agreement has been made with teachers’ employers that classroom observation should not take place outside the context of performance review.

Social Clause Requirements

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) the social clause requirements in her Department's capital or current spend projects, including (a) the creation of apprenticeships; and (b) the employment of long-term unemployed persons; and (ii) any proposals her Department has to expand such opportunities.

(AQW 5030/11)

Minister of Education: San áireamh san Ionad Soláthair den Scoth (CoPE) de chuid na hearnála oideachais tá clásail shóisialta i n gach soláthar bonneagair Mór-Oibreacha ó Feabhra 2009.

The education sector Centre of Procurement Excellence (CoPE) has included social clauses in all Major Works infrastructure procurements since February 2009. The social clauses require main contractors to recruit:

• one apprentice, either directly or through the supply chain for each £2m of project value; and
• one long-term unemployed person, either directly or through their supply chain for each £5m of project value.

To reflect the current economic downturn, these requirements have recently been reviewed by the Construction Industry Forum for the North of Ireland (CIFNI) Sustainability Task Group. Revised proposals for the unemployed and apprentices have been developed and further requirements have been introduced to provide opportunities for students in third level education and to monitor the implementation of the sustainability requirements. These proposals are currently being considered by the Department of Finance and Personnel, Central Procurement Directorate and the Department of Employment and Learning and when agreed will be piloted in construction contracts in the education sector.

Rural Outreach Workers

Mr R McCartney asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) the work carried out by Rural Outreach Workers, funded by the Youth Outreach Programme, in relation to the travelling community; (ii) whether funding will be extended for the 2011-15 budget period; and (iii) whether interim measures will be put in place to ensure these positions are maintained until the budget is agreed.

(AQW 5047/11)

Minister of Education: Tá maoiniú comharthaithe le haghaidh obair fhor-rochtana curtha ar fáil ag an Roinn Oideachais do na Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlann ó 2006/07 ar aghaidh agus do Chomhairle na nÓg ó 2008/09 ar aghaidh.

Earmarked funding for outreach work has been made available by DE to the Education and Library Boards from 2006/07 onwards and to the Youth Council from 2008/09 onwards.

In 2006/07 and 2007/08 funding was provided from the Children and Young People Funding Package specifically for outreach youth work provision focusing on marginalised and isolated young people in rural areas. Following the ending of this funding package, DE continued allocating earmarked outreach funding which included both rural and urban areas. Information has therefore been provided covering outreach youth work from 2006/07 to 2010/11.

The majority of youth outreach funding is used to secure outreach/detached youth worker posts. The purpose of these posts is to engage with young people who are disengaged, hard to reach or who do not regularly engage in mainstream youth provision. Some of these young people are from the Travelling Community. In addition to this, outreach funding is used for specifically targeted initiatives and programmes.

(i) The Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards and the Youth Council have provided the following information on youth outreach funding that was specifically targeted at the travelling community from 2006/07 to 2010/11:

• In determining my draft Budget proposals I afforded protection to a number of important spending areas including youth. The Executive and Assembly agreed the Final Budget allocations on 9 March and I am now in a position to consider how best to allocate the resources available to me. Until I have the opportunity to do this, no final decisions on allocations for 2011/12 and future years can be made in relation to any organisation funded by the Department.
• As the Executive and Assembly has now agreed the budget, interim measures will not be considered.

Education and Training Inspectorate

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) the function of the Education and Training Inspectorate; (ii) its total cost since its creation; and (iii) the total number of people employed in it in each of the last five years.

(AQW 5053/11)

Minister of Education:

(i) Tá feidhm na Cigireachta Oideachais agus Oiliúna leagtha amach sa chuid “Na rudaí a dhéanaimid” den “Chairt um Chigireacht”, cáipéis atá ar fáil go poiblí agus a fhoilsítear ar shuíomh gréasáin ETI.

(i) The function of the Education and Training Inspectorate is outlined in the “What we do” section of the “Charter for Inspection”, a publicly available document which is published on the ETI website. It can be accessed using the following link:

http://www.etini.gov.uk/index/support-material/support-material-general-documents-non-phase-related/support-material-general-documents-about-inspection/a-charter-for-inspection-3.pdf

(ii) It would not be possible to quantify the total cost of the Education and Training Inspectorate since its creation. The Education and Training Inspectorate in the North can trace its antecedents directly back to the Inspectorate established in 1832 by the Commissioners of National Education in Ireland. A number of inspectors transferred to the Ministry of Education in the North when it was formed in 1922. The total cost of the organisation throughout its history is not available.

(iii) The total number of inspectors in the Education and Training Inspectorate in each of the last five years is:

March 2011 65

March 2010 68

March 2009 67

March 2008 67

March 2007 65

School Inspections

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of Education how the inspection process on teaching and learning in the classroom is measured; and to detail the evidence which is collected, collated, evaluated, and assessed in a school inspection.

(AQW 5054/11)

Minister of Education: Tá roinnt cáipéisí foilsithe ag ETI, a leagann amach an dóigh a dtomhaistear an próiseas iniúchta ar theagasc agus ar fhoghlaim sa seomra ranga. Ch omh maith leis seo tá an fhianaise iontu a bhailítear, a chomhordaítear, a mheastar agus a mheasúnaítear i g cigireacht ghearr.

There are a number of ETI-published documents, which outline how the inspection process on teaching and learning in the classroom is measured and also contain the evidence which is collected, collated, evaluated and assessed in a short inspection. These are publicly available on the Education and Training Inspectorate’s website. The main documents include the following:

Professional Development For Teachers

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister of Education, given the absence of the Education and Skills Authority, who has responsibility for commissioning continuous professional development for teachers.

(AQW 5057/11)

Minister of Education: In éagmais ESA, fanann an fhreagracht reachtúil chun soláthar oiliúint bhreise do mhúinteoirí a áirithiú le gach ceann de na Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlann faoina Seirbhís Chomhairleach don Churaclam faoi seach.

In the absence of ESA, the statutory responsibility for securing the provision of further training for teachers remains with each of the Education and Library Boards under their respective Curriculum Advisory and Support Service (CASS).

Schools can also provide for any additional training that they wish to undertake from within the funding they receive under the Local Management of Schools funding arrangements.

School Inspections

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of Education whether evidence collected during a school inspection is made available to the Board of Governors and the Principal, in line with the Nolan Principles.

(AQW 5081/11)

Minister of Education: Is fostaí sa tseirbhís phoiblí é gach cigire agus é tiomanta do na prionsabail ar a dtugtar ‘The Seven Principles of Public Life’ nó ‘the Nolan Principles’.

All inspectors are public servants and are committed to upholding “The Seven Principles of Public Life” which are also referred to as “the Nolan Principles”. The evidence collected during a school inspection is made available to the Board of Governors and the Principal through discussions with the principal and senior staff and oral report-backs to the Principal and the Board of Governors. In addition a pre-publication copy of the written report is sent to the school to allow the Principal and Board of Governors to check the factual accuracy of the report, in advance of publication.

Education Training Inspectorate

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of Education whether, having consulted with the Information Commissioner, she intends to introduce measures to ensure that all schools assessed by the Education Training Inspectorate have access to all information and findings gathered during the inspection.

