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

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

Friday 12 October 2007

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
Regional Development
Social Development

Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Planning Appeals

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to outline the decision-making process for planning appeals, with specific reference to the role of each individual Commissioner responsible in making decisions on appeals, and the involvement of the Chief Commissioner in reaching such decisions.

(AQW 435/08)

The First Minister and deputy First Minister (Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness): The Planning Appeals Commission is a statutory appellate body established under Article 110 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 to decide a wide range of appeals against decisions of the Department of the Environment’s Planning Service and to report on various matters under planning and other legislation.

Given the independent tribunal status of the Commission, it is appropriate that the Chief Commissioner should provide a response regarding the information being sought and we understand he has written to you as follows.

"I have been asked to provide you with information requested in the above Assembly Question.

The process for determining planning appeals is set out in the Commissions publication, "Procedures for Planning Appeals", which is available on our website under "Publications". Please refer to paragraphs 6 and 46 to 48 of this document, which clearly explains our procedures.

The evidence presented in each appeal is considered by the appointed Commissioner who determines the appeal, if making an individual decision, or who reports to a group of not less than 4 Commissioners, if a collective decision is required. In the latter circumstances the appeal is determined by the majority of the group.

The Chief Commissioner is involved in appeals as an appointed Commissioner to determine appeals and also as a member of the collective decision-making group.

I would be happy to provide any further information you require arising out of this response or to meet with you to discuss the matter if that would be more suitable."

Planning Appeals

Mr Daithí McKay asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail the backlog of planning appeals at the end of August 2007, in (i) the Moyle District Council area; (ii) the Ballymena Borough Council area; and (iii) the Ballymoney Borough Council area; and to detail the number and percentage of these appeals that were successful in the 2006/07 year.

(AQW 480/08)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: The Planning Appeals Commission is a statutory appellate body established under Article 110 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 to decide a wide range of appeals against decisions of the Department of the Environment’s Planning Service and to report on various matters under planning and other legislation.

Given the independent tribunal status of the Commission, we have asked the Chief Commissioner to provide a response directly to you. We understand the Commissioner has responded to you in the following terms:-

"I have been asked to reply to the above assembly question.

2006/07
Council Area	Backlog at 31 August 2007	No. of Decisions Made	No. Successful	% Successful
Moyle	35	11	3	27.3
Ballymena	145	38	14	36.8
Ballymoney	46	21	7	33.3

I would be happy to provide any further information you require arising out of this response or to meet with you to discuss the matter if that would be more suitable."

Gender Equality Strategy

Ms Jennifer McCann asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to indicate when a date will be set for a meeting between the Gender Equality Unit and the Gender Advisory Panel, in order to further the implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy.

(AQW 550/08)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: The Unit plans to meet with the Gender Advisory Panel in November 2007 to take forward the implementation of the Gender Equality Strategy.

Annual Remembrance Ceremonies

Mr Leslie Cree asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister what discussions it has had with the Royal British Legion in regard to this year's Annual Remembrance ceremonies and appeal.

(AQO 359/08)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister has had no discussions with the Royal British Legion in regard to this year's Annual Remembrance ceremonies and appeal.

Inward Investment

Mr Paul Maskey asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister what steps it is taking to fully realise the potential for inward investment in the improving political climate.

(AQO 345/08)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: We refer the member to the recent answer given to his Assembly Question AQO 164/08 on Monday 24 September which sets out our engagement in a range of major initiatives designed to encourage investment, particularly from the US.

North-South Ministerial Council Meetings

Mr Barry McElduff asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail arrangements and emerging agenda items for the next meeting of the North-South Ministerial Council, and to outline the schedule of North-South Ministerial Council meetings to take place over the coming months.

(AQO 367/08)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: At the Plenary meeting on 17 July 2007, the Council considered and approved a schedule of North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meetings to take place over the coming months. A copy of the Schedule has been placed in the Library.

The NSMC Secretariat is working with relevant Departments to agree precise dates for these meetings.

Prior to each NSMC meeting, the Executive and Assembly will be given information on the date, agenda and Ministerial attendance. Following the meeting, a report will be made to the Assembly.

Undocumented Irish

Mr P J Bradley asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister what steps it will take to assist the 'undocumented Irish' in their desire to attain legal status in America.

(AQO 306/08)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: The issue of undocumented Irish people living in the United States is one that the Northern Ireland Bureau is watching carefully. The term "undocumented" describes the immigration status of people who do not have the federal documentation to show that they are legally entitled to work, visit or live in the US. Some of the undocumented come from Northern Ireland although the numbers are not known.

The Embassy of Ireland has taken the political and diplomatic lead on this issue in Washington DC and keeps the Bureau fully informed of activities.

In June 2007, the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Bill sponsored by Senator Kennedy was debated by the Senate. This Bill would have addressed the status of the undocumented in the United States. The Bill which offered a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and future arrivals was defeated by a procedural vote.

The Bureau maintains contact with organisations in the US looking after the needs of the ‘undocumented’.

Attacks on Orange Halls

Mr Gregory Campbell asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister what action it has taken following the debate on attacks on Orange Halls.

(AQO 364/08)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: On Tuesday 11 September the Assembly debated the motion: ‘that this Assembly condemns all attacks on Orange Halls and calls on all political parties to use their influence to stop such sectarian attacks.’

It was a very good debate and the motion was unanimously supported by all the political parties in the Assembly. Junior Minister Kelly, who responded to the debate, undertook to forward to the Secretary of State the report of the debate for his attention since policing and justice generally, is still a reserved matter.

We wrote to the Secretary of State on 3 October enclosing a copy of the report and reiterating our strong condemnation, and that of the House, to such attacks.

Economic Development

Miss Michelle McIlveen asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to confirm that economic development is a key priority for the Executive Committee.

(AQO 387/08)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: The Executive is determined to seize this opportunity to deliver a better future for all our people. That future must be built on the foundation of a dynamic and competitive economy if we are to deliver a peaceful, just and prosperous society which benefits all our people. In this context, addressing the economic challenges we face, and providing the conditions for economic growth will be a key priority for the Executive.

European Union Agenda

Mr Alastair Ross asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail what action is being undertaken in Brussels, to ensure that Northern Ireland remains high on the European Union agenda.

(AQO 336/08)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: The visit of the European Commission’s President Barroso on 1 May 2007, demonstrated that there is a reservoir of interest and goodwill in Europe towards Northern Ireland and one of the main challenges facing us is how we can best make use of that goodwill to make Northern Ireland a better place to live, work, study and invest.

Since President Barroso’s visit, the deputy First Minister and both Junior Ministers have visited Brussels and met with senior European Commission officials and the UK and Irish Permanent Representatives. We plan to visit Brussels together later this year to hear at first hand of the progress being made by the European Commission Task Force that was established following President Barroso’s visit.

The Task Force provides a unique opportunity for Northern Ireland to engage with Europe, both in formulation of policy and in accessing the financial assistance that is available to regions with our needs. The European Commission is committed at the highest level to making the work of the Task Force a success and we are committed to ensuring that the Executive responds with equal vigour. Senior officials from each Department have now been asked to work with the Task Force to ensure we maximise the opportunity that has been offered.

In addition to the Task Force work, we are aware that a number of Ministerial colleagues have visited Brussels and met with senior political and official figures on Departmental business. This level of engagement is important in keeping Northern Ireland in the minds of our European colleagues and we cannot emphasise enough the value of personal contact with those people in the European Commission and other bodies who are leading on the matters that are important to us.

We must also mention the work being carried out by the Office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels, which is an integral part of the OFMDFM. The Office supports visiting Ministers and officials and promotes Northern Ireland’s interests in the EU. As well as working to keep Departments and Ministers advised on European policy matters, the Office takes an active role in engaging with contacts within the European Institutions, other National and regional offices and civic bodies based in Brussels.

As part of this active engagement the Brussels office has managed Northern Ireland’s participation in the Committee of the Regions and European Commission ‘Open Days’ events. Along with partners from Spain, Portugal, France, Ireland and other UK regions, Northern Ireland, through the Department of Social Development and Belfast City Council, is participating in a seminar showcasing the regeneration of Belfast’s former shipbuilding areas. In a separate event, the Department of Finance and Personnel and the Special EU Programmes Body are hosting a seminar on the lessons learned from the EU Peace Programmes.

We have also engaged with Members of the European Parliament’s Regional Development Committee in their recent visit to Northern Ireland and Ireland and we would pass our thanks to our colleagues in that House for their work in promoting the visit and ensuring that Northern Ireland remains high on the agenda in that important Institution.

Civic Forum

Mr David Hilditch asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister what plans it has to re-convene a meeting of the Civic Forum.

(AQO 334/08)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: We are agreed on the importance of continuing to seek the views of civic society in developing policy but we recognise that the nature of our society has changed considerably since the original Forum was set up. We have therefore decided to commission a fresh review to examine the structure, membership and role of the Forum.

When this review has been completed we will present our proposals to the Executive.

Development at the Maze Site

Mr Tom Elliott asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister what discussions it has had with the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society in regard to development at the Maze site.

(AQO 358/08)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: The multi-party Maze Consultation Panel in their 2005 report recommended a rural excellence and equestrian zone, including an international exhibition centre and showgrounds. The Maze/Long Kesh Masterplan, published in May 2006, built on these proposals which have been subject to discussion with the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS). In March 2007 the RUAS reaffirmed their interest in moving to the proposed Maze/Long Kesh development site. It would now be a matter for the RUAS to develop and bring forward their proposals and to work with any development partners who may be appointed to regenerate the Maze/Long Kesh to bring these to fruition.

Victims' Commissioner

Mrs Naomi Long asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister what progress it has made in the past four weeks in relation to the appointment of a Victims' Commissioner.

(AQO 377/08)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: We have decided to extend the appointment process and re-advertise the position. We intend to announce the new Commissioner for Victims and Survivors before the end of the year.

Programme for Government

Mr Simon Hamilton asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to give a timetable within which a Programme for Government will be published, and to detail how this will guide Executive priorities.

(AQO 328/08)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: Since devolution was restored on 8 May, the Executive has taken forward work to develop and agree a Programme for Government which, in line with the Comprehensive Spending Review settlement, will set our policy and spending priorities and plans for 2008 - 2011.

To ensure a clear alignment between our policy and spending priorities, the Executive is taking a co-ordinated approach to the development of the Programme for Government, the Budget and the Investment Strategy. We are working towards publication of these documents in draft form for consultation by early November. This will enable the Executive to take full account of the outcome of the CSR exercise.

Cost of Division

Mr Kieran McCarthy asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister how it intends to tackle the cost of division as set out in 'The Cost of Division - A Shared Future Strategy'.

(AQO 373/08)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: The cost of division research was commissioned by the previous administration on 29 March 2006 and was conducted and finalised during direct rule.

We believe that by tackling the causes of division in our society, sectarianism and racism, that a reduction of consequential costs will follow.

The report focuses on just one of a range of issues which must be considered. The report itself recognises that arriving at exact costs is not possible and that the timeline for change could be very long.

For that reason we have cautioned against plucking a figure out of the air. The issue is much more complex than simply reducing the research to a figure.

Agriculture and Rural Development

Designated Water Courses

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, pursuant to her answer to AQW 819/07, to detail whether or not the Rivers Agency has made approaches to riparian landowners to ensure that grilles for designated water courses are checked and cleared.

(AQW 451/08)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Gildernew): Inspection and maintenance of some 830 culvert inlet protection grilles on designated watercourses across Northern Ireland is undertaken by Rivers Agency as part of its works programme and is not deemed to be a riparian landowner responsibility. These grilles are inspected routinely by Rivers Agency's staff, either on weekly basis in vulnerable areas, or monthly in less vulnerable areas, and debris with the potential to cause obstruction to flow is removed. Additional inspections, and any necessary clearance, are undertaken during and after periods of heavy rainfall.

Similar work in respect of undesignated watercourses is a riparian landowner responsibility which can be enforced by Rivers Agency under the Drainage (Northern Ireland) Order 1973.

Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 - Action Groups

Mr Allan Bresland asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (i) the number of action groups that will be established to deliver the Quality of Life and Farm Family options measures of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013; (ii) what role the farming and rural community will have in the proposed Action Groups; and (iii) how the Action Groups will be selected.

(AQW 452/08)

Ms Gildernew: (i) I expect the Councils to self define into a number of local action groups although the actual number is still being negotiated with my officials.

(ii) Farmers and Farm Families will have a significant role to play in the Local Action Groups because they must be fully representative of the various programmes Measures (including diversification which is exclusive to farmers) and of the area they serve.

(iii) Local Action Groups will be established following an open and transparent competitive process by the Council Clusters in their respective areas.

Sperrins Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme

Mr Allan Bresland asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline the number of farms participating in the Sperrins Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme; and what efforts are being made to increase participation in the Scheme, within the Sperrins area.

(AQW 454/08)

Ms Gildernew: At April 2007 there were 1351 participants (equating to 62,500 ha of land) in the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) Scheme in the Sperrins Region. The ESA Scheme is closed to further applications. The NI Countryside Management Scheme (NICMS) is an integral part of the NI Rural Development Programme (NIRDP) 2007 to 2013. Development of the NICMS is ongoing and it is anticipated that this scheme will be open to applications in late spring/early summer 2008. The opening of the NICMS will be widely promoted via the local media to encourage uptake by potential applicants throughout the North of Ireland.

New Entrants Scheme

Mr Allan Bresland asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the number of successful applicants, in the West Tyrone area, who have received funding under the New Entrants Scheme.

(AQW 455/08)

Ms Gildernew: Four people in West Tyrone have been cleared to submit a claim for funding under the New Entrants Scheme. Of these one has been paid, another is pending payment and two have not yet submitted their claims.

Common Fishing Strategy

Mr Willie Clarke asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what discussions she has had with the Minister with responsibility for fisheries in the Republic of Ireland, regarding the development of a common fishing strategy.

(AQW 517/08)

Ms Gildernew: I believe there is huge potential for greater co-operation between North and South to develop a common fishing strategy for the benefit of all our fishermen. There is already close co-operation between my officials and their southern counterparts on areas such as the Irish Sea Data Enhancement Pilot, seed mussel exploitation and the sharing of information about aquaculture development. I will be meeting Minister Mary Coughlan TD soon to explore ways in which we can further develop this relationship.

Flooding at Tromra Road, Cushendall

Mr Declan O'Loan asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the progress made by the Rivers Agency and the Roads Service, in relation to addressing flooding at Tromra Road, Cushendall.

(AQW 531/08)

Ms Gildernew: I understand that flooding of the Tromra Road at Cushendall was largely caused by floodwater from the Dall River, exacerbated by overland flows, collecting in a localised hollow at Black’s Bridge just south of the junction with Gault’s Road. Rivers Agency and Roads Service have liaised and will continue to liaise on remedial action. Rivers Agency has undertaken limited emergency maintenance on the watercourse at Tromra Road to remove obstructions to flow, improve flow conditions in the channel and prevent further erosion of banks affecting roadways. While this maintenance will provide improvement in the hydraulic capacity of the river, it is unlikely that it will enable the channel to contain flooding of the severity of the July event. Consequently Rivers Agency is in the process of commissioning a feasibility study of flood defence improvements at the locations on Tromra Road that were affected by flooding. The commission will recommend a holistic approach taking into account not only watercourse related flooding but also flooding from roads and overland flow. Any flood defence improvements will be subject to viability, and availability of resources.