(AQW 5083/11)

Minister of Education: Tugtar go leor deiseanna le linn na cigireachta, d’aon scoil a ndéanann an Chigireacht Oideachais agus Oiliúna measúnú ar a gcuid oibre, leis an eolas a chuardach atá bailithe ag na foirne cigireachta agus na torthaí cigireachta atá foirmithe aige.

Any schools whose work is evaluated by the Education and Training Inspectorate is afforded several opportunities during the inspection to seek the information which has been gathered by the inspection teams and the inspection findings which are informed by it. All inspectors, as civil servants, adhere to “The Seven Principles of Public Life”.

Boards of Governors

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of Education, in relation to Boards of Governors, to detail (i) what steps are taken to ensure that Board members have the skills and knowledge necessary to fulfil their roles; (ii) how many Board members have availed of training and support; and (iii) the total cost of this training and support, broken down by Education and Library Board area, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 5085/11)

Minister of Education:

(i) Cuireann na Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlann oiliúint agus tacaíocht ar fáil do na Boird Gobharnóirí Scoileanna le cuidiú a thabhairt dóibh a gcuid freagrachtaí reachtúla a chomhlíonadh. Tugtar an deis do gach Gobharnóir nua bheith páirteach i gclár ionduchtaithe agus cuirtear clár oiliúna do ghobharnóirí ar fáil ar bhonn bliaintiúil do ghobharnóirí reatha. Aimsítear ábhair éagsúla sa dá chúrsa seo.

(i) The education and library boards provide training and support to assist school Boards of Governors to fulfil their statutory responsibilities. All new governors are offered a place on an induction programme and existing governors are offered an annual governor training programme, both of which cover a variety of essential topics.

My Department has published an on-line information guide on the DE website entitled ‘Every School a Good School – the Governors’ Role’ which sets out the roles and responsibilities of school Boards of Governors.

(ii) The number of Board of Governor members who have attended ELB training courses is set out below.

Boards of Governors served a 4 year term of office from 2005/6 to 2008/9 and some of their members will have attended more than one training course in this 4 year cycle. Boards of Governors were reconstituted in the 2009/10 school year when the induction programmes commenced for new governors.

(iii) The total cost of this training and support was as follows:

* Due to different ELB administration systems, the ELB expenditure is based on school years except for the Southern Board which is based on financial years and excludes salary costs. The Western Board’s costs exclude facilitator salary costs.

Education and Training Inspectorate: Membership

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Education what allowances are available to members of the Education and Training Inspectorate in relation to home/office accommodation.

(AQW 5099/11)

Minister of Education: Cé go bhfuil foráil déanta ina mbailte féin ag gach ball den Chigireacht Oideachais agus Oiliúna do chóiríocht oifige, ní dhéantar aon íocaíocht dóibh mar aitheantas air seo.

Although all members of the Education and Training Inspectorate make provision in their homes for office accommodation, no payments are made to them in recognition of this.

Education and Training Inspectorate: Travel Costs

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Education to detail the average annual travel costs of a full-time inspector of the Education and Training Inspectorate in 2009.

(AQW 5100/11)

Minister of Education: Is ionann £3309 agus meán costas an taistil bliaintiúil Chigire lánaimseartha na Cigireachta Oideachais agus Oiliúna.

The average annual travel cost of a full-time inspector of the Education and Training Inspectorate in the financial year 2009/2010 was £3309.

Education and Training Inspectorate

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Education to detail the sources of funding for the Education and Training Inspectorate in each of the last three years.

(AQW 5101/11)

Minister of Education: Tháinig an maoiniú uile beagnach don Chigireacht Oideachais agus Oiliúna ( ETI ) le trí bliana anuas, ón Roinn Oideachais.

Almost all of the funding for the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) in the last three years has come from the Department of Education. A small amount of funding was received each year from Criminal Justice Inspection and from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in respect of inspection services provided by ETI in prisons and in the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE).

Development of a Strategic Plan for Schools

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 4473/11, in relation to the development of a strategic plan for schools, to detail (i) the two different approaches being adopted for schools in the (a) Portadown/Tandragee; and (b) Lurgan area; and (ii) the rationale behind adopting two different approaches.

(AQW 5104/11)

Minister of Education: Tá sé curtha in iúl ag Bord Oideachais agus Leabharlann an Deiscirt (SELB) do mo Roinn gur eagraigh sé roinnt cruinnithe le páirtithe leasmhara d'fhonn plean straitéiseach a fhorbairt do na scoileanna i gCóras Dhá Shraith Craigavon.

The Southern Education and Library Board (SELB) has advised my Department that it has held a number of meetings with stakeholders with a view to developing a strategic plan for the schools in the Craigavon Two Tier System.

These meetings revealed a high level of agreement on the way forward in Portadown and Tandragee but a lack of agreement between schools in the Lurgan Area. Given the contrasting levels of agreement and differences in the school populations and demography of the two areas, the Board agreed that the two areas of Portadown/Tandragee and Lurgan should be progressed concurrently but with different approaches.

Portadown/Tandragee area

Given the consensus of opinion between the Portadown and Tandragee schools it was agreed to adopt an approach involving the five Controlled Post-Primary schools working together.

The aim is to achieve a voluntary coalition to ensure all young people attending the schools have access to the best possible educational opportunities to help them realise their potential. A number of factors are being considered and changes will be phased in.

Lurgan area

In planning for the Lurgan area, the SELB has advised that it has completed an initial study on future needs for Post-Primary provision in the controlled sector and intends to publish a consultation document focusing on the two main educational options identified.

Option 1 proposes to retain the current Craigavon Two Tier system in Lurgan but address the accommodation issues of Craigavon Senior High School by co-locating it with Lurgan College on the latter’s site.

Option 2 proposes to move away from the current system. The proposal is to replace the current system with either a single all-ability school or two 11-19 schools located on two different sites, one being Grammar and the other Secondary.

It is anticipated that the consultation will take place after the Assembly Elections . The responses will then be considered and any recommendation for the way forward, agreed by the Board, where a significant change is proposed will then be subject to the normal development proposal process.

Education and Skills Authority

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of Education whether she intends to reduce the level of funding allocated for the Education and Skills Authority in light of budgetary cuts and the delay in its establishment.

(AQW 5106/11)

Minister of Education: Níor bunaíodh an tÚdarás Oideachais agus Scileanna go fóill.

The Education and Skills Authority has not yet been established. However my draft allocations and savings proposals on the Draft Budget 2011-15 include a proposed saving of £2.2 million from the Education and Skills Authority Implementation Team in each of the four years of the Budget period. In addition, in light of the delay in the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority, £2.9m of monies which would otherwise have been allocated to bodies which were to be established under the Review of Public Administration will be considered as savings in 2011-12. Should ESA be established in 2011-12 the Department will seek to absorb these costs from within its existing allocation.

The implications of the draft Budget allocations argue strongly for the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority. I remain totally committed to this vital reform.

Education and Skills Authority

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of Education for her assessment of the impact of her proposed changes to the Education and Skills Authority and educational administration on (i) staff morale of the Education and Library Boards; and (ii) the efficient delivery of services.

(AQW 5107/11)

Minister of Education: Tá mé tiomanta go daingean do bhunú an Údaráis Scileanna Oideachais (ESA);

I remain firmly committed to the establishment of the Education Skills Authority (ESA); however it is not yet in existence due to delays in the passage of the Education Bill. Consequently I have not proposed changes to the ESA.

I am mindful that this delay in implementation leaves staff in all the affected organisations, including the Education and Library Boards, in an uncertain position. Despite current uncertainties and pressures staff continue to work diligently to ensure the continuity of service.

ESA implementation remains the best way to deal with the uncertainty. It is the most effective way to rationalise educational administration in the north of Ireland and provide efficient and effective support for frontline services.

Extensive work is ongoing to identify potential areas where services can be effectively converged, thus removing duplication and maximising administrative efficiency. This will ensure that as much as possible of the funding available to my department is directed to frontline services to children and young people.

Decentralisation of Public Sector Jobs

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Education for an update on the implementation of the plan to decentralise public sector jobs within her Department, and its agencies, since the publication of the Bain Report.

(AQW 5120/11)

Minister of Education: Níl aon phlean ann faoi láthair aon phost san earnáil phoiblí laistigh den Roinn Oideachais a dhílárú.

There are currently no plans to decentralise any public sector posts within the Department of Education.

The Bain Report recommended that the headquarters of the Education and Skills Authority (ESA) ought to be a candidate for location outside Belfast.

I remain ready to establish the ESA, for which there is a financial and educational imperative. Decisions on the overall location strategy for the ESA would be subject, where appropriate, to equality impact assessment and consultation, as well as the normal requirements of business need, value for money and affordability.

Departmental Expenditure Limit Budget

Ms D Purvis asked the Minister of Education, for each of the last five years, to detail the annual cost to her departmental Expenditure Limit budget for a child's attendance at (i) a playgroup; and (ii) a nursery unit.

(AQW 5129/11)

Minister of Education:

(i) Maoinítear á iteanna i ngrúpaí súgartha na hearnála deonaí agus na hearnála príobháidí ar bhonn costas in aghaidh na h áite. Tá an costas seo méadaithe gach bliain acadúil.

(i) Places in the voluntary and private playgroup sector are funded on a cost per place basis which has increased each academic year.

  The cost per place for each of the last 5 academic years is as follows:-

        2005/06    -    £1,335

        2006/07    -    £1,370

        2007/08    -    £1,405

        2008/09    -    £1,445 

        2009/10    -    £1,485

The cost per place in the current academic year (2010/11) is £1,525.

(ii) It is not possible to disaggregate the entire Departmental Expenditure Limit (DEL) budget to this level.   Additionally, it is not possible to disaggregate the costs of pupils in nursery classes/units from those of primary pupils in Primary schools which have Nursery units attached.  The data given for Primary Schools in response to AQW 4560/11 included costs for those primary schools which have nursery units within them.

Homework Support for the Chinese Community

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Education what assistance her Department intends to provide in relation to homework support for the Chinese community.

(AQW 5137/11)

Minister of Education: Ní chuireann mo Roinn cuidiú sonrach ar fáil i dtaca le hobair baile de don phobal Síneach.

My Department does not provide specific assistance in relation to homework to the Chinese community. However, it does ensure that support is available for pupils from any community who face barriers to learning including, for example, where English or Irish is not the language spoken at home.

This includes providing funding for the regional Inclusion and Diversity Service (IDS) to build capacity and provide schools with appropriate support through provision of diversity officers, in-service training, teaching resources and toolkits.

Interpreting and translation services are also available for parent/teacher meetings and this service is important in helping teachers to explain to parents how they might support their children's learning, including through support for homework.

Additionally, every school is required to have a written homework policy that is shared with, and explained to, parents and it is particularly important that schools take time to communicate that policy to parents who themselves do not speak English as their first language

After School Homework Clubs

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Education what provision has been made for after school homework clubs in the 2011/12 financial year.

(AQW 5138/11)

Minister of Education: Níl foráil faoi leith déanta ag an Roinn Oideachais maidir le clubanna obair baile.

The Department of Education (DE) does not make specific provision in respect of homework clubs. However, the Department’s Extended Schools programme provides a recognised funding stream for those schools serving the most deprived and disadvantaged areas to provide for a wide range of services and activities outside of the traditional school day and this can include after schools learning support and homework clubs.

Tackling educational inequalities and disadvantage is a core priority for my Department and in determining my draft Budget proposals I have afforded protection to a number of important spending areas including Extended Schools.

Following the Executive’s agreement of the Final Budget 2011-15 I am in the process of making final decisions on the allocation of resources for education and will confirm budgets at the earliest opportunity.

Education and Training Inspectorate

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Education to detail the independent audits that have been carried out on the Education and Training Inspectorate in each of the last three years, including who carried out each audit and the findings in each case.

(AQW 5168/11)

Minister of Education: Le feabhas leanúnach a áirithiú mar aon le h oscailteacht mhéadaithe, aimsíonn an Chigireacht Oideachais agus Oiliúna meastóireacht neamhspleách ar a cuid oibre ar bhonn bliantúil.

In order to ensure continuous improvement, and increased openness, the Education and Training Inspectorate secures an independent evaluation of its work on an annual basis. Up until 2008-09, this external evaluation had been conducted for a number of years by Price Waterhouse Coopers. From 2009-2010, to reduce costs involved, an independent, confidential, post-inspection evaluation has been conducted by the Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA).

In addition, a “Charter Mark Certification Review” relating to the Education and Training Inspectorate was undertaken in September 2007 by EMQC Ltd. The resulting report, which was very positive, ensured that ETI retained its Charter Mark award. In 2010, the DE Internal Audit Branch conducted an evaluation of the work of the Education and Training Inspectorate. The resulting evaluation report noted: “Internal Audit considers that the quality of the service provided by the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) complies with best practice”.

“The Review highlighted a number of ETI’s strengths in each of the areas examined. The most notable of these are:

• The quality of documentation detailing ETI’s system processes ……
• The importance assigned by ETI management to the development of their staff ……….
• The openness and transparency with which ETI shares its work with stakeholders ………………
• The desire to continually improve the inspection service provided to its customers by being subject to an annual independent evaluation of the inspection process.”

In January 2011, the Education and Training Inspectorate was assessed by EMQC for the Customer Service Excellence Award which it was subsequently granted. The assessment concluded:

“The Education and Training Inspectorate is a highly customer focused organisation with a discrete balance between the rigorous assessment of educational and training establishments against educational policy and the support for these organisations to change and improve. Customers appreciate the rigour of the inspection process and the support to make positive change provided. Customers spoke highly at assessment of the approachability of Inspectors and the value added their advice and guidance provides in ensuring learners have the best opportunities for attainment. Policy makers at the Department of Education appreciate the objectiveness of reporting the ETI provides that enables clear measurement of improving standards in education.

There are no actions that require immediate attention and I am pleased to pass on to EMQC Ltd’s Certification Committee my recommendation that you are certificated as meeting the Customer Service Excellence Standard. Certification is valid for three years from the Certification Committee’s decision date and subject to ongoing annual monitoring.”

The key mission of the Education and Training Inspectorate is “to promote improvement in the interests of all learners”. This includes the promotion of improvement in its own procedures and practices.

Education and Training Inspectorate

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) how often the Education and Training Inspectorate quality assures its work; (ii) the outcome of each quality assurance check; and (iii) any improvements that have been put in place as a result of these checks in each of the last three years.

(AQW 5169/11)

Minister of Education:

(i) Mar eagraíocht atá tiomanta d'fheabhsú leanúnach agus d’ oscailteacht mhéadaithe, aimsíonn an Chigireacht Oideachais agus Oiliúna meastóireacht neamhspleách ar a cuid oibre ar bhonn bliantúil.