Since the flooding, the Department for Regional Development’s Roads Service has also agreed to investigate longer term measures to prevent floodwater building up at this location. However, this is likely to involve extensive reshaping/resurfacing of the existing carriageway and could not be undertaken until the next financial year.

Officials from Roads Service and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Rivers Agency met in August to consider how road drainage in the wider area might be improved to enable large volumes of water to be removed more quickly from the road. Interim low-cost measures, such as creating new or widening existing outlets on Tromra Road and Glenaan Road, were identified and as many of these as possible will be implemented within the current financial year.

Farmers Affected by Flooding

Mr Declan O'Loan asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the amount of compensation that has been secured for farmers affected by flooding in July 2007, who were not entitled to assistance from the 'Distress Fund' available to householders through district councils.

(AQW 532/08)

Ms Gildernew: The Scheme of emergency Financial Assistance to District Councils was restricted to assisting householders, so if a farmer’s household was affected then he would be eligible, but cover was not extended to any part of the business sector, including the farming industry.

Brown Crab

Mr Willie Clarke asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the quantity of brown crab landed in Northern Ireland, in each of the last twelve months.

(AQW 547/08)

Ms Gildernew: Total Brown Crab landed from September 2006 until August 2007

Month	Live wgt (tonnes)	Value (£)
September 06 October 06 November 06 December 06 January 07 February 07 March 07 April 07 May 07 June 07 July 07 August 07	139.4263 162.478 76.6857 52.856 30.574 19.4149 16.5526 17.859 23.6386 36.692 64.4802 83.622	108,100.00 136,921.8 68,910.86 46,120.3 25,346.3 16,087.7 14,021.3 14,926.8 17,813.91 ;29,961.2 51,193.12 64,045.55
TOTAL	724.2793	593,448.84

Animal Incinerators

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will provide the addresses of all animal incinerators which are currently operating on farms across Northern Ireland.

(AQW 579/08)

Ms Gildernew: I have provided the addresses of all on-farm incinerators, which are currently approved in accordance with the Animal By-Products Regulations (NI) 2003, in the attached list.

LIST OF APPROVED ON-FARM INCINERATORS IN NORTHERN IRELAND

Animal By-Products Regulations (NI) 2003

Approval number	Name	Address
ICN/405/05	Mr Alan McFarland	163 Donaghane Road, Beragh, Co Tyrone, BT79 0XE
ICN/413/05	M S Dougan	97 Redrock Road, Armagh, Co Armagh, BT60 8BN
ICN/414/05	Mr John McMenamin	24 Magherafelt Road, Dromore, Co Tyrone, BT78 3HH
ICN/415/05	Mr Adam Lawson	90 Old Eglish Road, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, BT71 7PG
ICN/418/05	Mr Liam Gerard Collins	Aghamore South, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, BT92 0EB
ICN/420/05	Mr Glenn Allen	19 Garvaghey Road, Ballygawley, Co Tyrone
ICN/421/05	E Patterson	26 Springhill Road, Glenanne, Co Armagh, BT60 2LF
ICN/422/05	John & Ruth Steen	56A Moghan Road, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, BT70 3BZ
ICN/423/05	Tintagh Broiler Unit	60 Letteran Road, Moneymore, Co L’Derry, BT45 7UB
ICN/424/05	Mr Gerry Loughran	72 Dunamore, Cookstown, Co Tyrone, BT80 9NX
ICN/425/05	Mr Stephen Duff	55 Dergenagh Road, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, BT70 1TW
ICN/426/05	Mr Jonathon Ewing	51 Thornhill Road, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, BT70 3LP,
ICN/428/05	Mr Raymond Busby	14 Feddan Road, Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, BT70 2AP
ICN/430/05	Mr Trevor Leyburn	10 Glassdrummond Road, Middletown, Co Armagh, BT60 3QH
ICN/433/05	Mr Bingsley Bell	5 Glendavagh Road, Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, BT69 6EZ
ICN/434/05	Mr Robert McNeill	131 Caledon Road, Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, BT69 6HZ
ICN/435/05	Mr David Drennan	34 Drumbolg Road, Maghera, Co L’Derry, BT46 5UD
ICN/436/05	Mr John Dennis Knipe	26 Baltarran Road, Armagh,Co Armagh, BT60 4LF
ICN/437/05	Mr Leslie Knipe	10 Maydown Road, Drumsallen, Armagh, BT61 8BU
ICN/438/05	Mr William George Brown	13 Annahauil Road, Newmills, Co Tyrone, BT71 4BU
ICN/444/05	Mr Thomas Newell	360 Newry Road, Kilkeel, Co Down, BT34 4SF
ICN/445/05	Robert Kernaghan	21 Kilkivamurray Road, Castlewellan, Co Down, BT31 9QR
ICN/446/05	Mr Ian Clyde	22 Botera Upper Road, Clanabogan, Omagh, Co Tyrone, BT78 5DG
ICN/452/05	Mr E Jason Browne	99 Peacock Road, Strabane, Co Tyrone, BT82 9NF
ICN/462/05	Mr Ian Forgrave	143 Finvoy Road, Ballymoney, Co Antrim, BT53 7JL
ICN/464/05	Yvonne McCrea	60 Drumskea Road, Ballymoney, Co Antrim, BT53 7JD
ICN/465/05	Leslie Blakely	57 Bannfield Road, Rathfriland, Co Down, BT34 5HQ
ICN/468/05	John, Philip & Edith Swaile	10 Ballykilly Road, Sandholes, Cookstown, Co Tyrone, BT80 9BX
ICN/466/05	Mr P Brown	24 Bog Road, Ballymena, Co Antrim, BT44 4HH
ICN/470/05	Mr William Mark Linton	208 Drumcroone Road, Coleraine, Co L’Derry, BT51 3SQ
ICN/473/05	Mr Thomas Singleton	20 Dergnagh Road, Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, BT70 2JY
ICN/474/05	Mr Wayne Acheson	60 Killyclougher Road, Cookstown,Co Tyrone, BT80 8HA
ICN/476/05	Mr Samuel Montgomery	53 Kirk Road, Ballymoney, Co Antrim, BT53 8HB
ICN/478/05	Mr John C Wallace	123 Aughentaine Road, Clabby, Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone, BT75 0RW
ICN/481/05	Mr Mark Adams	9 Peacock Road, Sion Mills, Co Tyrone, BT82 9NN
ICN/482/05	Mr John Adams	67 Kinnyglass Road, Macosquin, Coleraine, Co L’Derry, BT51 4LP
ICN/483/05	Mr Ronald Patterson	Oak Bank, Mount Prospect, Derrylin, Enniskillen, Co Fermangh, BT92 9LS
ICN/484/05	Mr W Kerr	Raceview, 51 Hallaghan Road, Sixmilecross, Co Tyrone, BT79 9DW
ICN/485/05	Mrs M Crozier	149 Seagahan Road, Collone, Co Armagh, BT60 2BT
ICN/486/05	Mr Kevin Grimes	73 Drumduff Road, Beragh,Co Tyrone, BT79 0SD
ICN/487/05	Mr Roger Latimer	131 Carnalea Road, Seskanore, Omagh, Co Tyrone, BT78 2PP
ICN/489/05	Mr Patrick Loughran	70 Loughbranken Road, Pomeroy, Co Tyrone, BT70 2SF
ICN/490/05	Mr David Ramsay	10 Culramoney Road, BallymoneyCo Antrim, BT53 8LL
ICN/492/05	Mr Brian A Hamilton	12 Loughadoo Road, Ardkeen, Kircubbin, Co Down , BT22 1HN
ICN/493/05	Mr George Knipe	151 Battleford Road, Armagh,Co Armagh, BT61 8BT
ICN/495/05	Mr Edward McDonald	6 Doogary Road, Tyan, Co ArmaghBT60 4TE
ICN/496/05	Mr Kate Rodgers	14 Lisheeghan Lane, Ballymoney, Co Antrim, BT53 7JZ
ICN/497/05	Mr Lawrence & Shiona Heslip	48 Tullywhinney Road, BallygawleyCo Tyrone, BT70 2NA
ICN/498/05	Mr R Abernethy	64 Drumhubber Road, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, BT71 5EB
ICN/501/05	Mr NR & Mrs J Aiken	59 Dyan Road Caledan,Co Tyrone, BT68 4XA
ICN/502/05	Mr John Foye	25 Derryhirk Road, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, BT71 6NH
ICN/503/05	Mr Mervyn Shaw	7 Legaterriff Road, Lisburn, Co Antrim, BT28 2EY
ICN/504/05	Mr Kenneth Montgomery	42 Toberooney Road, Liscolman, Ballymoney, Co Antrim, BT53 8DN
ICN/505/05	Mr Seamus McGirr	36 Errigal Road, Ballygawley, Co Tyrone, BT70 2DQ
ICN/506/05	Mr Alistair F. Doran	38 Finulagh Road, Castlecaulfield, Co Tyrone, BT70 3DE
ICN/508/05	Mr Tom Taylor	The Palace Farm, 50 Keady Road, Armagh, Co Armagh, BT60 3NW
ICN/509/05	Mr James & Wesley George	28 Cabragh Road, Armagh, Co Armagh, BT61 8EY
ICN/512/05	A & B Jefferson	1 Tursallagh Road, Sixmilecross, Co Tyrone, BT79 9EA
ICN/511/05	Mr William Jordan	8 Raveagh Road, Eskra, Omagh,Co Tyrone’ BT78 1UZ
ICN/513/05	Mr Oliver Anderson	22 Flushtown Road, Sixmilecross, Co Tyrone, BT79 9DY
ICN/517/06	Mr William Keatley	7 Garrison Road, Magherafelt, Co L’derry, BT45 8RD
ICN/518/06	Mr Eugene Donnelly	55 Lettergesh Road, Dromore, Omagh, Co Tyrone, BT78 3WG
ICN/516/06	Mr Sidney Millar	26 Stillago Road, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, BT71 7QH
ICN/520/06	Mr David Preston	58 Ballymagarney Road, Loughgall, Co Armagh, BT61 8PL
ICN/523/06	Mr Mervyn Boyle	32 Gortnagross Road, Dungiven, Co L’Derry, BT47 4QP
ICN/524/06	Mr Shane Kearney	35 Belmont Road, Kilkeel, Co DownBT34 4LA
ICN/531/06	Nugent Estate	Portaferry House, 6 Coach Road, Portaferry, Co Down, BT22 1PP
ICN/533/06	Mr Charles Crawford, Erne Eggs Ltd	Manor Waterhouse Farm, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh, BT92 0BN
ICN/537/06	Mr Nigel & Jim Irwin	Irwin Bros, 3 Carrowcolman Road, Eglish, Co Tyrone, BT70 1LF
ICN/538/06	Mr Seamus Patterson	80 Main Street, Randalstown, Antrim, Co Antrim, BT41 3BB
ICN/539/06	Mr Stanley Gordon	Shean Church-Hill, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, BT93 6LL
ICN/541/06	Mr T Kyle	16 Old Tyanee Road, Portglenone, Co Antrim, BT44 8JJ
ICN/548/07	G & A Young	G & A Young, 11 Rosedene Road, Castlederg, Co Tyrone, BT81 7JR
ICN/557/07	Mr Clive Allen	43 Errigal Road, Ballygawley,Co Tyrone, BT70 2DQ
INC/567/07	Mr John McKinley	65 Whitepark Road, BallycastleCo Antrim, BT54 6LP
ICN/568/07	Mr Joe O’Donnell	Caddy Veterinary Practice, 19 Caddy Road, Randalstown, Co Antrim, BT41 3DL
ICN/569/07	Mr Malcolm MacNaghten	MacNaghten Farms Ltd, 20 Dundarave Road, Bushmills, Co Antrim, BT57 8ST
ICN/570/07	Mr David Nicholson	147 Keady Road, Armagh, Co Armagh, BT60 3AE
ICN/571/01	Mr Norman Reid	Aghinure, Maguiresbridge,Co Fermanagh, BT94 4NR
ICN/572/07	Mr John Jackson	26 Carrickfergus Road, Ballynure, Ballyclare, Co Antrim, BT39 9UW
INC/573/07	Mr Aeneas Quinn	27 Kiltyclay Road, Gortavilly, Sandholes, Co Tyrone, BT80 9DA

Animal Incinerators

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (i) the number of man hours committed to monitoring animal incinerators on farms across Northern Ireland; and (ii) the amount of money allocated to monitoring such facilities, in each of the past three years.

(AQW 580/08)

Ms Gildernew: I have detailed in the table below (i) the numbers of hours committed to, and (ii) the amount of money allocated to, monitoring on-farm incinerators in the past three years.

A greater amount of money was allocated in 2007 because the number of inspection visits was increased and the work was transferred to field Veterinary Officers who are able to bring their local knowledge of the disease situation to bear when carrying out inspections.

	2005	2006	2007 to date
(i) Number of hours	222	266	300
(ii) Amount of money*	£5,147	£6,469	£12,148

* Cost of staff time

Animal Incinerators

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide a breakdown of the number of animal incinerators which are currently operating on farms across Northern Ireland by (a) constituency; and (b) district council area.

(AQW 582/08)

Ms Gildernew: I have provided in the attached tables the number of on-farm animal carcase incinerators currently approved under the Animal By-Products Regulations (NI) 2003 by (a) constituency and by (b) District Council area.

Number of Approved On-Farm Incinerators in Northern Ireland
by District Council Area

District council area	Number of on-farm incinerators
Antrim Borough Council	2
Ards Borough Council	2
Armagh City and District Council	12
Ballymena Borough Council	1
Ballymoney Borough Council	5
Banbridge District Council	1
Belfast City Council	0
Carrickfergus Borough Council	0
Castlereagh Borough Council	0
Coleraine Borough Council	2
Cookstown District Council	7
Craigavon Borough Council	0
Derry City Council	0
Down District Council	0
Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council	18
Fermanagh District Council	6
Larne Borough Council	1
Limavady Borough Council	1
Lisburn City Council	1
Magherafelt District Council	3
Moyle District Council	3
Newry and Mourne District Council	3
Newtownabbey Borough Council	0
North Down Borough Council	0
Omagh District Council	10
Strabane District Council	3

Number of Approved On-Farm Incinerators in Northern Ireland
by Constituency

Constituency	Number of on-farm incinerators
Belfast East	0
Belfast North	0
Belfast South	0
Belfast West	0
East Antrim	0
North Antrim	10
South Antrim	2
North Down	0
South Down	4
Fermanagh and South Tyrone	24
Foyle	0
Lagan Valley	1
East Londonderry	3
Mid Ulster	10
Newry and Armagh	12
Strangford	2
West Tyrone	13
Upper Bann	0

Kilkeel Harbour

Mr Willie Clarke asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail what progress has been made in relation to the funding of improvements to Kilkeel harbour.

(AQW 586/08)

Ms Gildernew: My Department is currently undertaking a number of initiatives aimed at improving Kilkeel harbour. We are currently funding the technical studies recommended in the Wallingford Report which will assess the feasibility of a new breakwater to resolve the safety issues for vessels entering Kilkeel harbour. Progress is on target for completion by May 2008. A decision on the construction of a breakwater will be made following the completion of these studies.

Since 2002, approximately £12.2 million of funding has been committed for the improvement of facilities at Kilkeel Harbour. The Northern Ireland Fishery Harbour Authority has recently finalised the tendering process for further improvement works. These will include remedial work to the inner and outer quay walls and construction of a new vessel berthing facility. Award of the contract is imminent and the combined projects are due to be completed by November 2008.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Mr Allan Bresland asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline her deparment's policy in the event of a Foot-and-Mouth Disease outbreak in the Republic of Ireland.

(AQW 606/08)

Ms Gildernew: As I said in my Statement to the Assembly on 1 October, my Department will not be found wanting in relation to any necessary steps necessary to maintain our Foot and Mouth Disease free status and protect our local industry. I, together with my officials, are working closely with the South to co-ordinate our actions to protect the whole island from Foot and Mouth Disease.

My policy, in the event of a Foot and Mouth Disease outbreak in the South, but not in the North would very much depend on the circumstances of the outbreak in question, including the exact location and the scale of the incident. I would want to take account of our veterinary risk assessment at the time. Nothing would be decided without close liaison with our colleagues in Dublin. Obviously we would also be bound by the EU rules in dealing with any outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease.

Alpha-Nortesterone

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide an update on the investigation into the alpha-nortesterone problems of 2006; and to indicate when political representatives, who were involved with the issue in 2006 and since, will be interviewed as part of this investigation.

(AQW 634/08)

Ms Gildernew: I commissioned Joan Ruddock, an independent member of the DARD Board, to carry out a review of DARD’s handling of the alpha-nortestosterone issue. To ensure that the review was completely independent, the individuals interviewed during the course of the investigation were chosen entirely by Mrs Ruddock. I understand that the report on the review is almost complete and that no further interviews will be taking place.

Bluetongue Disease

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what steps she is taking to initiate a full review of her department's regulation in relation to bluetongue disease.

(AQW 658/08)

Ms Gildernew: The control of Bluetongue is based on an EU legal framework. Our statutory powers for the control of Bluetongue are contained in the Blue Tongue Order (Northern Ireland) 2003, which implements Council Directive 2000/75/EC laying down specific provisions for the control and eradication of Bluetongue.

As part of our contingency planning to deal with the threat of this disease, my Department is currently reviewing the existing legislation to ensure it is up-to-date and consistent with the EU Bluetongue Directive.

On the basis of the new experience that has been gained on Bluetongue disease control following the outbreaks in Northern Europe in 2006 and 2007, on 3 October 2007 the EU Commission adopted a new Commission Regulation on Bluetongue which will apply from 15 November 2007. This Regulation lays down additional measures on the control, monitoring, surveillance and restrictions of movements of susceptible animals in relation to Bluetongue.

My Department is currently assessing the implications of this new Regulation and is seeking legal advice on what legislative changes if any will be needed to implement the Regulation here.

Comprehensive Spending Review

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the amount of money her department is seeking from the Comprehensive Spending Review, in order to meet the costs associated with adherence to the Stockholm Convention.

(AQW 700/08)

Ms Gildernew: The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development did not seek any monies in the Comprehensive Spending Review in order to meet the costs associated with adherence to the Stockholm Convention.

Lamb Promotion

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what steps she is taking to promote Northern Ireland lamb to markets outside the United Kingdom.

(AQW 745/08)

Ms Gildernew: I am committed to supporting local produce and can advise that my Department is actively involved in work to assist our sheep industry. In 2006 the Department and industry stakeholders formed a Red Meat Task Force to develop a long term strategy for the local beef and sheepmeat industries. The Task Force have recently completed a report which was published on 3 October. While the Report has outlined serious challenges for this important sector, it has also identified models of production that could provide an economic return to farmers. My Department will help those farmers who wish to pursue alternative production models.

Lamb will be included in LMC’s programme of activities at Anuga, the international food and drink exhibition which will take place in Cologne this month, attracting international traders. LMC also facilitate trade missions, carry out lamb promotion activities in Europe and provide pricing and marketing information to help the industry secure the best markets for their products.

Deliberate Introduction of Tuberculosis or Brucellosis to Livestock

Mr David McNarry asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the number of adjudicated cases over the past three years which involved the proven deliberate introduction of tuberculosis or brucellosis to livestock; and to detail how this compares to incidences of the same offence in (a) the rest of the United Kingdom; and (b) the Republic of Ireland.

(AQO 307/08)

Ms Gildernew: My Department and I have zero tolerance to fraud but none of the adjudicated cases over the past three years relate to the deliberate infection of livestock with tuberculosis or brucellosis. DARD does however investigate and, where sufficient evidence exists, prosecute herdkeepers that have breached statutory regulations and in doing so have prejudiced the control of disease. The Department will withhold compensation in such cases until investigations are concluded and will then adjudicate on whether or to what extent compensation can be released.

It should be recognised that the vast majority of farmers work hard over many years to build up and improve the health and quality of their herds and would not compromise those efforts by deliberately introducing infection.

Comparable figures are not available for the South or for Britain.

Rural Development Programme 2007-2013

Mr Francis Brolly asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to give her assessment of the formation and funding of 'council clusters', given the decision that there should be increased district council involvement in the delivery of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013.

(AQO 347/08)

Ms Gildernew: Following extensive consultations and lengthy deliberations I have made the decision to give Local Councils a more central and strategic role in delivering measures within the 2007 - 2013 Rural Development Programme. The increased council involvement take the form of Council Clusters and will bring economies of scale, complementarity of strategies, and improved corporate governance and financial arrangements. This will rationalise the number of rural development delivery partnerships and maximise the impact of the Programme for local communities.

The new delivery model will however retain the Leader Methodology of "bottom up" working at its core. Self defining Council Clusters will work in partnership with new Local Action Groups (LAGs) to deliver the ‘Quality of Life and Farm Family Option Measures’ of the 2007- 2013 Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme on a sub-regional basis. Each Council cluster of at least 3 councils will, through a competitive process establish a Local Action Group (LAG) to deliver the measures in the area. Animation funding will be available to enable Council clusters to undertake animation action within their area for the purpose of establishing LAGs and drawing up strategies.

The Council Clusters will have a primary responsibility for accounting and financial governance arrangements for the Axis 1 and Axis 3 budgets allocated to the cluster area. The Local Action Groups will be required to play a full part in implementation of the measures and in particular will be responsible for developing a strategy that meets the needs of the area, and for assessing applications for Grant aid under the measures.

In excess of £100m will be invested in Rural Areas through the ‘Quality of Life and Farm Family Option Measures’ and I place great importance on the development of a strong partnership between each Council Cluster and the Local Action Group.

Common Agricultural Policy

Mr Danny Kennedy asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the preparations her department has made for a Northern Ireland contribution to the European Union's mid-term review of the Common Agricultural Policy.

(AQO 375/08)

Ms Gildernew: The forthcoming Common Agricultural Policy ‘Health Check’ will be important for Northern Ireland agriculture. While it will not be a radical reform of the CAP, there will be proposals for changes to milk quotas, modulation and the single farm payment scheme that will have significant consequences for our agricultural sector. Consequently, my Department has been very active in preparing for the ‘Health Check’.

In order to inform our position, we have commissioned research on the possible impact on the local agricultural industry of the abolition of milk quotas and increased compulsory modulation, both of which are likely to feature in the Health Check proposals. The research was conducted by Queen’s University Belfast and the Agri–Food Biosciences Institute in conjunction with the Food, Agricultural and Policy Research Institute, University of Missouri. A report of the findings from this research was published in February 2007.

In conjunction with the agriculture departments in England Scotland and Wales, we are also contributing to ongoing research on the impact at local, UK and EU levels of the abolition of milk quotas.

My officials have taken part in numerous meetings with their counterparts across the UK in order to influence the Commission’s thinking before it publishes its preliminary proposals later this year. The Health Check was also discussed at a meeting of UK Agriculture Ministers, which I attended on 19 June, and I will be discussing CAP issues in the forthcoming North South Ministerial Council meeting.

When the Health Check proposals are published, my Department will be conducting a full public consultation with stakeholders in order to establish our position with respect to the upcoming EU negotiations on the issue.

Renewable Energy

Mr Seán Neeson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what discussions she has had with the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to co-ordinate their approach on the development of renewable energy.

(AQO 383/08)

Ms Gildernew: My colleague, the Minister for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, and I share a common approach to this subject.

We see renewable energy as an important policy to secure future environmental and economic gain.

There are numerous and ongoing contacts between DARD and DETI at official level to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the development of renewable energy across these departments.

Should a joint-Ministerial meeting be required, then I shall be pleased to facilitate this.

Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis

Mr Francie Molloy asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what action she is taking to tackle bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis; and to outline what impact this action has had.

(AQO 348/08)

Ms Gildernew: The TB programme is based on the detection of diseased or high risk animals, the compulsory removal of these animals from their herd of origin to slaughter, and the restriction of movements of cattle from infected herds until they are tested clear. Generally individual animals test positive and are removed rather than the whole herd.

Since 2002, there has been clear evidence of a significant decline in the incidence of TB. The herd incidence peaked in 2002 at 9.93% and has now dropped to 5.61% for the first half of this year. The herd incidence is currently at a similar rate in the North and South

The brucellosis control programme is based on the detection of diseased or high risk animals, compulsory removal of these animals for slaughter, removal of all in-contact animals in other words, group or whole herd depopulation, and immediate restriction of all movements from or to infected herds until they are depopulated or tested clear. Generally whole herds are depopulated when infected animals are detected.

Over the last few years, there has been clear evidence of significant decline in the incidence of BR from its peak at the start of 2002 when the herd incidence reached 1.43%. Overall, the trend remained downwards until 2006-07 when specific localised disease clusters halted the decline. This recent rise peaked in October 2006 at 0.6% but has since levelled off. The current herd incidence is now 0.48% and animal incidence is 0.034%.

Agri-Food Matters

Mr Barry McElduff asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what progress has been made in promoting increased co-operation in regard to agri-food matters, on an all-island basis.

(AQO 353/08)

Ms Gildernew: Under the auspices of the North South Ministerial Council arrangements important steps are being taken which will benefit the agri-food industry throughout the Island of Ireland. These relate to issues concerning animal health and plant health. It is vital to lay a sound foundation for future initiatives. In view of this the development of the All-Island Animal Health and Welfare Strategy, including the free movement of animals within the island of Ireland, is amongst my key priorities. We will continue to work closely with our colleagues in the South given the interest we share in preventing the introduction of serious animal and plant diseases to the island.

I believe it is in the best interests of the North’s agri-food industry to determine how best to position its products in the markets they serve and I will continue to support industry in this respect in order to achieve the best returns possible. Ultimately, however, promotional activities will be determined by the marketplace. The North is in a unique position in that its products are sold in a wide range of markets. Promotional activities must therefore be tailored for specific markets in a manner that optimises the benefit of the North’s multiple identity.

An International Image Group consisting of experienced representatives from export businesses in the North was established by my Department and DETI to oversee research into the image of the North’s food and drink in international markets. The research found that the North may be best served by being marketed as part of the island of Ireland in international markets. However, to gain optimum advantage of its unique position, the Image Group felt that the North’s agri-food industry should utilise all options at its disposal, and, depending on the market and customer, market itself as North of Ireland, island of Ireland or UK.

In supporting the local agri-food industry, my Department works closely with Invest NI, which has a Memorandum of Understanding with Bord Bia. A strategic alliance now exists to promote Ireland’s food industry overseas. Ongoing and planned joint work includes joint promotion of regional foods, participation in local food festivals, food and tourism initiatives, shared costs at international trade shows, meet the buyer events and collaborative market research.

Rural Diversification

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what plans she has to support the development of Ulster-Scots projects in rural areas, as a means of rural diversification.

(AQO 361/08)

Ms Gildernew: None. However a key theme within the 2007 – 2013 Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme is ‘improving the quality of life in rural areas and encouraging diversification of economic activity’. I would encourage both individuals and organisations with projects suitable and eligible for funding under the ‘quality of life’ measures to take these forward with their Local Action Group when it is in place.

Rural Development Programme 2007-2013

Mr Allan Bresland asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the proposed timetable for the delivery of the Rural Development Programme; and what mechanism will be put in place to ensure that farming families can avail of future funding from this programme.

(AQO 304/08)

Ms Gildernew: Legislation will be required for some of the Axis I (competitiveness) measures and I intend to present these to the Agriculture Committee as soon as possible. Delivery structures are being agreed with stakeholders, where appropriate, and I would aim to have measures opened as soon as possible. It is intended that one of the 4 measures (Adding Value to Agriculture and Forestry Products Improving Marketing Capability) will open late in 2007, with the remainder opening as early as possible in 2008 once all tendering and administrative structures have been agreed.

The development of the Northern Ireland Countryside Management Scheme (NICMS), an integral part of the new programme is ongoing. The estimated opening date of the NICMS will be in late spring/early summer 2008.

As no national legislation was required for the First Afforestation and Forest Environments schemes, they have been carried forward in a similar format from the previous programme.

I have invited local councils to form self-defined Clusters for delivery of the Axis 3 ‘Diversification and Quality of Life and Farm Family Options Measures’ of the new Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme. Following a competitive process, each Cluster will appoint a Local Action Group to bring forward and implement a local development strategy. I anticipate that Local Action Groups will be in place by the Spring of 2008.

In the Programme there are Measures across the three Axis, that are specific to farmers and farm families and also more general Measures that are also open to the farmer and farm family.

Fishing Rights

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline her strategy for securing greater fishing rights for local fishermen in the Irish Sea.

(AQO 322/08)

Ms Gildernew: I am committed to ensuring that fishing opportunities for local fishermen are improved and maximised. A key part of that is to make sure there is robust scientific evidence to underpin fish stock assessments. Scientific research carried out on Irish Sea stocks is assessed by ICES (International Council for the Exploration of the Seas) which advises the European Commission on annual fishing opportunities. ICES advice is made solely on the basis of scientific evidence and where it believes that there is insufficient data it will take a precautionary approach. It is clear from ICES advice over the last number of years that there are gaps in the knowledge about some stocks that are important to local fishermen, in particular, Cod, Haddock and Herring.