(i) As an organisation committed to continuous improvement, and increased openness, the Education and Training Inspectorate secures an independent evaluation of its work on an annual basis. During the last three years, it has also been subject to Charter Mark Assessment, a DE Internal Audit Evaluation and a Customer Service Excellence Award assessment.

(ii) All of these assessments of quality have reported very favourably on the organisation. Further details are available from the Annual Business Reports for each of the last three years which are available at www.etini.gov.uk.

(iii) As a result of the outcomes of these assessments during the last three years, the ETI has made some changes, as appropriate. For example, it has made more formal its procedures relating to the declaration by individual inspectors that no conflict of interest exists for them in relation to the specific pieces of work they are asked to do. Also all inspectors have been given feedback annually on the independent evaluation to ensure that any ideas for improvements which might be prompted by the findings can be taken on board.

Education and Training Inspectorate

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Education how many complaints the Education and Training Inspectorate received in each of the last three years, and of these, how many were upheld.

(AQW 5170/11)

Minister of Education: Seo a leanas líon na ngearán atá faighte ag an Chigireacht Oideachais agus Oiliúna i ngach ceann de na trí bliana seo chuaigh thart:

The number of complaints the Education and Training Inspectorate received in each of the last three years are as follows:

2009/10 7

2008/09 2

2007/08 9

This information is publicly available on the Education and Training Inspectorate’s website and can be accessed using the following link

http://www.etini.gov.uk/index/support-material/support-material-general-documents-non-phase-related/support-material-general-documents-about-the-education-and-training-inspectorate.htm

These complaints were all followed up systematically, in accordance with the procedures outlined in the Inspectorate’s Complaints Procedures.

New Build or Maintenance Schemes in Upper Bann

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister of Education to detail the new build or maintenance schemes that are currently scheduled to take place in schools in the Upper Bann constituency in the next four years.

(AQW 5195/11)

Minister of Education: Tá seacht dtionscadal do scoileanna i dtoghcheantar na Banna Uachtair ar Phlean Seachadta Infheistíochta na Roinne (IDP) .

There are seven projects for schools in the Upper Bann constituency on the Department’s Investment Delivery Plan (IDP). The project for Banbridge Academy is currently under construction the other six projects (St Teresa’s PS, Lurgan; Tannaghmore PS; Lurgan College; Portadown College; St Mary’s PS, Banbridge; and St Patrick’s College Banbridge) are at various stages in planning.

The Draft Budget 2011-15 highlighted significant reductions in the capital budget for Education over the next four years which would have a detrimental effect on my Department’s ability to deliver the school building programme.

While I was successful in securing an additional £65.5 million of capital funding over the four year period in the Final Budget allocation, a gap still exists between the capital funding required to fully deliver the Department’s capital programme and the amount allocated. Any investment in new builds, if at all possible, is therefore likely to be intermittent and limited until 2014-15.

The reduction in the capital allocation will require a comprehensive reassessment of how the limited capital funds available should be deployed on a strategic and prioritised basis to address the most pressing needs. I will write to schools on the IDP, including the six in Upper Bann, to inform them of the position when this is finalised.

In regard to maintenance the SELB prepare planned maintenance programmes for their estate during April. Once a maintenance budget is confirmed, SELB will prepare a programme of work for the coming year.

Temporary Buildings

Lord Empey asked the Minister of Education how many children in (i) primary; and (ii) post-primary schools have been educated in temporary buildings in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) District Council area; and (b) Education and Library Board.

(AQW 5206/11)

Minister of Education: Níl aon eolas i seilbh mo Roinne ar líon na bpáistí a mhúintear i seomraí ranga soghluaiste agus bheadh costas díréireach ag baint leis an eolas seo a bhailiú.

My Department does not hold information on the number of children taught in mobile classrooms and to have this collected could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. In particular, in post primary schools it would be impossible to establish how many children use the classrooms at any given time depending on the subject the classroom is used for.

Temporary Buildings

Lord Empey asked the Minister of Education what proportion of (i) primary; and (ii) post-primary pupils were educated in temporary buildings in each of the last five years, broken down by (a) maintained; (b) controlled; (c) integrated; and (d) Irish medium schools.

(AQW 5207/11)

Minister of Education: Ní choinníonn mo Roinn aon eolas a bhaineann le líon na ndaltaí a mhúintear i seomraí ranga soghluaiste agus bheadh costais díréireach ag baint le bailiú an eolais seo. Maidir leis na hiarbhunscoileanna ach go háirithe, bheadh sé thar a bheith deacair an t-eolas a bhaineann le líon na bpáistí agus úsáid na seomraí ranga soghluaiste ag aon am amháin a fháil amach, agus é seo ag brath ar an ábhar atá á mhúineadh ann.

My Department does not hold information on the number of children taught in mobile classrooms and to have this collected could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost. In particular in post primary schools it would be impossible to establish how many children use the classrooms at any given time depending on the subject the classroom is used for.

Provisions for Opting Out of Religious Education

Mr B Wilson asked the Minister of Education, in relation to the 2006 Equality Impact Assessment of the revised core syllabus and the provisions for opting out of religious education (i) what action her Department intends to take to assist schools in increasing awareness of the right to opt-out of religious education; (ii) how the Department intends to monitor schools' performance in this matter; and (iii) what action her Department has taken to ensure that all schools provide opt-outs which fulfil international standards.

(AQW 5208/11)

Minister of Education: Chuir mo Roinn scoileanna ar an eolas maidir lena gcuid riachtanas agus freagrachtaí faisnéis a fhoilsiú ina réamheolairí scoileanna, lena n-áirítear múineadh an Oideachais Reiligiúnaigh agus ceart na d tuismitheoirí a gcuid páistí a tharraingt siar.

My Department has informed schools of their requirements and responsibilities to publish information in their schools prospectuses, including the teaching of Religious Education and parents’ right to withdraw their children.

Additionally, new guidance provided recently for school governors in the on-line guide 'Every School a Good School – The Governors' Role' includes a specific focus on the provision of religious education and highlights specifically parents’ right to withdraw their children along with governors’ responsibilities in relation to the promotion of equality, good relations and diversity. In line with this guidance, I expect schools to ensure that parents are notified of the facility to opt out of religious education and the arrangements for making alternative provision for pupils.

Departmental Forward Work Programme

Mr D O'Loan asked the Minister of Education to detail the work that is scheduled to take place within the next six months on collaboration, amalgamations and federations or confederations on a sectoral or cross-sectoral basis.

(AQW 5215/11)

Minister of Education: Caithfimid a chinntiú go gcuimsíonn soláthar oideachais líonra de scoileanna inmharthana inbhuanaithe a sholáthraíonn oideachas ardchaighdeáin do gach leanbh agus duine óg.

We need to ensure that education provision comprises a network of viable and sustainable schools providing high quality education for all children and young people. It will therefore be important, particularly in the current difficult budgetary position, that the education sector works together to explore innovative and creative solutions to maximise the impact of the limited resources, taking into consideration the statutory responsibilities of the school managing authorities.

There is considerable scope for a more coherent area based approach to planning education provision, including the potential for the amalgamation of schools and collaboration involving the sharing and collaboration across the education sectors. One model which has been suggested, primarily in the Bain Report and subsequently in the Irish Medium Review, is that of federations. My officials will be hosting a half day workshop on this concept for the school managing authorities in the near future, to scope the full range of issues that will require further consideration.