My Department in conjunction with AFBI (Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute) and the industry is constantly looking at ways to improve information to inform decisions about fishing opportunities and fisheries management. There have been some important developments in that area recently, for example the Irish Sea Data Enhancement Pilot project which is gathering data about the extent and reasons for discarding fish and ways to avoid this happening. My Department has also responded to industry calls to extend its survey work of herring in the Irish Sea. This autumn, with the involvement of the local industry, AFBI is collecting data about herring from 4 survey trips (instead of the usual 1).

Improving our knowledge about fish stocks is not something that my Department and its scientific advisors can do alone. It is important that fishermen’s knowledge is factored into our work and also that our scientists get the fullest co-operation from fishermen to allow them to gather data about the size and age of fish from samples of landings and to accommodate them as on-board observers to collect total catch information.

Information Technology in Farming

Mr John O'Dowd asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what action she is taking to move towards the use of information technology in farming, including the electronic tagging of livestock.

(AQO 351/08)

Ms Gildernew: I am keen that farmers benefit fully from information and communication technology (ICT) in their businesses. Through the Increasing Access to ICT scheme, 988 farmers are currently using and evaluating innovative technologies for their business. Another scheme, the ICT Grant Scheme, has encouraged food processors to use ICT technology to communicate business information to their farmer suppliers. This scheme is on target to have 1750 farmers benefiting by April 2008.

The College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) has delivered training to over 900 farmers in the past two years, developing their confidence and competence to use ICT for their business. Students on Further and Higher Education programmes at CAFRE, in preparation for a career in farming, have the opportunity to develop their ICT skills and to use specialist enterprise and business management software packages.

My Department has also developed a wide range of online services to reduce the administrative burden for farmers and growers and give them the tools to improve business performance. APHIS Online, the Animal and Public Health Information System, was the first real time transactional service offered by any NI Department and currently has 7,300 registered users. More than 1,200 farmers benefit from the use of CAFRE Online Benchmarking services, helping to identify opportunities to improve their business performance. Work is continuing to improve the infrastructure and expand the range of services offered.

DARD is working with industry and colleagues from the South and GB to ensure the benefits of Electronic Identification (EID) are fully exploited. DARD has completed a successful pilot to explore the potential of EID and, more particularly, Electronic Data Transfer in abattoirs to show how this technology can improve the flow of information to meet regulatory requirements and satisfy the needs of consumers for traceability in the supply chain. CAFRE is demonstrating the use of this technology on its own and partner farms. Expertise and facilities are available to provide farmers with sound, practical advice on implementing EID. My officials are also playing an active role in a recently established industry group being led by the Livestock and Meat Commission looking at implementing electronic identification in cattle.

Agricultural Wages Board

Mr Tom Elliott asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, in light of the recommendation of the Ulster Farmers' Union, what steps she will take to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board.

(AQO 355/08)

Ms Gildernew: I have considered the case made by the Ulster Farmers’ Union for the abolition of the Agricultural Wages Board and subsequently met with representatives of the Amalgamated Transport and General Workers’ Union and the Chairman of the Agricultural Wages Board to discuss the issue. In the absence of an alternative mechanism to protect the rights of agricultural employees I have decided not to abolish the Agricultural Wages Board at this time.

To abolish the Agriculture Wages Board would place agricultural workers in the North of Ireland at a financial disadvantage when compared with agricultural workers in the rest of the United Kingdom. This is particularly important in the context of ensuring the rights and privileges of migrant workers and minority communities here are protected.

Irish Fish Stocks

Mr Willie Clarke asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what is her assessment of scientific research into the levels of Irish fish stocks; and what meetings she is planning to have on this matter, during the December meeting of the European Council in Brussels.

(AQO 350/08)

Ms Gildernew: The 2007 scientific advice for the main fish stocks in the Irish Sea will not be published until 12 October. However our scientists believe that the advice coming from the International Council for the Exploration of the Seas will be little changed from last year.

On that basis I expect that a rollover in the Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Area 7 prawns and Irish Sea plaice will be recommended. I expect that the outlook will still be poor for cod and whiting whilst the recommendations for the Irish Sea haddock TAC will be affected by concerns that increasing its TAC may result in a greater by-catch of cod. The scientists have already advised that there should be a small reduction in the Irish Sea herring TAC.

Fishing opportunities will also be affected by changes to the effort control regime and I will fight hard to ensure that our fleet has sufficient fishing days to enable it to catch the available quotas.

As soon as this year’s scientific advice is published I will meet with industry representatives to discuss the implications of the advice and the best way to present our case in Brussels to protect our industry’s interests. I will also have further meetings with the English and Scottish fisheries Ministers in order to secure our priorities within the overall negotiating position and at the Council. Whilst at the Council I will press our case vigorously and keep the industry informed of progress.

Bluetongue Disease

Mr David Ford asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what action she is taking to keep bluetongue disease out of Northern Ireland.

(AQO 395/08)

Ms Gildernew: I will continue to do everything possible to try to prevent Bluetongue from spreading here.

As I said in my Statement to the Assembly of 1 October, we have a range of preventive measures in place to minimise the risk of Bluetongue reaching the North.

In light of the heightened risk from Northern Europe, since August 2006 all imports of susceptible animals from Bluetongue restricted areas in EU Member States have been banned. Animals and their vehicles that travel across the restricted areas are sprayed with insecticide. We carry out post import testing of imported cattle and sheep from Europe. These animals are restricted and isolated pending negative test results. All test results to date have proven negative. We have also advised potential importers to request that animals are pre-import tested as an additional precaution.

Due to the Foot and Mouth Disease preventive measures that I reintroduced here on 12 September, our ports remain closed to the import of live animals from Britain, which gives us dual protection for Bluetongue too.

My officials have traced and examined all consignments of cattle, sheep, goats and pigs imported directly from Britain since the beginning of July in response to the FMD outbreaks in Britain. All examinations were negative for signs that could be attributed to either Foot and Mouth Disease or Bluetongue, which has given me some reassurance that Bluetongue has not spread to the North.

Over the past six months, my Department has been working in partnership with key stakeholders here, through the bluetongue working group, on preparedness to deal with the threat of this disease and will continue to do so.

In May, my Department in conjunction with our key stakeholders issued advice to the industry about Bluetongue including information about clinical signs. This leaflet is available on the DARD website, along with other comprehensive information on Bluetongue.

Bluetongue Disease

Mr William Irwin asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will make a statement on the threat posed to Northern Ireland by bluetongue disease.

(AQO 326/08)

Ms Gildernew: I will continue to do everything possible to try to prevent Bluetongue from spreading here.

As I said in my Statement to the Assembly of 1 October, we have a range of preventive measures in place to minimise the risk of Bluetongue reaching the North.

Culture, Arts and Leisure

Irish Language Act

Mr Mervyn Storey asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to give a timescale within which he expects to make an announcement regarding the Irish Language Act.

(AQW 338/08)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr Poots): As indicated during the Assembly’s oral questions session on Monday 10^th September, it is my intention to make a statement on the proposed Irish Language Act to the Assembly in the early Autumn.

Motorcycle Road Racing

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the amount of financial assistance his department has given to motorcycle road racing, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 447/08)

Mr Poots: I apologise for the delay in replying to the member.

Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) is responsible for the development of sport in Northern Ireland including the distribution of financial assistance to sports organisations. SNI has provided the following funding to motorcycle road racing in each of the last 5 financial years: -

2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	TOTAL
£13,000	£12,000	£18,500	£7,420	£50,920

Motorcycle Racing on Circuits

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the amount of financial assistance his department has given to motorcycle racing on circuits, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 448/08)

Mr Poots: I apologise for the delay in replying to the member.

Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) is responsible for the development of sport in Northern Ireland including the distribution of financial assistance to sports organisations. SNI has provided the following funding to motorcycle racing on circuits in each of the last 5 financial years: -

2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	Total
£11,000	£14,000	£18,500	£2,000	£45,500

Equestrian Sports Events

Mr David McNarry asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what consideration he has given to the inclusion of an international competition area, for promoting equestrian sports events, in the proposal for a multi-sports stadium at the proposed Maze development site; and if he will meet with the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society to discuss this issue.

(AQW 457/08)

Mr Poots: Proposals for the development of a Multi-Sports Stadium at the Maze/Long Kesh site have been focusing exclusively on the future facility requirements of the three major ball sports in Northern Ireland – Soccer, Rugby and Gaelic Games.

Responsibility for the development of equestrian sports in Northern Ireland rests with the governing body, the Northern Ireland Equestrian Sports Committee. I would be happy to meet with the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society to discuss their proposals for an international competition area for equestrian sports, provided they have the endorsement of the Northern Ireland Equestrian Sports Committee.

World Pipe Band Championships

Mr Mervyn Storey asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, pursuant to his answer to AQW 206/08, to detail the progress that has been made within the Northern Ireland Events Company, the Ulster-Scots Agency and the Arts Council of Northern Ireland, regarding opportunities for hosting the World Pipe Band Championships in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 508/08)

Mr Poots: Officials from my department will be meeting with representatives of the Northern Ireland Events Company, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Ulster-Scots Agency on 8 October 2007.

The Northern Ireland Events Company has researched the size and scope of the event which will help to determine the way forward.

Derelict Library in Cullybackey

Mr Daithí McKay asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what action he will take to demolish the derelict library in Cullybackey, in light of the anti-social behaviour taking place at this site.

(AQW 605/08)

Mr Poots: Responsibility for the former Cullybackey library building rests with the North Eastern Education and Library Board (NEELB). Following the closure of the library, the NEELB is required to trawl the surplus property within the Public Sector, in accordance with the relevant guidance. Some interest has been expressed and NEELB is currently awaiting a decision from the Land and Property Agency as to when the sale of the building can be completed. The Board therefore has no current plans to demolish the building, however it has been secured.

National Stadium

Mr David McNarry asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what is his assessment of whether or not the cost of building a different design to that of the original, for the National Stadium at the Maze, will be met; and whether or not this will provide value for money.

(AQO 317/08)

Mr Poots: The work currently ongoing on proposals for a Multi-Sports Stadium – including stadium design, business planning and the development of an outline business case – is intended to help me reach a conclusion on value for money and affordability issues. I expect to be in a position to make an assessment on these issues when that work is completed. As part of this process, DCAL is continuing to work with the 3 sports bodies on developing a suitable design for the Stadium. The Department has no plans to develop any alternative design that does not have the involvement and agreement of the 3 sports.

Work on the development of a suitable design, business plan and outline business case for the Multi-Sports Stadium is well advanced. This work is expected to be completed shortly and I hope to be in a position to make a recommendation to the Executive by the end of this year with a view to making an announcement on the way forward early in the new year.

Gaeltacht Quarter in West Belfast

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to provide an update on the development of the Gaeltacht Quarter in West Belfast.

(AQO 363/08)

Mr Poots: An Ceathrú Gaeltachta Teo – the Gaeltacht Quarter Development Company (Ltd) - became fully operational in July 2007 and the company currently employs two members of staff. The company is funded through the Integrated Development Fund with the funding being administered by my Department. The conditions of funding state that an early task for the company should be the production of a business and marketing plan for the Gaeltacht Quarter, along with an associated baseline study. I am aware that work is already underway on drawing up terms of reference for such plans and I understand that they are scheduled to be completed in the New Year.

Community Festivals Fund

Mr Stephen Moutray asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline his plans for the funding of public events through the Community Festivals Fund, over the next three years.

(AQO 313/08)

Mr Poots: I have initiated a review of the Community Festivals Fund. The Northern Ireland Events Company, which currently administers the Fund on the Department’s behalf, commissioned an independent evaluation of the Fund and I will be taking account of this as I determine the way forward.

Public Angling Estate

Mr Billy Armstrong asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the progress that has been made in developing the public angling estate; and the amount of investment his department has given to this process to date.

(AQO 382/08)

Mr Poots: Considerable progress has been made since 1999 when the Department took over responsibility for the Estate. Six new fisheries have been added including 2 wild salmon and trout fisheries and 4 coarse fisheries. A new website has been developed which provides details of the Estate’s 64 fisheries, licence and permit details, educational information and links with travel and accommodation providers. The website also has on line permit and day ticket purchase facilities. A boat hire facility for anglers is now available at Castlewellan Lake. Considerable infrastructure development has taken place including the provision of 10 car parks, 3 slipways have been built and 117 new fishing stands have been constructed. 5.5 kilometres of new tarmaced roads and paths have been provided to facilitate access. Movanagher Fish Farm which supplies trout for stocking into put and take fisheries has been improved and fish production has been increased by 20%.

The total investment of capital and running cost expenditure from 1999 to 31 March 2007 amounts to £2,620,472. This does not include staff costs. Details of the annual expenditure for the period 2000 to 2005 are contained in the Department’s Salmon and Inland Fisheries Annual Reports which are in the Assembly Library. The 2006 Report will be laid in the Assembly shortly.

Ulster-Scots Curriculum Development

Mr Kieran McCarthy asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to give an update on the cost and value for money of the Ulster-Scots Curriculum Development project at Stranmillis, which is funded by his department.

(AQO 388/08)

Mr Poots: The Stranmillis Curriculum Development Unit has received to date £1,512,433 in funding the period 2002 to 2007. The projects carried out by the Unit were commissioned and funded by the Ulster-Scots Agency. The Agency ceased to continue funding from 31 August 2007. Funding for two posts is now being provided by the Ulster Scots Academy Implementation Group. The Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) conducted an Inspection of the Unit in 2006 and concluded that the quality of the work is good and fulfils the terms of its remit well.

National Stadium

Mr Mervyn Storey asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline his timetable of actions before he will be in a position to make an announcement on plans for a new National Sports Stadium.

(AQO 314/08)

Ulster-Scots and Irish Gaelic Spending

Mr David Burnside asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline his plans and spending bids for both the Ulster-Scots and Irish Gaelic cultural traditions, over the next 5 years.

(AQO 333/08)

Mr Poots: Spending plans are only agreed over a three year period.

Any plans or bids concerning future spending will be agreed as part of the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review for the period 2008/09 – 2010/11. The outcome of the review will determine the levels and amounts of funding to be made available for Ulster-Scots and Irish Cultural projects and events.

Belfast Mela

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the level of support given by his department to the organisers of the Belfast Mela 2007; and whether or not his officials will further engage with the organisers, to ensure that this gathering continues as a successful annual event.

(AQO 381/08)

Mr Poots: ArtsEkta received £5000 funding for the Belfast Mela 2007 from the Community Festival Fund which is administered on DCAL’s behalf by the Northern Ireland Events Company. DCAL does not fund arts organizations directly. ArtsEkta should liaise with officials from the Arts Council and the Northern Ireland Events Company in relation to future funding.

North-South Ministerial Council Sectoral Meetings

Mr Francis Brolly asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline his priorities for the forthcoming North-South Ministerial Council sectoral meetings, in regard to Waterways Ireland and The Language Body.

(AQO 354/08)

Mr Poots: My priorities for the Waterways Ireland and North South Language Body Sectoral meetings are to review the progress that has been made to date and to consider both organizations’ plans for the future.

Following the Sectoral meetings on the 17th and 26th October 2007 joint communiqués will be issued to the press and published on the North South Ministerial Council website outlining the topics discussed.

Cost of Translations

Dr Stephen Farry asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the guidance his department has given to other Government departments, with regard to ensuring that value for money is received for all translations from English into other languages.

(AQO 393/08)

Mr Poots: My Department is responsible for the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) Irish Language Translation Service. The current panel of translators was selected in 2004 in accordance with Government’s Central Procurement Division guidance, which includes a value for money criteria. An agreement was reached between all departments in 2003 that this service must be used in respect of all Irish language translations. As part of the arrangement a Quality Assurance procedure was established.

Sign Language

Mr Simon Hamilton asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what steps he will take to promote sign language in Northern Ireland.

(AQO 321/08)

Mr Poots: My Department continues to work in partnership with organisations representing the Deaf community to promote sign languages and to educate and inform the wider community. My Department additionally chairs a Sign Language Partnership Group bringing together representatives from Government Departments and the Deaf community to consider ways to improve access to public services for users of sign languages. I have made a bid for additional funding in the Comprehensive Spending Review. I have also been liaising with the Minister for the Department for Employment and Learning in relation to the provision of more training to increase the supply of sign language tutors and interpreters.

Education

Staff Team Building

Mr Stephen Moutray asked the Minister of Education to detail the total cost of (i) staff away days; and (ii) staff team building exercises carried out by her department, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 335/08)

The Minister of Education (Ms Ruane): The total cost of staff away days and staff team building days, in the last three financial years is as follows:

YEAR	Away Days/Team Building Days	Cost
2004/05	√	£33, 346.16
2005/06	√	£29, 996.00
2006/07	√	£42, 124.11
Total Cost		£105, 466.27

The above are all costs associated with staff away days/team building days. These include costs for the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) which provides inspection services for the Department of Education (DE), the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) and the Department for Employment and Learning (DEL).

Away days in the main are used for Business Planning. As an Investor in People there is a requirement to involve people when developing the organisation’s business plan and when agreeing team and individual objectives. It is not possible to show separately the costs for away days (business planning) and team building exercises. In the Department of Education, however, teambuilding days are generally arranged through Employer Supported Volunteering with Voluntary Service Bureau at nil cost.

Curriculum Reserve Support

Mr Mervyn Storey asked the Minister of Education to detail the amount of Curriculum Reserve Support monies paid out to schools in the (i) controlled; (ii) maintained; (iii) integrated; and (iv) Irish language sectors, in order to improve their financial bottom line, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 336/08)

Ms Ruane: Monies from the Curriculum Reserve Support Fund are not issued in order to improve schools’ financial positions but rather to provide for additional teaching/curriculum support in set circumstances. I understand from the Chief Executives of the five Education and Library Boards that the amount of Curriculum Reserve Support Monies paid to schools in each of the last five years is as follows:

Schools	2002/03 £000s	2003/04 £000s	2004/05 £000s	2005/06 £000s	2006/07 £000s
Controlled	1,152	1,124	979	917	474
Maintained	1,146	1,099	1,194	1,035	600
Controlled Integrated	24	8	15	11	0
Irish Medium	0	0	0	15	30

Chinese Language School

Mr Jimmy Spratt asked the Minister of Education to detail the amount of funding allocated to the Chinese Language School Northern Ireland, for each of the last five years.

(AQW 353/08)

Ms Ruane: I have been advised that payment was made to the Chinese Language School for each of the last five years was as follows:

Funding Provider	Financial Year	Payment Date	Amount
BELB	2001-02	May-01	£6,000
BELB	2002-03	May-02	£10,000
BELB	2003-04	May-03	£10,000
BELB	2004-05	May-04	£11,000

Report of the Independent Strategic Review of Education

Miss Michelle McIlveen asked the Minister of Education what action she will take regarding the recommendation in the report of the Strategic Review of Education that the methodology used to distribute resources to schools through the Common Funding Formula should be reviewed, in order to ensure that delegations under the formula reflect the costs of the main needs of the school.

(AQW 427/08)

Ms Ruane: Following the Bain Report, a draft policy document on Sustainable Schools was published for consultation by the direct rule administration on 23 January 2007. The responses to the consultation are being analysed by the Department. I am considering carefully the issues which have been raised and how best to move forward in ensuring that children get a good educational experience in strong viable schools. I intend to set out the position by the end of the year.

Report of the Independent Strategic Review of Education

Miss Michelle McIlveen asked the Minister of Education what action she will take regarding the recommendation in the report of the Strategic Review of Education that the rationale for funding prepatory departments in grammar schools should be reviewed.

(AQW 428/08)

Strategic Review of Education

Miss Michelle McIlveen asked the Minister of Education what action she will take regarding the recommendation of the report of the Strategic Review of Education that the policy for sustainable schools in Northern Ireland should ensure that all schools are sustainable, in terms of quality of the educational experience of children; enrolment trends; financial position; school leadership and management; accessibility; and the strength of their links to the community.

(AQW 429/08)

Strategic Review of Education

Miss Michelle McIlveen asked the Minister of Education to detail the criteria that is used to determine whether a school's quality and breadth of education is satisfactory, as referred to in recommendation 7 of the report of the Strategic Review of Education.

(AQW 430/08)

Strategic Review of Education

Miss Michelle McIlveen asked the Minister of Education, in light of the recommendation in the report of the Strategic Review of Education that the minimum (not optimal) enrolments for new primary schools, and for Years 8-12 in new post-primary schools should be (i) Primary: 140 pupils in urban areas, and 105 pupils in rural areas; and (ii) Post-primary: 500 pupils, what is her assessment of whether or not the future of an existing school should be reviewed when enrolment falls below the relevant level.

(AQW 431/08)

Report of the Independent Strategic Review of Education

Miss Michelle McIlveen asked the Minister of Education what action she is taking in regard to the recommendation in the Report of the Independent Strategic Review of Education that, in addition to a delegated budget, schools should receive financial and other incentives to share resources and deliver improved provision in collaboration with other schools.

(AQW 440/08)

Report of the Independent Strategic Review of Education

Miss Michelle McIlveen asked the Minister of Education what action she is taking in regard to the recommendation in the Report of the Independent Strategic Review of Education to maximise the degree to which schools have control of their own budgets, and what appropriate arrangements for accountability she intends to put in place.

(AQW 441/08)

Report of the Independent Strategic Review of Education

Miss Michelle McIlveen asked the Minister of Education what action she is taking in regard to the recommendation in the Report of the Independent Strategic Review of Education that the budgets delegated to schools should continue to include resources for teachers' salaries and other staff costs.

(AQW 442/08)

School Repairs

Mr Stephen Moutray asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to her answer to AQW 69/08, to detail the amount and percentage of expenditure on school repairs in the maintained sector that was spent on Irish-medium schools, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 482/08)

Ms Ruane: The information provided by the Education and Library Boards is as follows:-

Expenditure on Maintenance and Repairs in Irish-medium Schools

	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07
Amount £000	160	161	115	66	61
% of total maintained sector expenditure	0.8	0.8	1.0	0.8	0.7

Dickson Plan

Mr Stephen Moutray asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to her answer to AQO 85/08, to detail the meetings she has had with (i) pupils; (ii) parents; and (iii) teachers to establish their assessment of the Craigavon-based Dickson Plan for education.

(AQW 484/08)

Ms Ruane: I have listened to comment on the Dickson Plan during informal discussions I have had with school staff, parents and pupils during many of the 34 visits I have made to all types of school, including one visit to a participating school (St Paul’s Junior High School) and two visits to Lismore Comprehensive School which is located within the Dickson Plan area. I am also mindful of any points raised about the system in Ministerial correspondence which I answer personally in every instance, as well as the available research evidence on the subject.

Complaints of Child Sexual Abuse

Mr David Simpson asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to her answer to AQW 77/08, to detail the reasons why no central register of complaints of child sexual abuse is maintained by her department; and whether or not she will instruct her department to keep such a register.

(AQW 486/08)

Ms Ruane: There are no plans to create a central register of complaints of child sexual abuse. Information about all complaints of child abuse against staff in all employment sectors is available from the investigating agencies.

Schools are required by law to notify the investigating agencies of any allegation of child abuse by staff or others. Failure to report an allegation is an offence.

Schools must keep a record all complaints of child abuse made against staff. This record is presented annually to the Board of Governors and by this means clusters of complaints can be identified.

The employing authority must notify the Department when an individual is dismissed as unsuitable to work with children following disciplinary action. When an individual is convicted of a relevant offence the Department is advised by PSNI. In both cases action is taken to list the person as unsuitable to work with children.

Boards of Governors have a statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of pupils and must ensure that the school complies with any guidance issued by the Department about child protection matters.

The Department has no record of the occasions when it has been contacted by schools about allegations of child abuse. Support and advice to schools on complaints about child abuse, whether sexual or otherwise, was provided directly by the Education and Library Boards’ Designated Officers and from April 2006 by the Child Protection Support Service for Schools.

Complaints of Child Sexual Abuse

Mr David Simpson asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to her answer to AQW 77/08, to detail the means through which her department keeps track of clusters of allegations of child sexual abuse made against any particular individual, in the absence of a central register.

(AQW 487/08)

Schools are required by law to notify the investigating agencies of any allegation of child abuse by staff or others. Failure to report an allegation is an offence.

Schools must keep a record all complaints of child abuse made against staff. This record is presented annually to the Board of Governors and by this means clusters of complaints can be identified.

Complaints of Child Sexual Abuse

Mr David Simpson asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to her answer to AQW 77/08, to detail the number of occasions on which each school in Northern Ireland has contacted her department about allegations of child sexual abuse, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 488/08)

Schools are required by law to notify the investigating agencies of any allegation of child abuse by staff or others. Failure to report an allegation is an offence.

Schools must keep a record all complaints of child abuse made against staff. This record is presented annually to the Board of Governors and by this means clusters of complaints can be identified.

Complaints of Child Sexual Abuse

Mr David Simpson asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to her answer to AQW 77/08, if she will confirm that any school in receipt of an allegation of child sexual abuse need not inform her department, or any investigating agency of (i) the nature of the allegations; (ii) the details of any disciplinary process; or (iii) any disciplinary punishment imposed upon anyone against whom an allegation has been proven.

(AQW 489/08)

Schools are required by law to notify the investigating agencies of any allegation of child abuse by staff or others. Failure to report an allegation is an offence.

Schools must keep a record all complaints of child abuse made against staff. This record is presented annually to the Board of Governors and by this means clusters of complaints can be identified.

Complaints of Child Sexual Abuse

Mr David Simpson asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to her answer to AQW 77/08, to outline the legal obligations placed upon boards of governors in receipt of information passed to them by the school, in relation to allegations of child sexual abuse.

(AQW 490/08)

Schools are required by law to notify the investigating agencies of any allegation of child abuse by staff or others. Failure to report an allegation is an offence.

Schools must keep a record all complaints of child abuse made against staff. This record is presented annually to the Board of Governors and by this means clusters of complaints can be identified.

Registered Childminders

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of registered childminders in Northern Ireland, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 501/08)

Ms Ruane: Current figures available indicate the number of childminders registered with the Health and Social Care Trusts as

3730 in 2005

3,627 in 2006

3567 in 2007

Childminder Start-Up Package

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education what consideration she has given to funding the Childminder Start-Up package.

(AQW 502/08)

Ms Ruane: Officials from the Department met with the Director of NICMA on 21^st August. At this meeting NICMA was asked to undertake further work in order to demonstrate the benefits, in terms of increased uptake, of introducing a start up grant. NICMA was advised that future consideration may be given to establishing a minimum training standard for childminders.

Some further evidence has since been provided by NICMA, however this will require some additional clarification. When this is available, I will be happy to convene a meeting with the Director of NICMA to discuss the proposals.

Free School Meals

Mr Paul Butler asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of schools, at primary and post-primary level, where the uptake of free school meals is between (i) 90 -100%; (ii) 80-89%; (iii) 70-79%; (iv) 60-69%; (iv) 50-59%; and (v) 40-49%; and to detail the total enrolment figures for each school included in each of the above categories.

(AQW 574/08)

Ms Ruane: Information on the uptake of free school meals is not readily available in the format requested, therefore information on the eligibility of pupils for free school meals has been provided. The latest information available relates to the 2006/07 academic year.

Percentage pupils entitled to free school meals at Primary Schools and Post Primary Schools in 2006/07

% Pupils entitled to free school meals	Primary schools	Post Primary Schools
90 - 100	0	0
80 - 89	0	0
70 - 79	9	0
60- 69	8	3
50 - 59	34	10
40 - 49	39	13