Irish-Medium and Integrated Education

Mr D O'Loan asked the Minister of Education to outline her Department's position on the commitments made in the Good Friday Agreement in relation to Irish-medium and integrated education; and whether the commitments are legally enforceable.

(AQW 5219/11)

Minister of Education: Tá dualgas reachtúil ar an Roinn, oideachas comhtháite a spreagadh agus a éascú faoin Acht um Athchóiriú Oideachais (TÉ) 1989.

The Department has a statutory duty to encourage and facilitate integrated education under the Education Reform (NI) Order 1989. Following the Good Friday Agreement, which stressed the commitment in a new society, both to cultural diversity and the objective of breaking down the effects of division and segregation, the Education (NI) Order 1998 placed a statutory duty on the Department to also encourage and facilitate Irish-Medium education. My Department is whole-heartedly committed to fulfilling these statutory duties.

New Build for the Holy Family Primary School Newington, Belfast

Mr A Maginness asked the Minister of Education for an update on the new build for the Holy Family Primary School, Newington Avenue, Belfast.

(AQW 5231/11)

Minister of Education: Tá an mhór scéim chaipitil atá beartaithe do Bhunscoil an Teaghlaigh Naofa ar cheann de na 114 scéim nach bhfuil fógartha ach atá ag céim staidéir fhéidearthachta agus measúnaithe eacnamaíoch agus a ceapadh le bheith ar an chéad chéim eile den infheistíocht chaipitil, n uair a bhí na scéimeanna sin ar an Phlean Seachadta Infheistíochta críochnaithe.

The proposed major capital scheme for Holy Family Primary School is one of 114 schemes which are not announced but which are at feasibility study and economic appraisal stage and were designed to be the next phase of capital investment, once those schemes on the Investment Delivery Plan were completed.

As you are aware, the Draft Budget 2011-15 highlighted significant reductions in the capital budget for Education over the next four years which would have a detrimental effect on my Department’s ability to deliver the school building programme. While I was successful in securing an additional £65.5 million of capital funding over the four year period in the Final Budget allocation, a gap still exists between the capital funding required to fully deliver the Department’s capital programme and the amount allocated. I will continue to bid in-year for any capital funds that become available to the Executive.

In view of the current capital funding position, I am unable to provide a timeframe regarding progress of the proposed scheme for Holy Family Primary School, but my officials will keep the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools updated on any developments.

Voluntary Grammar Schools

Mrs M O'Neill asked the Minister of Education whether voluntary grammar schools are subject to Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 when implementing changes to staff practices.

(AQW 5241/11)

Minister of Education: Baineann Alt 75 le húdaráis phoiblí atá sainithe chun críche an Achta amháin, agus ní bhaineann sé le scoileanna de chineál ar bith.

Section 75 applies only to public authorities designated for the purposes of the Act, and does not apply to schools of any type. However, voluntary grammar schools, as employers, ought to be mindful of their legal responsibilities under other equality and employment legislation.

Department for Employment and Learning

University Students

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Employment and Learning, pursuant to AQW 4456/11, to outline the reasons for an increase of almost 50% in the number of first year university students from the Republic of Ireland in 2009/10.

(AQW 4916/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning (Mr D Kennedy): I am advised by the University of Ulster that the majority of the increase in first year students from the Republic of Ireland was due to an increase in enrolments on its part-time Advanced Certificate in Credit Union Practice course. Enrolments on this course increased from 77 in the 2008/9 academic year to 406 in the 2009/10 academic year.

At Queen’s University, the number of full-time first year students from the Republic of Ireland increased by 18.7% in the 2009/10 academic year. The University points out that this increase was most prevalent among postgraduate students and cites lower tuition fees and living costs in Northern Ireland as a reason for this. I understand the University has also undertaken targeted recruitment activity at Postgraduate Fairs in the Republic of Ireland.

St. Mary’s University College, whilst acknowledging an increase in the number of first year students from the Republic of Ireland, cannot identify specific reasons for this increase.

Stranmillis University College advises that it has not experienced an increase in the number of first year students from the Republic of Ireland.

European Social Fund: Tranche 2

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister for Employment and Learning, in relation to the successful applications made under Tranche 2 of the European Social Fund, to detail how many of these projects will operate in socially disadvantaged areas.

(AQW 4934/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: A second Call for applications under Priority 1 of the Northern Ireland European Social Fund (NIESF) Programme 2007-13 was launched on 23 September 2010. A total of 83 projects have been initially selected for funding subject to satisfactory further appraisal.

Of the 83 projects initially selected, 48 projects are located in areas of social disadvantage as defined by Neighbourhood Renewal Areas, 17 will operate throughout Northern Ireland with a likelihood of operating fully or partly in socially disadvantaged areas.

A further 18 projects, while not located in areas of social disadvantage, may provide for individual participants from a variety of geographical locations, including areas of social disadvantage and elsewhere.

Departmental Staff: Trips to North Carolina

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the number of trips that departmental staff have made to North Carolina in each of the last three years; and the associated costs of each trip.

(AQW 5000/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The following table details the number of trips that departmental staff made to North Carolina in each of the last 3 full financial years, and the associated costs. These cover flight and hotel costs primarily. Where a trip included multiple destinations, the total flight costs have been divided by the number of destinations to provide an approximate cost for North Carolina.

Stranmillis College: Site

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the land at the Stranmillis College site which is zoned for conservation or heritage.

(AQW 5009/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The entire Stranmillis College site, with the exception of that occupied by the refectory, halls of residence and the hockey pitches, lies within the Stranmillis Conservation Area.

Under the Draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan the entire college grounds are listed as a Historic Park, Garden and Demesne.

Stranmillis College: Site

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister for Employment and Learning for an estimate of the current capital value of the Stranmillis College site.

(AQW 5010/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Stranmillis University College has reported in its last set of financial statements dated 31 July 2010, that its freehold land and buildings has a net book value of £54.7 million. This is the most up to date information available to my Department.

Stranmillis College: Stakeholder Forum

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the terms of reference for the proposed Stranmillis Stakeholder Forum.

(AQW 5011/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: As you are aware, it is proposed that a Stakeholder Forum is established at the Stranmillis School of Education at Queen’s University on which interested parties such as the Transferor Representatives’ Council will have guaranteed representation. The agreed principle is that the Forum will give key stakeholders an advisory and consultative voice in the governance of the new School. At this stage in the merger process detailed terms of reference have not been established. However, it is envisaged that it will be responsible for advising on a range of issues such as teacher education, the preparation of teachers to deliver the agreed Religious Education curriculum, and the development of responses to education policy issues. Should the merger proceed, the terms of reference will be developed and agreed by Stranmillis, Queen’s and the key stakeholders.

Social Clause Requirements

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail (i) the social clause requirements in his Department's capital or current spend projects, including (a) the creation of apprenticeships; and (b) the employment of long-term unemployed persons; and (ii) any proposals his Department has to expand such opportunities.

(AQW 5029/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: One of my Department’s conditions for further education colleges’ capital grant funding is that they use standard contracts that have requirements for the employment of one Apprentice per £2m of Contract price, and one Long Term Unemployed person per £5m of Contract price. All current contracts have used these contracts, except in two cases where the issue of the tender documents pre-dated the introduction of this policy. No such conditions apply to the Department’s recurrent grant. The Department is guided by, and will continue to take the advice of, its Centre of Procurement Excellence (DFP’s Central Procurement Directorate) in relation to these matters.