Percentage Primary pupils entitled to free school meals by school 2006/07

School name	Total enrolment	% of total enrolment entitled to free school meals
VERE FOSTER PRIMARY SCHOOL	102	70 - 79
BEECHFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL	110	70 - 79
ST LUKE'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, LISBURN	226	70 - 79
ST PAULS PRIMARY SCHOOL, SLIEVEMORE	183	70 - 79
BLYTHEFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL	132	70 - 79
CURRIE PRIMARY SCHOOL	119	70 - 79
ST KIERAN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL	437	70 - 79
ST AIDAN'S CHRISTIAN BROTHERS PRIMARY SCHOOL	204	70 - 79
GAELSCOIL AN DAMBA	27	70 - 79
ST BERNADETTE'S PRIMARY SCHOOL	212	60 - 69
HOLY CHILD PRIMARY SCHOOL, DERRY	287	60 - 69
MALVERN PRIMARY SCHOOL	114	60 - 69
EDENBROOKE PRIMARY SCHOOL	184	60 - 69
HOLY CROSS GIRLS' PRIMARY SCHOOL	152	60 - 69
ST PETER'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, BELFAST	326	60 - 69
THE GOOD SHEPHERD PRIMARY SCHOOL	366	60 - 69
KILCOOLEY PRIMARY SCHOOL	138	60 - 69
OLD WARREN PRIMARY SCHOOL	127	50 - 59
AVONIEL PRIMARY SCHOOL	188	50 - 59
ANAMAR PRIMARY SCHOOL	39	50 - 59
BALLYSALLY PRIMARY SCHOOL	198	50 - 59
ST VINCENT DE PAUL PRIMARY SCHOOL	202	50 - 59
ST MATTHEW'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, BELFAST	303	50 - 59
STAR OF THE SEA GIRLS' PRIMARY SCHOOL	317	50 - 59
CHRIST THE KING PRIMARY SCHOOL	145	50 - 59
ST MARY'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, BELFAST	128	50 - 59
GAELSCOIL AN LONNAIN	44	50 - 59
ST COLMCILLE'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, DOWNPATRICK	211	50 - 59
ST THERESA'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, LENAMORE	426	50 - 59
TULLYGALLY PRIMARY SCHOOL	167	50 - 59
SPRINGFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL	73	50 - 59
ST JOSEPH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, BALLYMENA	73	50 - 59
ST MALACHY'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, BELFAST	261	50 - 59
GROVE PRIMARY SCHOOL	104	50 - 59
HARMONY PRIMARY SCHOOL	205	50 - 59
ST MICHAEL'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, NEWTOWNHAMILTON	62	50 - 59
FOUNTAIN PRIMARY SCHOOL	112	50 - 59
BLACKMOUNTAIN PRIMARY SCHOOL	114	50 - 59
LONGTOWER PRIMARY SCHOOL	311	50 - 59
GLENWOOD PRIMARY SCHOOL	455	50 - 59
NETTLEFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL	272	50 - 59
ST BRIGID'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, DERRY	343	50 - 59
GAELSCOIL EADAIN MHOIR	116	50 - 59
SCOIL NA FUISEOIGE	134	50 - 59
HOLY FAMILY PRIMARY SCHOOL	448	50 - 59
BALLEE PRIMARY SCHOOL	71	50 - 59
HOLY CROSS BOYS' PRIMARY SCHOOL	348	50 - 59
EDMUND RICE (CB) PRIMARY SCHOOL	333	50 - 59
ST MALACHY'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, NEWRY	324	50 - 59
ST JOSEPH'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, BELFAST	250	50 - 59
EUSTON STREET PRIMARY SCHOOL	254	50 - 59
ST MARK'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, LISBURN	522	40 - 49
BALLYGOLAN PRIMARY SCHOOL	124	40 - 49
HOLY TRINITY PRIMARY SCHOOL, BELFAST	621	40 - 49
BALLYSILLAN PRIMARY SCHOOL	133	40 - 49
BARRACK STREET BOYS' PRIMARY SCHOOL	184	40 - 49
BUNSCOIL MHIC REACHTAIN	65	40 - 49
TULLYCARNET PRIMARY SCHOOL	107	40 - 49
ASHLEA PRIMARY SCHOOL	91	40 - 49
GAELSCOIL NA MONA	66	40 - 49
HOLY FAMILY PRIMARY SCHOOL, BELFAST	375	40 - 49
ST OLIVER PLUNKETT PRIMARY SCHOOL	167	40 - 49
HARRYVILLE PRIMARY SCHOOL	148	40 - 49
OUR LADY'S GIRLS' PRIMARY SCHOOL	336	40 - 49
STEELSTOWN VOL MAINTAINED PRIMARY SCHOOL	511	40 - 49
WHEATFIELD PRIMARY SCHOOL	167	40 - 49
SILVERSTREAM PRIMARY SCHOOL	144	40 - 49
SACRED HEART PRIMARY SCHOOL, BELFAST	236	40 - 49
THE WM PINKERTON MEMORIAL PRIMARY SCHOOL	73	40 - 49
ST JOHN'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, DERRY	588	40 - 49
WEST WINDS PRIMARY SCHOOL	156	40 - 49
HARPURS HILL PRIMARY SCHOOL	189	40 - 49
PRIMATE DIXON PRIMARY SCHOOL	483	40 - 49
BOTANIC PRIMARY SCHOOL	185	40 - 49
BALLYORAN PRIMARY SCHOOL	265	40 - 49
DONEGALL ROAD PRIMARY SCHOOL	164	40 - 49
ST PATRICK'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, NEWRY	362	40 - 49
ST PATRICK'S PRIMARY SCHOOL, CASTLEDERG	248	40 - 49
GAELSCOIL UI NEILL	104	40 - 49
STEWARTSTOWN PRIMARY SCHOOL	34	40 - 49
SUNNYLANDS PRIMARY SCHOOL	166	40 - 49
BUNSCOIL AN TRAONAIGH	22	40 - 49
DUNCLUG PRIMARY SCHOOL	115	40 - 49
RATHCOOLE PRIMARY SCHOOL	191	40 - 49
KNOCKNAGONEY PRIMARY SCHOOL	128	40 - 49
ST PATRICK'S PRIMARY SCHOOL	207	40 - 49
BUNSCOIL CHOLMCILLE	163	40 - 49
EARLVIEW PRIMARY SCHOOL	141	40 - 49
BALLYKEEL PRIMARY SCHOOL	322	40 - 49
ST OLIVER PLUNKETT PRIMARY SCHOOL	597	40 - 49

Percentage post-primary pupils entitled to free school meals by school 2006/07

School name	Total enrolment	% of total enrolment entitled to free school meals
ST PETER'S HIGH SCHOOL	344	60 - 69
ST GEMMA'S HIGH SCHOOL	262	60 - 69
ST BRIGID'S COLLEGE	840	60 - 69
ST COLM'S HIGH SCHOOL	701	50 - 59
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION COLLEGE	239	50 - 59
ST GABRIEL'S BOYS SCHOOL	117	50 - 59
CASTLE HIGH SCHOOL	129	50 - 59
ST MARY'S COLLEGE	898	50 - 59
ST JOSEPH'S HIGH SCHOOL, STRABANE	85	50 - 59
ST ROSE'S HIGH SCHOOL	549	50 - 59
CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE	600	50 - 59
ST JOSEPH'S SECONDARY, DERRY	902	50 - 59
ST JOSEPH'S HIGH SCHOOL, DUNGANNON	454	50 - 59
CHRISTIAN BROTHERS SECONDARY SCHOOL	578	40 - 49
LISNASHARRAGH HIGH SCHOOL	193	40 - 49
BALMORAL HIGH SCHOOL	154	40 - 49
NEWTOWNABBEY COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL	302	40 - 49
OUR LADY OF MERCY GIRLS' SCHOOL	438	40 - 49
ST JOSEPH'S COLLEGE, BELFAST	663	40 - 49
MOUNT GILBERT COMMUNITY COLLEGE	94	40 - 49
MAGHERA HIGH SCHOOL	166	40 - 49
ST CECILIA'S COLLEGE	918	40 - 49
BELFAST BOYS' MODEL SCHOOL	959	40 - 49
ST EUGENE'S HIGH SCHOOL	142	40 - 49
ST JOSEPH'S HIGH SCHOOL, CROSSMAGLEN	547	40 - 49
ORANGEFIELD HIGH SCHOOL	302	40 - 49

Source: NI School Census.

Note:

Figures for primary schools include children in nursery, reception and Year 1 – 7 classes.
For nursery children, figures for those children who had a parent(s) in receipt of Job Seeker’s Allowance or Income Support was used as a proxy for free school meal eligibility.

Irish Language Schools

Mr George Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail her department's expenditure on Irish language schools, to date.

(AQW 603/08)

Ms Ruane: The tables below show the Department’s expenditure on Irish-medium schools between 1999/2000 and 2005/06 (the last year for which this information is readily available).

Figures are based on information provided by each of the Education & Library Boards and by the relevant branches within the Department of Education. LMS expenditure figures include both delegated and centre recurrent funding, but exclude other costs such as milk and meals and transport, which are not allocated at individual school level.

Irish-medium Schools Expenditure
Year	LMS Expenditure	Capital Expenditure	School Improvement Programme
1999/00	£3,039,201	£1,667,584	£27,200
2000/01	£3,809,316	£763,796	£42,874
2001/02	£4,304,243	£140,896	£41,000
2002/03	£5,113,379	£775,717	£52,220
2003/04	£6,128,323	£1,589,219	£75,400
2004/05	£6,553,325	£3,086,106	£228,954
2005/06	£7,866,375	£2,057,054	£151,500
Total

Hospitality and Entertainment Expenditure

Mr Stephen Moutray asked the Minister of Education to detail her department's total expenditure on hospitality and entertainment, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 621/08)

Ms Ruane: The total expenditure cost for hospitality, in the last five financial years is as follows:

YEAR	Cost
2002/03	£23,609
2003/04	£23,791
2004/05	£43,074
2005/06	£33,891
2006/07	£45,146
tTotal Cost	£169,511

The above are all costs associated with hospitality for the Department and the Minister. All of the above costs are inclusive of associated room hire.

MAGS2 Funding

Mr Declan O'Loan asked the Minister of Education to explain why St Brigid's Primary School, Ballymena, is not eligible for the MAGS2 funding, despite the fact that children who now attend this school were previously entitled to this funding when they attended St Joseph's Primary School, which is now closed.

(AQW 640/08)

Ms Ruane: Funds allocated to the MAGS 2 pilot initiative are targeted at schools with the lowest proportion of their pupils achieving the expected level for their age at Key Stage 2 Assessment. St Brigid’s Primary School does not meet this criteria.

Sign Language

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of teachers in Northern Ireland who hold a sign language qualification.

(AQW 655/08)

Ms Ruane: The Department does not hold this information centrally however in July 2007 when answering a previous similar question we contacted the 5 Education and Library Boards and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools who employ teachers.

The Southern Education and Library Board advised in July 2007 that they had 4 and Western Education and Library Board had 7, these figures related to Peripatetic Teachers in the Boards Sensory Impaired Services. The other employing authorities advised they did not hold this information.

School Enrolments

Mr Declan O'Loan asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of children from the mid-Glens area of Glenariff, Cushendall and Cushendun, who live within the three-mile limit for St Aloysius High School, and who have enrolled in (i) St Aloysius High School, Cushendun; (ii) Cross and Passion College, Ballycastle; (iii) St Macnissi's, Garron Tower; and (iv) St Louis Grammar School, Ballymena, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 674/08)

Ms Ruane: The total number of pupils admitted to St Aloysius High School, Cross and Passion College, St Macnissi’s College and St Louis Grammar School for the last five school years is set out in the attached table. This information relates to pupils living in the mid-Glens area of Glenariff, Cushendall and Cushendun. Information relating to which of these children live within a three mile radius of St Aloysius High School is not readily available and its retrieval would result in disproportionate cost.

School	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
St Aloysius High School	11	9	8	1	0
Cross and Passion College	10	10	13	18	22
St Macnissi’s College	37	25	24	15	32
St Louis Grammar School	4	5	2	2	2

Employment and Learning

Course Fees

Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the average fees charged for a course, broken down by each of the Further Education Colleges, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 468/08)

The Minister for Employment and Learning (Sir Reg Empey): As incorporated bodies, further education colleges are responsible for their own curriculum offers and set their own course fees policies. Therefore, the Department for Employment and Learning does not hold details of fees charged by colleges for further education courses in Northern Ireland. In addition, further education colleges do not, routinely, hold information on the average fees charged for courses and, given the large number of part-time and full-time courses offered by colleges, this information could not be made available easily.

Course Fees

Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to outline what scope his department has to reduce or cap fees charged to students by Further Education Colleges.

(AQW 470/08)

Sir Reg Empey: As incorporated bodies, further education colleges are responsible for their own curriculum offers and for setting the level of fees, including concessionary fees, charged to students for the courses they provide. The Department for Employment and Learning does not intervene in this matter.

Sector Skills Agreement

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what steps he is taking to co-ordinate a sector skills agreement between further education colleges and the manufacturing industry.

(AQW 504/08)

Sir Reg Empey: Sector Skills Agreements are or have already been agreed by five Sector Skills Councils in relation to different sectors of manufacturing industry. The agreements are brokered among a range of private and public sector stakeholders which may include further education colleges.

Student Loans

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to explain the decision to increase interest rates for Student Loans from 2.4% to 4.8%.

(AQW 544/08)

Sir Reg Empey: Student loans are issued on the basis that borrowers should repay broadly the same amount, in real terms, as they borrowed. Therefore the interest rate is linked only to the rate of inflation which is calculated annually using the Retail Price Index (RPI). For the academic year 2007/08 the interest rate will be set at the current RPI rate of 4.8%. This represents an increase from 2.4% in 2006/07 and may continue to fluctuate year on year according to the rate of inflation.

Skills Pool

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what steps he is taking to address the gaps in Northern Ireland's skills pool, with particular reference to skilled labour, e.g. plumbing, joinery etc.

(AQW 545/08)

Sir Reg Empey: Success through Skills, the Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland, aims to identify current and future skills needs both at a regional and local level and seek appropriate interventions.

The Strategy advocates the use of the Department’s existing provision to raise the population’s overall level of skills. In addition, the Department is examining more sector specific requirements through an employer led network consisting of the Skills Expert Group, six Workforce Development Forums and the 25 UK wide Sector Skills Councils (SSCs).

Training for Success, which replaced the existing Jobskills programme in September 2007, is the Departments flagship professional and technical training provision. It provides the opportunity to a significant number of young people to work towards industry recognised qualifications.

SSCs have specific responsibility for setting standards within their industry, including the requirements for Apprenticeship provision within Training for Success. SummitSkills and ConstructionSkills are the SSCs responsible for plumbing and joinery respectively. The councils also work with the employers to promote apprenticeships and that scope has now been widened with the introduction of Level 2 Apprenticeship training in addition to the existing Level 3 provision.

The Department, for its part, will continue to promote professional and technical training widely and in particular apprenticeships. There are some 54 Suppliers delivering Training for Success and under contract they are also required to develop relationships with industry and employers and to promote training and apprenticeships.

Student Enrolments

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the number of students from the Strangford constituency, who enrolled in (i) university; (ii) further education college; and (iii) apprenticeships, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 565/08)

Sir Reg Empey: The Table below details the requested data for Universities and Further Education Colleges during the period 2003/04 to 2005/06, the latest year for which data are available. Data in relation to apprenticeships have been provided for the years 2004/05 to 2006/07.

Students enrolled from the Strangford Parliamentary Constituency, 2003/04 – 2005/06

Students enrolled in:	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07
UK Universities¹	3,305	3,465	3,415
NI Further Education Colleges²	5,926	7,215	6,751
NI Apprenticeships³		159	141	155

Sources: ¹Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), ²Further Education Statistical Record (FESR), ³Client Management System.

Note:¹HESA figures are rounded to the nearest 5.

South Eastern Regional College

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister for Employment and Learning if he can confirm that there are no plans to close or wind down operations at the Kircubbin and Ballyboley campuses of the South Eastern Regional College.

(AQW 581/08)

Sir Reg Empey: I can confirm that there are currently no plans to close or wind down operations at these campuses. However, colleges keep their course provision under regular review to take account of the changing demand in their areas, while ensuring continued ease of access for learners.

Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Competitiveness Programme (2007-2013)

Mr Ian McCrea asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what is his assessment of the Competitiveness Programme (2007-2013), with its focus on enterprise development, with reference to its ability to address and support the broader economic development needs of the west region, given the concerns highlighted by district councils in this area.

(AQW 460/08)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Mr Dodds): The future Northern Ireland Competitiveness programme 2007-13, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, has been drawn-up in partnership with a wide range of regional interests including local government representatives, public and private sector bodies, social partners, business and research bodies, and environmental agencies. The draft Programme, which is expected to be approved shortly by the European Commission, has been prepared in line with the new EU Guidelines and Regulations and fulfils the Lisbon requirement to focus on spending to help achieve a step-change in Northern Ireland’s competitiveness.

The draft Programme covers all of Northern Ireland and is aimed at boosting the performance of the regions as a whole. The draft Programme will allow support for a broad range of strategic economic development activities and needs across Northern Ireland. While the Guidelines for the programme do not provide for expenditure on large scale infrastructure, a point of concern for some Councils, I hope that all parts of the region, including the west, will benefit from it.