ApprenticeshipsNI is a demand-led provision and, as such, employers determine the number of apprenticeship opportunities. However, my officials are proactively engaged with Central Procurement Directorate and other Departments to ensure contractors are fulfilling their social-clause requirements of employing apprentices in accordance with the level of contract awarded. In addition, my Department has been actively promoting the Steps to Work programmes as the vehicle for fulfilling social clause obligations in public sector contracts.

Stranmillis College and St Mary's College

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what consideration he has given to (i) a merger; or (ii) the sharing of services between St Mary's University College and Stranmillis University College.

(AQW 5044/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Stranmillis University College and St Mary’s University College are both independent autonomous bodies. Any proposals made by the University Colleges to merge or share services would be considered by my Department. When Stranmillis University College was considering the options open to it when developing its business case for the merger with Queen’s, a merger with St Mary’s was an option that was considered. However, I understand that St Mary’s indicated that it would not consider a merger with another institution at that time. Also, I am not aware of any proposals being made to share services between the two Colleges. I would, however, be generally supportive of any such proposals.

European Social Fund

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister for Employment and Learning (i) if funding is available for those projects that are successful under the European Social Fund after appeal; and (ii) whether his Department would consider funding those projects which it supports but have been unsuccessful under the European Social Fund.

(AQW 5244/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: All available European Social Fund (ESF) monies and DEL Match funding under the second call for ESF Priority 1 has been allocated to 83 successful projects. On this basis I am not in a position to provide any additional ESF funding.

Furthermore, my Department’s budget has been fully allocated over the incoming budget period for mainstream activities and I have no plans to support ESF Projects that did not secure funding in the second ESF call,

where a total of £50 million was bid for by all applications against an available budget of £30 million.

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Colin Area of Belfast

Ms J McCann asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail what percentage of her Department's budget was spent in the Colin area of Belfast, in each of the last four financial years.

(AQW 4757/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Mrs A Foster): DETI does not have systems in place that would readily provide expenditure information at ward or neighbourhood level. To retrieve the necessary information would necessitate a significant manual exercise that could only be done at disproportionate cost.

Small Businesses

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail any plans she has to assist small businesses in towns and villages experiencing the effects of the economic downturn and out-of-town retail multi-nationals.

(AQW 4946/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: My Department, through Invest NI, has sought to work proactively with local companies and entrepreneurs to help minimise the impact of the current economic downturn. As a direct response to the downturn, a number of new initiatives were introduced including the Short Term Aid Scheme, which has provided over £3.5 million of support to 31 businesses, and the Accelerated Support Fund, which provided over £5 million of financial support to 162 projects and practical help and advice to more than 500 businesses across Northern Ireland. Invest NI is now also in the process of developing a new £18 million Short Term Employment Scheme which is intended to create 4,000 new jobs over the next four years.

There continues to be a wide range of help and assistance available from Invest NI including export development programmes for both first-time and more experienced exporters, energy and environmental efficiency support, comprehensive business information services and information and communications technology support. The information website, nibusinessinfo.co.uk, which is openly available to all, also provides free access to over 5,000 pages of key information, advice and training.

Invest NI, the Industrial Development Board and the Local Enterprise Development Unit

Mr P Maskey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, in relation to Invest NI or its predecessors, the Industrial Development Board and the Local Enterprise Development Unit, to detail (i) the number of financial assistance offers; (ii) the total amount of financial assistance provided; (iii) the total amount of overall investment secured; and (iv) the number of new jobs created, broken down by constituency, in each year since 1998.

(AQW 4949/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Invest NI, the Industrial Development Board and the Local Enterprise Development Unit

Mr P Maskey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (i) the total number of new jobs created; and (ii) the total number of jobs lost, by client companies of Invest NI or its predecessors, the Industrial Development Board and the Local Enterprise Development Unit, broken down by constituency, in each year since 1998.

(AQW 4951/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Invest NI

Mr P Maskey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, for each constituency, to detail (i) the number of first-time inward investment projects; and (ii) the number of new jobs created, broken down by (a) foreign direct investors; and (b) other investors, which received assistance offers from Invest NI or its predecessors, the Industrial Development Board and the Local Enterprise Development Unit, in each year since 1998.

(AQW 4954/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Belfast Harbour Estate

Mr P Maskey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (i) the total amount of financial assistance offered to companies or investors located within the boundaries of the Belfast Harbour Estate, broken down by (a) company name; (b) the number of jobs created; and (c) the amount of assistance offered by Invest NI or its predecessors, the Industrial Development Board and the Local Enterprise Development Unit, in each year since 1998.

(AQW 4955/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: The information requested is not readily available and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Northern Ireland: An Enterprise Zone

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail any discussions her Department has had with the Secretary of State in relation to making Northern Ireland an enterprise zone.

(AQW 4957/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: The Coalition Government has committed to consider how Northern Ireland could be treated as an enterprise zone, in order to rebalance the economy away from its reliance on the public sector.

As part of this work, I and other Ministers have held meetings with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Her Majesty’s Treasury. Most recently I had a video conference meeting with the Secretary of State and the Exchequer Secretary on Monday 7 March 2011 to discuss progress with the consultation paper on proposals to rebalance the Northern Ireland economy.

Town Centre Regeneration

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what measures her Department has taken to encourage town centre regeneration in relation to small local businesses.

(AQW 4958/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: The Department does not have a specific remit for town centre regeneration.

However InvestNI’s Enterprise Development Programme (EDP) is aimed at start-up and existing small local businesses providing support for businesses across a range of sectors including many involved in retail and the provision of local services that typically operate in or near town centres. EDP offers an integrated range of guidance, signposting, training and mentoring aimed at attracting more people into starting and growing their own business and focuses on developing the capabilities of those which have the potential to make a significant economic impact.

In the year to March 2010 EDP delivered 2,149 start-up business plans across Northern Ireland including 203 from the Mid Ulster parliamentary constituency. This year to date 2,634 business plans have been delivered across Northern Ireland of which 256 are in the Mid Ulster parliamentary constituency.

Rose Energy Poultry Litter Incinerator

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment how many times she has brought the issue of the Rose Energy Poultry Litter Incinerator to the Executive in the last twelve months; and for an update on any progress made on the matter in each instance.

(AQW 5020/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: My department has not brought this issue to the executive within the last twelve months.

Decentralisation of Public Sector Jobs

Mrs M Bradley asked e Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, for each of the last three years, to detail the number of public sector jobs within her Department and its agencies that have been (i) decentralised from Belfast to another location, broken down by the new location; and (ii) relocated to Belfast from another location, broken down by the original location.

(AQW 5095/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: The Department and its NDPBs have not, in the last three years, (i) decentralised any public sector jobs from Belfast to another location, or (ii) relocated any public sector jobs to Belfast from another location.

Department of the Environment

Road Vehicle Licences

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the total amount collected by the Driver and Vehicle Agency for road vehicle licences in the 2009/10 financial year.

(AQW 4998/11)

Minister of the Environment (Mr E Poots): The response below includes both vehicle excise duty (referred to as vehicle licensing) and road transport vehicle licensing income.

Vehicle licensing is an Excepted matter which is the responsibility of the Secretary of State for Transport in Whitehall. It is administered in Northern Ireland by the Driver & Vehicle Agency under a formal agreement between the DoE and the Department for Transport. The amount of vehicle excise duty collected in the 2009/10 financial year was £164 million, of which £83 million was collected through the Post Office. These sums were remitted to the Department for Transport as part of the U.K.’s vehicle excise revenues.

Under the Transport Act (NI) 1967, the Department, through the Road Transport Licensing Division of the Driver & Vehicle Agency, is responsible for the licensing of vehicles used to carry goods or passengers by road for reward. During the 2009/10 financial year, £608k was collected in road freight vehicle licensing income.

EU Nitrates Directive

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of the Environment how many times she has brought the issue of the EU Nitrates Directive and the problems with poultry litter disposal faced by the poultry industry to the Executive in the last twelve months; and for an update on any progress made on the matter in each instance.

(AQW 5021/11)

Minister of the Environment: Implementation of the EU Nitrates Directive in Northern Ireland is the joint responsibility of my Department and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and, in the last twelve months, issues concerning it have been brought to the Executive twice.

In May 2010 I submitted a paper on behalf of the two Departments to the Executive requesting approval to issue a public consultation on review and revision of the Nitrates Action Programme Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (the 2006 Regulations). The consultation included discussion of the temporary measure in the 2006 Regulations permitting storage of poultry litter in field heaps and outlined industry proposals for an alternative to land spreading of poultry litter explaining that land spreading of litter at current levels was not sustainable in the longer term. The temporary measure was due to expire on 31 December 2010 and the consultation proposed that the measure would not be renewed. The Executive gave approval for publication of the consultation which was issued in June 2010.

I n November 2010, I submitted a further paper on behalf of the two Departments to the Executive requesting approval to make the 2010 NAP Regulations. The Executive gave approval and the Regulations were made in December 2010 and came into operation on 1 January 2011

In light of consideration of responses to the consultation, and discussion with the EU Commission, the Regulations contain a revised measure to allow the continued storage of poultry litter in field heaps until 30 September 2011 to support the industry during the development of potential alternative temporary storage options for this action programme.

Department's Capital or Current Spend Projects

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of the Environment to detail (i) the social clause requirements in his Department's capital or current spend projects, including (a) the creation of apprenticeships; and (b) the employment of long-term unemployed persons; and (ii) any proposals his Department has to expand such opportunities.

(AQW 5031/11)

Minister of the Environment: Given the nature of my Department’s business activities, which in the main are regulatory as well as the provision of grants to District Councils and third parties, my Department’s capital and current projects do not lend themselves to job creation.

Rose Energy's Incinerator Plant at Glenavy

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of the Environment to detail why, during the determination of the planning application for Rose Energy's incinerator plant at Glenavy, the Strategic Projects Unit did not request an economic appraisal of the project and instead went against the recommendations of the Planning Service's Economic Branch and requested an options appraisal.

(AQW 5069/11)

Minister of the Environment: During the determination of the planning application by Rose Energy for the development of a Biomass Fuelled Power Plant the Department’s Economic Branch were consulted on the application, the accompanying environmental information and third party representations of support and objection. In their initial consultation response of 22 December 2008 Economic Branch made a request for a full economic appraisal to be provided by the applicant. Following an office meeting between Planning Service, Economic Branch and Rose Energy on 4 March 2009 Economic Branch clarified that they did not require a full economic appraisal and that the information they required would be more accurately described as an options appraisal.

Rose Energy submitted the required information to Planning Service as part of their submission of further environmental information on 12 June 2009 and the Economic Branch were re-consulted on 18 June 2009. In response to the re-consultation they concluded that, having examined the options appraisal submitted they were content that all potential options had been fully investigated and that a reasonable case had been provided to support the decision to progress with the decision to progress with the development of a biomass fuelled power plant.

Illegal Waste Activity at 67 Tullyrusk Road, Hannahstown, Belfast

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of the Environment what action his Department is taking in relation to illegal waste activity at 67, Tullyrusk Road, Hannahstown.

(AQW 5150/11)

Minister of the Environment: My officials are continuing to investigate this site following reports of alleged environmental offences.

Should serious offending be taking place, the case will be scheduled for investigation by the NIEA Environmental Crime Unit.

Department of Finance and Personnel

Rating on Vacant Properties

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel, pursuant to AQW 4610/11, what procedures does Land and Property Services have in place to allow ratepayers to challenge decisions made in relation to vacant properties, particularly the habitability of the property.

(AQW 5084/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr S Wilson): All properties that are capable of beneficial occupation are entered in the Valuation List. A challenge to an entry in the List can be made in the first instance to the District Valuer. Further rights of appeal exist to the Commissioner of Valuation and to the Northern Ireland Valuation Tribunal.

Small Business Rate Relief Scheme

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the proposed value of the extension of the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme.

(AQW 5117/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: My Department will be bringing forward proposals that would significantly extend the small business rate relief (SBRR) scheme for the spending review period. The detail is currently being examined. This will include consideration of net annual value thresholds, the level of the relief and how it can be cross subsidised through a large retail levy. When clear and practicable options have been identified work will begin on a consultation paper, to seek views on the best way forward.

Around £7m is currently paid out under the SBRR scheme. The Executive would hope to be able to more than double the amount of overall total relief that is provided, while also significantly increasing the numbers that are eligible. The precise figures will depend on the chosen option.

It is hoped that both of these measures could be in place from 1 April 2012 if the Assembly is able to pass the legislation through without difficulty.

Decentralisation of Public Sector Jobs

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for an update on the implementation of the plan to decentralise public sector jobs within his Department, and its agencies, since the publication of the Bain Report.

(AQW 5121/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: There is currently no plan to decentralise public sector jobs within my Department, or its agencies.

Funding Allocations

Mr S Hamilton asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel whether he has made any further funding allocations since his February Monitoring statement.

(AQW 5155/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Since my February Monitoring statement the Executive has agreed, through urgent procedure, a number of further allocations to departments for the remaining weeks of 2010/11.

This follows representations made to me from some Ministers that they could spend further resources in this financial year. The Executive agreed that these allocations should proceed, to ensure that any year-end underspend was minimised. The context for these further approvals was the UK Government-announced change to the End-Year Flexibility (EYF) scheme which now means that declared underspends by the Devolved Administrations cannot be carried into the next financial year.

The approved departmental allocations are presented in the attached table.

• Additional Departmental Allocations

• *The Painthall bid is conditional on a Special Purpose Vehicle being created in time to draw down funding in 2010-11. This allocation will only be made if this is progressed before the end of this financial year.

Cycle to Work Scheme

Mr B Armstrong asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel, pursuant to AQW 4922/11, whether he intends to implement a Cycle to Work Scheme; and if so, when the scheme is likely to start.

(AQW 5190/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: This matter is being considered following the completion of a pilot in the Department for Regional Development.

Apartment Development Management Reform Bill

Mr K McCarthy asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to outline any discussions he has had with the Law Commission of Northern Ireland in relation to progress on the Apartment Development Management Reform Bill.