Competitiveness Programme (2007-2013)

Mr Ian McCrea asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what plans are in place within the Competitiveness Programme (2007-2013), to support the unique economic needs of the west whilst meeting the challenges proposed by the Lisbon Agenda.

(AQW 461/08)

Mr Dodds: The future Northern Ireland Competitiveness programme 2007-13 co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund has been drawn-up in partnership with a wide range of regional interests including, local government representatives, public and private sector bodies, social partners, business and research bodies, and environmental agencies. The draft programme which is expected to be approved shortly by the European Commission is fully in line with the new EU Guidelines and Regulations and fulfils the Lisbon requirement to focus on spending to help achieve a step-change in Northern Ireland’s competitiveness.

The programme covers all of Northern Ireland and is aimed at boosting the performance of the regions as a whole. The programme will allow for support for a broad range of strategic economic development activities addressing needs and challenges across Northern Ireland.

Competitiveness Programme (2007-2013)

Mr Ian McCrea asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he will make a statement on the new Competitiveness Programme (2007-2013); and if he will ensure that the Programme will allow local authorities to fund Town Centre Regeneration Programmes and Marketing Initiatives, as was the case within the previous Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme (2001-2007).

(AQW 462/08)

Mr Dodds: The Draft Programme, which is expected to be approved shortly by the European Commission, has been prepared in line with the new EU Guidelines and Regulations and fulfils the Lisbon requirement to focus on spending to help achieve a step-change in Northern Ireland’s competitiveness.

Under the new rules governing types of activities that may be funded under the new Competitiveness and Employment Objective, many of the activities that were previously funded under the Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme in Northern Ireland as an ‘Objective 1’ region are no longer eligible. No money has specifically been set aside within the draft Programme for town centre regeneration, but the programme would allow for strategic business development activities which could impact on urban and rural regeneration. Any proposals put forward would be considered on their merit and their potential contribution to meeting the aims and objectives of the future Programme.

Competitiveness Programme (2007-2013)

Mr Ian McCrea asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what plans are in place within the new Competitiveness Programme (2007-2013) to ensure that those Town Centre Regeneration Strategies previously funded by his department, in partnership with district councils, will be financially supported and implemented over the next five years.

(AQW 463/08)

Mr Dodds: The future Northern Ireland Competitiveness programme 2007-13, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, is expected to be approved shortly by the European Commission. The Draft Programme has been prepared in line with the new EU Guidelines and Regulations and fulfils the Lisbon requirement to focus on spending to help improve Northern Ireland’s competitiveness.

Under the new rules governing types of activities that may be funded under the new Competitiveness and Employment Objective, many of the activities that were previously funded under the Building Sustainable Prosperity Programme in Northern Ireland as an ‘Objective 1’ region are no longer eligible. No money has specifically been set aside for town centre regeneration, but the programme will allow for strategic business development activities which could impact on urban and rural regeneration. Any proposals put forward would be considered on their merit, and their potential contribution to meeting the aims and objectives of the future programme.

Competitiveness Programme (2007-2013)

Mr Ian McCrea asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what future role the Assembly will have in formulating and detailing the programme complement of the Competitiveness Programme (2007-2013), to ensure that it meets the economic needs of Northern Ireland, and in particular, the west.

(AQW 464/08)

Mr Dodds: Under the new EU Regulations for the funding period 2007-13, there is no requirement for a Programme Complement to EU Competitiveness and Employment programmes. The Northern Ireland ERDF Competitiveness Programme 2007-13 is a strategic-level framework programme covering the whole of Northern Ireland: it sets out how we will use our share of the UK's Structural Fund allocation 2007-13 to complement national spending to improve our competitivity and create a sustainable, knowledge-based economy with opportunities for all. The strategy and the key spending Priorities in the draft programme, which is expected to be approved shortly by the EU Commission, is fully in line with the Lisbon requirement to devote EU resources to increasing the levels of Research and Development and promoting innovation. Equality and sustainable development are cross-cutting themes underpinning each of the Priorities in the future programme. The Assembly and its Committees have oversight of EU Programme expenditure in the same way as other public expenditure. The draft programme was presented to the Finance and Personnel Committee of the Assembly and approved by the Executive before submission to the EU Commission.

Financial Capability Strategy

Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what steps are being taken to implement the Financial Services Authority's United Kingdom Financial Capability Strategy, given the research conducted by the Consumer Council, which shows that consumers in Northern Ireland are falling behind at being financially capable.

(AQW 525/08)

Mr Dodds: The Consumer Council for Northern Ireland, in conjunction with the Financial Services Authority, has established a Northern Ireland Financial Capability Partnership which includes the public sector, financial institutions and voluntary and community organisations. The Partnership is planning a range of initiatives aimed at improving the level of financial capability in Northern Ireland. Funding from the FSA has been secured to create a NI Financial Capability Co-ordinator post in the Consumer Council to work towards implementing the UK Financial Capability Strategy in NI from October 2007.

Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre

Mr Declan O'Loan asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (i) to provide an estimate of the cost placed on the Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre at each stage since 2000; (ii) to detail whether or not a cost limit was included as part of the specification for the international design competition announcement in 2005; and (iii) to explain the reasons why the cost appears to have escalated from approximately £14 million in 2004, to over £21 million in 2007, an increase of 50% in three years.

(AQW 558/08)

Mr Dodds: (i) My Department only assumed the lead in this project in April 2003. The first project cost estimate was produced in late 2004 for the international design competition which commenced in February 2005. The estimated project cost, which was based on an anticipated completion date of May 2007, was £14 million - £8.5 million of which was the estimated construction cost. The balance was for contingency and fees. The next cost estimate was produced after the competition in May 2006. The estimated cost was then £17 million. This assumed a completion date of December 2008. A more detailed cost estimate was produced in November 2006. The estimated cost was then £20 million with a completion date of March 2009. The most recent cost estimate was produced in May 2007. The estimated cost was then £21.5 million with a completion date of December 2009.

(ii) The International Architectural Competition Brief set an indicative budget of £8.5 million for construction. This excluded fees and contingency of circa £5.5 million

(iii) The reasons for the increase in project costs include;

design of the building – underground design more expensive
increase in building size from 1800 sq metres to 2000 sq metres
additional work on landscaping and off site car parking
decanting the existing visitor facilities during the period of construction
construction inflation
increased provision for contingency and fees

Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre

Mr Daithí McKay asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the comments made by the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland in relation to the private application for a visitors' centre at the Giant's Causeway.

(AQW 576/08)

Mr Dodds: I have arranged for copies of the GSNI comments in relation to the visitors’ centre at the Giant’s Causeway to be placed in the library of the Assembly.

Broadband Availability

Mr Daithí McKay asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the villages in North Antrim that do not have broadband access; and to outline his department's strategy and timetable for delivering 100% broadband availability in North Antrim.

(AQW 577/08)

Mr Dodds: Broadband access with speeds of no less than 512 kilo bits per second has been available to all of Northern Ireland since December 2005. This includes every village in North Antrim and is delivered either through telephone lines, wireless or satellite services. Consumers can often choose from more than one provider.

Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre

Mr Daithí McKay asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what is his assessment of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board's comments, made on 27 June 2002, in regard to the private application for a visitors' centre at the Giant's Causeway, which stated that 'applications close to the World Heritage Site have the potential to forever compromise the visual and environmental integrity of the area', with specific reference to whether or not this development will detrimentally affect the tourist industry.

(AQW 578/08)

Mr Dodds: I am advised that this reference is taken from a single Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) response to planning consultations in respect of a number of proposed developments. I am also advised that the views expressed in June 2002 were framed in the circumstances of the time. These included work being undertaken by the Department of the Environment (DOE) on an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Management Plan and the drafting of the Northern Area Plan. The planning system, which is the responsibility of DOE, deals with issues of visual and environmental integrity. The tourism industry will be best served by the development of facilities which enhance the visitor experience and which protect the interests of taxpayers.

Asbestos-Related Illness

Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of people who have died as a consequence of asbestos-related illness, contracted through exposure to asbestos in their workplace, in each of the last ten years.

(AQW 595/08)

Mr Dodds: Asbestos-related diseases are, in the main, occupationally acquired and include asbestosis, mesothelioma and lung cancer. The table below gives the number of deaths in each year between 1997 and 2006 where the underlying cause of death was recorded as mesothelioma¹ or ‘asbestosis’². The number of deaths caused by asbestos related lung cancer is not available. However, estimates suggest that they equal those caused by mesothelioma. For the majority of these deaths, the workplace is likely to have been the relevant source of asbestos. However there are no figures available on such exposure related to cause of death.

¹International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision code C45 for years 2001-2006 and Ninth Revision codes 158.9 or 163.9 for year 1997-2000.

²International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes J61 and J92.0 for years 2001-2006 and Ninth Revision code 501 for year 1997-2000.

Table: Number of registered deaths by year in Northern Ireland resulting from asbestos related illnesses (mesothelioma and ‘asbestosis’), 1997- 2006

Registration Year	Mesothelioma	'Asbestosis'	Total
1997	42	-	42
1998	40	6	46
1999	46	4	50
2000	37	6	43
2001	54	9	63
2002	42	12	54
2003	46	9	55
2004	51	14	65
2005	34	10	44
2006^P	47	6	53

Note: Data from 2001-2006 have been agreed by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) and the Health and Safety Executive Northern Ireland (HSENI). Prior to 2001 the figures are from NISRA only.

^P Provisional data.

Asbestos-Related Illness

Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what compensation arrangements have been put in place by Harland and Wolff, to compensate employees who have contracted asbestos-related illnesses from exposure to asbestos during their time of employment with the company.

(AQW 596/08)

Mr Dodds: Harland & Wolff was taken into public ownership in 1975. Harland & Wolff plc (H&W plc) remained in public ownership at the time of the privatisation of the shipbuilding business in 1989. All liabilities that existed at this time were retained in H&W plc.

DETI has guaranteed funding to H&W plc to enable it to meet liabilities as they fall due. This commitment covers funding to meet obligations that would fall to the company in relation to agreed compensation claims from employees who contracted asbestos related illnesses. This position was affirmed in a statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly on 5 March 2002 by Sir Reg Empey, the then DETI Minister.

Asbestos-Related Illness

Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (a) the number of Harland and Wolff employees who have received compensation for asbestos-related illnesses contracted from their employment at the shipyard; and (b) the total amount of compensation paid out by the company.

(AQW 597/08)

Mr Dodds: Statistical Information relating to the above is available only from 2001 onwards. No earlier information is available as previously the company’s insurers, Chester Street, would have settled claims on the company’s behalf.

(a) 2,693 employees have received compensation since 2001.

(b) £30,273,903 has been paid to former employees since 2001.

Environment

Planning Applications

Mr Declan O'Loan asked the Minister of the Environment to detail (i) all Article 31 planning applications that were in the system when she took up office; (ii) the dates upon which each of these applications were submitted to the Planning Service; (iii) the dates upon which they were declared under Article 31; and (iv) the date upon which she made a decision, in cases where a decision has been made.

(AQW 325/08)

The Minister of the Environment (Mrs Foster): I can confirm that there were 69 Article 31 planning applications in the system on 8 May 2007, 1 of which was approved on 27 July 2007 (extension to foodstore at Knocknagoney) and 2 of which have since been withdrawn (proposed extension to landfill site, Gortin and foodstore/retail warehouse, Enniskillen). The dates these applications were received by Planning Service, as well as the dates they were declared Article 31, are detailed on the attached table.

There are a number of key factors which contribute to the timescales involved in the processing of an Article 31 application. The most important is the quality of the application and its supporting information. The vast majority of Article 31 applications because of the scale, nature and location of the proposal, are required to be accompanied by a significant amount of environmental information – information which is submitted in the form of an Environmental Statement. It is very often the case that the required environmental information is submitted long after an application has been submitted to Planning Service added to which further information may be required following consultation with environmental bodies. This has significant implications for timescales.

Another is the development plan process and, particularly, the issue of prematurity – which is applicable to a significant number of current Article 31 applications. At present, for example, a number of applications are awaiting the outcome of the Ards/Down Area Plan public inquiry and as a result have been in the process for some time.

The Strategic Projects Unit is aware of the need to bring long-standing applications to the decision stage and steps have been taken which should ensure that the number of such cases is significantly reduced in the coming months.

Planning Applications

Mr Simon Hamilton asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the number of outstanding planning applications, broken down by district council area; and to detail the average amount of time taken to deal with such an application.

(AQW 474/08)

Mrs Foster: At 31 August 2007, there were a total of 19,024 outstanding planning applications (that is, not yet determined). The median (that is, most appropriate average) length of time these applications have been outstanding was 24.2 working weeks. The breakdown of these figures by District Council area is as follows:

Outstanding Applications At 31/08/2007
District Council Area	Number of Outstanding applications	Median ¹Number of Weeks Outstanding
Antrim	305	11.8
Ards	726	19.2
Armagh	1284	49.9
Ballymena	618	18.5
Ballymoney	324	20.2
Banbridge	930	34.6
Belfast	1482	18.4
Carrickfergus	206	16.8
Castlereagh	292	17.2
Coleraine	757	22.2
Cookstown	488	19.8
Craigavon	615	23
Derry	897	23.6
Down	787	22
Dungannon	729	18.4
Fermanagh	1206	24.8
Larne	310	22.2
Limavady	381	22.2
Lisburn	1103	23.8
Magherafelt	698	28.2
Moyle	264	23.9
Newry and Mourne	2360	41.8
Newtownabbey	438	18.6
North Down	609	19.4
Omagh	872	21.2
Strabane	343	16
Planning Service Total	19024	24.2
¹The mean is sensitive to abnormally high values, which may be caused by inaccuracies in the data, and does not represent the typical average time an application is outstanding. Therefore the most appropriate average value to produce this, in this instance, is the median.

Dog Fouling

Mr Declan O'Loan asked the Minister of the Environment what plans she has to help district councils to develop a strategy to tackle dog fouling; and what will be the content of this strategy.

(AQW 492/08)

Mrs Foster: Dog fouling is one of a number of issues presently under consideration by my Department as part of our work to bring forward stronger and more effective legislation to help district councils to improve local environmental quality. We are considering various options to allow more effective control of dog fouling. It is our intention to consult on specific proposals in due course.

Eastwood Envirowise Facility, Crumlin

Mr Thomas Burns asked the Minister of the Environment, pursuant to her answer to AQO 170/08, to detail specifically the tonnage of (i) inert waste; and (ii) reclamation material stored at the Eastwood Envirowise facility, Crosshill Road, Crumlin, BT29 4BQ.

(AQW 513/08)

Mrs Foster: There are approximately 8,000 tonnes of waste stored at the Eastwood Envirowise facility in Crumlin prior to reclamation.

The waste stockpiles are comprised of bricks, rubble, concrete and small amounts of wood and metal. It is not possible to give a further breakdown on the composition of this waste prior to processing on site by the operator as it is mixed when the site receives it.

Material which has been reclaimed is transported off site. EHS is satisfied that the site operator is complying with a licensed limit of 1,000 tonnes of reclaimed material permitted on the site.