(AQW 5197/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The Northern Ireland Law Commission is currently undertaking research on multi-unit developments with a view to producing a consultation paper in late 2011 and its final report, with draft legislation, in 2012. My officials have discussed the research with the Commission and have also engaged with the Law Society of Northern Ireland, which has produced a discussion paper on the issues. It is envisaged that those discussions with the Commission and other interested stakeholders will continue as the Commission’s work progresses

Decentralisation of Public Sector Jobs

Mr Pól Callaghan asked Minister of Finance and Personnel, for each of the last three years, to detail the number of public sector jobs within his Department and its agencies that have been (i) decentralised from Belfast to another location, broken down by the new location; and (ii) relocated to Belfast from another location, broken down by the original location.

(AQW 5214/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: There have been no public sector jobs either decentralised from Belfast to another location or relocated to Belfast from another location within my department and its agencies in the last three years.

Civil Service Equal Pay Claim

Mr C Lyttle asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for an update on the Civil Service equal pay claim.

(AQW 5275/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: As a result of the equal pay settlement agreed with NIPSA in late 2009, the majority of equal pay claims lodged with the Industrial Tribunal by NIPSA on behalf of female members of staff have been, or are in the process of being, withdrawn. Assimilation to new pay scales is now complete and lump sum payments have been made to just over 15,000 of the almost 16,000 individuals entitled to a settlement payment. Work is now underway on a comprehensive pay and grading review of the NICS, agreed as part of the equal pay settlement.

Legal Services Review Group

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for his assessment of the report of the Legal Services Review Group chaired by Sir George Bain and to outline his Department's engagement with the Group.

(AQO 1305/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The Legal Services Review Group forwarded a total of 42 recommendations to Government on a range of issues relating to the regulation of lawyers in Northern Ireland. I have met with Professor Bain and officials have also engaged with him in relation to possible legislation.

While I agree with the general thrust of the report, and with some of the recommendations contained therein, I have concerns that other recommendations do not go far enough. In particular, in relation to how complaints are currently dealt with by the professional bodies, the Review Group identified gaps and weaknesses, but the recommendations it made in relation to them, would not, in my mind, create sufficient confidence for users of legal services.

I consider that a complaints handling system should be independent and well removed from the influence of the relevant professional bodies. While the Review Group brought forward recommendations that go some way to achieving that goal, my own view is that more is required. It will be a matter for the incoming Executive to make final decisions on the report and the way forward, but I would like to see a complaints system that consumers can have full confidence in.

Village, Belfast: Negative Equity

Mr J Spratt asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel whether he can provide financial assistance to those people who are now in negative equity as a result of the regeneration of the Village area of South Belfast.

(AQO 1303/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: I met with Ministers Attwood and Murphy in November 2010 to discuss the issues that can arise where an acquiring authority purchase properties by vesting from owners who find themselves in negative equity. Whereas property can be compulsorily acquired by a number of departments in Northern Ireland, I am not aware of any legislative authority that would enable financial assistance to be provided where vesting has highlighted negative equity.

Enterprise Zone

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for an update on the plans to develop Northern Ireland as an enterprise zone and what practical measures are proposed to ensure that this happens.

(AQO 1306/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: We are discussing plans on developing Northern Ireland as an enterprise zone as part of the Coalition Government’s paper on Rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy. To this end, the First Minister, deputy First Minister, Enterprise Minister and I met with Exchequer Secretary David Gauke and Secretary of State Owen Paterson on 2 February and 7 March to discuss the draft paper. DFP, DETI and OFMDFM officials have been involved in ongoing discussions with their Treasury counterparts since receipt of the first draft paper in mid-December. Ministers and officials are currently liaising with their Whitehall counterparts on the contents of this draft paper with a view to it being published as soon as possible.

Budget 2011-15

Lord Browne asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for his assessment of the impact the UK budget and the political negotiations to form a new Government in the Republic of Ireland will have on the Executive's budget settlement.

(AQO 1307/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: I presume the Member is referring to the UK Budget to be announced on 23 March. This will not have a major impact on the Executive’s Budget since our 4 year funding envelope was determined at the time of the UK Spending Review, which was announced on 20 October last year. This resulted in a real terms reduction of 8% in terms of current expenditure and 40% in respect of capital investment by the end of 2014-15.

The discussions on a new Government in the Republic of Ireland will have no direct impact on our Budget. However, should the incoming Dublin Government decide to revisit existing commitments to cross

border projects such as the A5 then there may be implications for our spending plans.

Budget 2011-15: Vulnerable People

Mr J Bell asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for his assessment of the impact the budget will have on the most vulnerable people in our society.

(AQO 1308/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The Executive’s Final Budget is all about protecting and helping the most vulnerable in our society.

We have now afforded a significant degree of protection to the health spending element of DHSSPS.

In addition, we have created two new funds – the Social Investment Fund and the Social Protection Fund – aimed expressly at tackling disadvantage in our communities.

We have also provided funding towards a cross departmental childcare strategy, to help childminders and support provision of childcare in Northern Ireland. This will help to reduce barriers to employment and

support economic activity and is consistent with the Executive’s overarching priority of promoting economic growth.

Corporation Tax

Mr C Lyttle asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to outline the actions his Department has taken in relation to the introduction of legislation that would allow Northern Ireland to change its rate of corporation tax.

(AQO 1309/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: There has been no action to date regarding the introduction of legislation to enable us to vary our rate of Corporation Tax. However, we have been working alongside OFMDFM and DETI in commenting on the Coalition Government’s draft paper on Rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy. This paper includes options around varying the rate of Corporation Tax.

Ministers and officials are currently liaising with their Whitehall counterparts on the contents of this draft paper with a view to it being published as soon as possible.

Econonmy: Rebalancing

Mr F McCann asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel whether he has had any further discussions with the British Government regarding its proposals to rebalance Northern Ireland's economy and to outline what progress has been made to date.

(AQO 1310/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The First Minister, deputy First Minister, Enterprise Minister and I met with Exchequer Secretary David Gauke and Secretary of State Owen Paterson on 2 February and 7 March to discuss the Coalition Government’s draft Rebalancing the Northern Ireland paper. DFP, DETI and OFMDFM officials have been involved in ongoing discussions with their Treasury counterparts since receipt of the first draft paper in mid-December.

Ministers and officials are currently liaising with their Whitehall counterparts on the contents of this draft paper with a view to it being published as soon as possible.

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Charging for Prescriptions

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how much revenue would have been raised from 1 April 2010 to date by charging for prescriptions at the previous rates of (i) £6.95; and (ii) £3.00.

(AQW 3747/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Mr M McGimpsey): It is not possible to determine accurately how much revenue could have potentially been raised from 1 April 2010 to date by charging at the previous rates of £6.85 and £3.00. W hen these were operational approximately half the people in Northern Irelandwere exempt from payment as a result of low income or because of their underlying medical condition. The number of people in these categories may have changed significantly since then.

Domiciliary, Residential and Nursing Care

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many older people in each Health and Social Care Trust area were assessed as needing (i) domiciliary; (ii) residential; and (iii) nursing care between September 2008 and December 2010.

(AQW 3793/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Information is presented in the tables below on the outcomes of care management assessments completed in the Elderly Programme of Care during quarter ending 30 September 2008 to quarter ending 30 September 2010 by Health and Social Care Trust. The outcome is the main form of care recommended. Information for quarter ending 31 December 2010 is not yet available.

(i) Domiciliary care

Source: Community Information CC4 Return

(ii) Residential care

Source: Community Information CC4 Return

(iii) Nursing home care