Planning Applications for Retirement and Farm Workers Dwellings

Mr Declan O'Loan asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the criteria used to assess farm viability for retirement and farm workers' dwellings; and to detail all applications refused (with reasons) and approved in the Moyle District Council area, since January 2007.

(AQW 534/08)

Mrs Foster: The relevant policy context within which planning applications for retirement and farm workers dwellings are considered is detailed in policy CTY1, 2 and 3 of draft Planning Policy Statement 14 – Sustainable Development in the Countryside. This and other planning policies can be viewed on the Planning Service website at www.planningni.gov.uk

When considering the viability element of the policy the Department, in line with Policy CTY2, considers the following:-

(i) labour requirements of the farm, including the need for specialist workers and the level of attention needed outside normal hours;

(ii) Farm Details, the extent and nature of the farm enterprise; including details of land owned, taken in conacre, stock numbers and type of farming operations; (Land taken in conacre will only be considered, in the assessment of need, when it has been a regular part of a farm unit over a considerable period of years -generally not less than 10 years).

(iii) The man-hour requirements of a farm will indicate the numbers of workers required to run the business, but this does not necessarily mean that it is essential for all those workers to live on the farm.

(iv) the level of investment and commitment to the business. Investment in farm buildings, or maintenance and improvement of land alone, may not be sufficient evidence of a commitment. Actual agricultural use for a sufficient period of time will be necessary.

(v) Consultation response from Department for Agriculture and Rural Development.

(vi)The case provided by the applicant to show that the proposed occupant is sufficiently involved in farming, to be considered mainly working in agriculture on the farm, and that it is essential he or she should live there, for the working of that farm.

Details of the applications for farm dwellings approved and refused since January 2007 will be provided to you in a separate letter.

Path Erosion

Mr Willie Clarke asked the Minister of the Environment what resources have been invested in the high Mournes to combat path erosion in the last two years.

(AQW 548/08)

Mrs Foster: My Department’s Environment and Heritage Service has provided the National Trust with grant aid of £30,568 towards a Slieve Donard Access and Erosion project; £17,864.33 in the 2005/06 financial year and £12,703.67 in 2006/07. Through this project, an upland access team provided specialist skills in the construction of stone pitched footpaths and the restoration of eroded habitats.

I believe that effective management of access is crucial to landowners and visitors alike. I have therefore asked Environment and Heritage Service to commit a further £500,000 over three years to address some of the recommendations of the Mournes Access Study.

This will provide additional resources for developing and improving access facilities, providing better information for walkers and helping landowners deal with the problems they face.

Wastewater Treatment Works at Newcastle, Co. Down

Mr Willie Clarke asked the Minister of the Environment to outline the environmental concerns her department has in relation to the performance of the wastewater treatment works at Newcastle, Co. Down; to list the data for discharges from this treatment works; and to detail how this data complies with Environment and Heritage Service guidelines.

(AQW 549/08)

Mrs Foster: Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) regulates discharges from Northern Ireland Water (NIW) waste water treatment works (WWTW) against standards set by EHS and also standards under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD).

Since 1 January 1997, the quality of the effluent discharged by the works has complied with EHS discharge standards every year, except for 2003 when one sample failed. This single failure caused the works to fail for the year 2003.

Since 1 January 2001, the quality of the effluent discharged by the works has complied with the requirements of the UWWTD, except on one occasion in 2006. This single failure caused the works to fail for the year 2006. Since 1991, the works has provided secondary treatment – this has been a requirement of the UWWTD since 1 January 2001.

The bathing water at Newcastle failed to comply with the mandatory standards of the EC Bathing Waters Directive during 2001, 2005 and 2007and also with the tighter guideline standards during 2002, 2004 and 2006. The failures are considered to be largely due to the impact of storm overflows from the Newcastle sewer system during wet weather, in conjunction with overflows from the WWTW.

Following investigation of the failures of the bathing water, a study, commissioned by the, then, Water Service at the request of EHS, into the operation of the sewer system, was carried out and this was completed in February 2006. Following this, in March 2006, EHS agreed a solution with Water Service which is designed to reduce the spillage from storm overflows on the system. NIW is currently drawing up implementation plans to put the agreed solution in place.

Access to the High Mournes

Mr Willie Clarke asked the Minister of the Environment what resources have been invested to improve access from Newcastle, Co. Down to the high Mournes, in each of the past two years.

(AQW 554/08)

This will provide additional resources for developing and improving access facilities, providing better information for walkers and helping landowners deal with the problems they face.

Planning Proposal at the Giant's Causeway

Mr Patsy McGlone asked the Minister of the Environment to detail, including dates, all site or office meetings that have taken place in regard to the planning proposal at the Giant's Causeway.

(AQW 568/08)

Mrs Foster: As with any major planning application, the Giant’s Causeway proposal has been the subject of numerous meetings since it was submitted in 2002. The most significant of these have been as follows:

▪ A meeting of Planning Service Management Board on 11^th April 2002 at which a decision was taken to apply Article 31 of the Planning Order to this application (Article 31 was applied on grounds that the proposal would impact on the whole of a neighbourhood and would be of significance to the whole or a substantial part of Northern Ireland).

▪ A meeting on 6^th September 2006 between Planning Service officials and a legal representative relating to technical details associated with the processing of the application.

▪ A meeting between Planning Service officials on 14^th March 2007 to discuss the findings of their assessment of the planning application.

▪ A meeting of Planning Service Management Board on 17^th May 2007 to consider a report and recommendation produced by Planning Service officials.

▪ A meeting between Planning Service officials and the applicant, Mr Sweeney, on 28^th September 2007 to discuss a number of issues which I have identified as being worthy of further consideration. These issues, which are already a matter of public record, include:

- the impact of the proposal on the World Heritage Site;

- its ability to integrate into the landscape;

- its relationship to other development in the area;

- its relationship to the existing visitors centre.

Persistent Organic Pollutants

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment what is her assessment of how the principles of the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) have been incorporated into legislation in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 583/08)

Mrs Foster: Within the European Community, requirements of the Stockholm Convention have been implemented through Regulation EC 850/2004 on Persistent Organic Pollutants. This regulation is binding in all member states. Additional UK regulations (The Draft Persistent Organic Pollutants Regulations 2007) have been prepared and are due to come into force in November 2007.

These regulations will enforce Regulation (EC) 850/2004 and designate DoE as the Competent Authority for Northern Ireland. The main provisions relate to restricting the marketing and use of specified substances, treatment of stockpiles and disposal of waste containing POPs. Measures and strategies to reduce levels of POPs in the environment are also set out in the UK National Implementation Plan, published in April 2007.

Giant's Causeway Visitors' Centre

Mr Daithí McKay asked the Minister of the Environment to outline the major concerns of the Environment and Heritage Service in relation to the private application for a visitors' centre at the Giant's Causeway; and what assessment the Water Management Unit has made of whether or not there is the appropriate waste water treatment infrastructure to deal with this proposed development.

(AQW 585/08)

Mrs Foster: Environment and Heritage Service commented on the planning application from Seaport Investments Ltd for a Visitor Centre at the Giant’s Causeway in a letter dated 20 December 2002.

EHS’s comments centred on:

the impact of the development on the landscape character and quality of the World Heritage Site and its setting; and
the ability of the development to offer a high quality visitor experience.

In 2004, the Water Management Unit of EHS examined the Environmental Statement submitted in support of the application. In its response to Planning Service EHS highlighted that:

(a) the Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW) at the Giant’s Causeway was already overloaded and would not have the capacity to deal with the flows arising from the development;

(b) the WWTW at Bushmills might not have sufficient hydraulic capacity to deal with the volumes of waste water from the development. I understand that new wastewater treatment facilities to serve the area are planned.

Nuisance Trees and High Hedges

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of the Environment what plans she has to carry out a further consultation process, to inform the debate surrounding the long-standing issue of nuisance trees and high hedges.

(AQW 661/08)

Mrs Foster: I am aware that this is an issue of widespread concern and I am keen to bring forward legislation as soon as possible, starting with a policy consultation on the detailed operation of the legislation. However, the timing will be subject to consideration of other competing priorities.

Green Areas

Mr Dominic Bradley asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the number of housing developments in Northern Ireland that provide the 10% green area required under Policy OS2 of Planning Policy Statement 8: Open Space, Sport and Outdoor Recreation, managed by (a) the Greenbelt Foundation; (b) the Woodland Trust; (c) local councils; (d) residents' groups; and (e) any other group or company.

(AQW 706/08)

Mrs Foster: Since the introduction of Planning Policy Statement (PPS) 8: Open Space, Sport and Outdoor Recreation in February 2004 Planning Service has determined approved around 4000 applications for residential development in urban areas. Where these applications relate to proposals for 25 units or more or sites of 1 hectare or more there is a requirement under PPS 8 policy OS2 to provide an area of public open space of a least 10% of the overall site area. Developers are required to put in place suitable arrangements to ensure management and maintenance of areas of open space. It is standard practice to require open space to be provided. This would be dealt with either by a planning condition or an Article 40 agreement and in some cases both.

The only means of detailing the number of applications where PPS 8 Policy OS 2 was relevant and the maintenance arrangements put in place for each would be to manually search individual files across all Planning Service Divisional Offices. This would involve a disproportionate amount of time and cost.

Greenbelt Foundation and the Woodland Trust

Mr Dominic Bradley asked the Minister of the Environment to detail whether or not the Greenbelt Foundation and the Woodland Trust are charitable trusts registered by the Charity Commission, as required by Policy OS2 of Planning Policy Statement 8: Open Space, Sport and Outdoor Recreation, page 22, section 5.19.

(AQW 707/08)

Mrs Foster: A check of the Charity Commission’s register for England and Wales on Friday 5 October 2007 showed that The Woodland Trust was registered and the Greenbelt Foundation was not.

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the implications of the recent High Court judgement relating to Strategic Environmental Assessment of the draft Magherafelt Area Plan and Northern Area Plan, with particular reference to future area plans for the (i) West Tyrone; (ii) Armagh; and (iii) Ballymena, Antrim and Larne areas.

(AQW 708/08)

Mrs Foster: I have noted the judgement of the Court in respect of the Judicial Review of the Strategic Environmental Assessments for the Draft Northern Area Plan and the Draft Magherafelt Area Plan. My Department is currently considering the judgment and its implications, including those for future plans, in consultation with our legal advisors in preparation for a remedies hearing on the 8 or 9 November 2007. A date will be set for the similar challenge to the Strategic Environmental Assessment for the Draft Banbridge Newry and Mourne Area Plan following this. Until the issue of remedies has been determined the three draft Area Plans remain as material considerations in the determination of planning applications within their respective areas.

My Department is not in a position to comment on the potential implications for future plans until the outcome of the ongoing legal proceedings is known.

The draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan is not the subject of a legal challenge.

Strategic Environmental Assessment

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the implications of the recent High Court judgement relating to Strategic Environmental Assessment of the draft Magherafelt Area Plan and Northern Area Plan, with particular reference to (i) the Magherafelt Area Plan; (ii) the Northern Area Plan; (iii) the draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan; and (iv) the draft Banbridge and Newry and Mourne Area Plan.

(AQW 709/08)

My Department is not in a position to comment on the potential implications for future plans until the outcome of the ongoing legal proceedings is known.

The draft Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan is not the subject of a legal challenge.

Review of Public Administration

Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of the Environment to provide a timescale for announcing the outcome of the current review of the decisions of the Review of Public Administration relating to local government.

(AQW 765/08)

Mrs Foster: The Executive initiated a review of local government aspects of the Review of Public Administration on 5 July.

I had hoped that it would be possible to complete the Review within the calendar year 2007, but the volume of work currently being undertaken by the Executive has created a short delay.

It is expected that the Executive should be in a position to announce its decisions to the Assembly and the public in January 2008.

Finance and Personnel

Civil Partnerships

Mr Paul Butler asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the number of civil partnerships that have taken place since the introduction of the Civil Partnership Act, broken down by district council area.

(AQW 569/08)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr Robinson): The attached table gives the number of civil partnerships registered in Northern Ireland by District Council Area of registration between December 2005 and June 2007.

Table: Number of civil partnerships registered in Northern Ireland between 5 December 2005 and 30 June 2007 by District Council of Registration

Registration Area¹	Number of Civil Partnerships Registered^P
Belfast	109
Derry	15
Newry & Mourne	11
North Down	8
Lisburn	6
Down	5
All Other Districts²	25
Northern Ireland	179

¹ These data represent the locations where civil partnerships were registered. They do not necessarily reflect where either partner lived and will contain partnerships of some people who lived outside Northern Ireland.

²There were fewer than five civil partnerships registered in each of the other council areas.

^PProvisional Data.

Civil Service Injury Benefits Scheme

Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the average length of time between the lodging of an appeal against a decision in respect of the Civil Service Injury Benefits Scheme (NI) and the outcome of the appeal being issued.

(AQW 607/08)

Mr Robinson: The average length of time, over the 3 financial years ending on 31 March 2007, between the lodging of an appeal, in respect to either of the two stages of internal dispute resolution, against a decision in respect of the Civil Service Injury Benefit Scheme (Northern Ireland) and the outcome of the appeal being issued is 2.8 months.

Civil Service Injury Benefits Scheme

Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the number of decisions that have been made on appeals in respect of the Civil Service Injury Benefits Scheme (NI), in each of the last three years.

(AQW 608/08)

Mr Robinson: The table below provides the number of decisions made on appeals lodged at both stages of the appeals procedures in respect of the Civil Service Injury Benefit Scheme (Northern Ireland) for the last 3 financial years ending on 31 March each year.

	1/4/2004 – 31/3/2005	1/4/2005-31/3/2006	1/4/2006 -31/3/2007	Totals
Number of decisions made in respect of CSIBS (NI) cases	Stage 1 IDR cases: 30 Stage 2 IDR cases : 5	Stage 1 IDR cases : 62 Stage 2 IDR cases: 17	Stage 1 IDR cases : 69 Stage 2 IDR cases: 25	Stage 1 IDR cases : 161 Stage 2 IDR cases : 47

Note: IDR refers to Internal Dispute Resolution procedures in which there are two stages

Civil Service Injury Benefits Scheme

Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the number of appeals lodged against decisions made in respect of the Civil Service Injury Benefits Scheme (NI), in each of the last three years.

(AQW 609/08)

Mr Robinson: The table below provides the number of appeals lodged at both stages of the appeals procedures in respect of the Civil Service Injury Benefit Scheme (Northern Ireland) for the last 3 financial years ending on 31 March each year.

	1/4/2004 – 31/3/2005	1/4/2005-31/3/2006	1/4/2006 -31/3/2007	Totals
Number of appeals lodged in respect of CSIBS (NI) cases	Stage 1 IDR cases : 40 Stage 2 IDR cases: 7	Stage 1 IDR cases: 59 Stage 2 IDR cases: 23	Stage 1 IDR cases: 62 Stage 2 IDR cases: 34	Stage 1 IDR cases: 161 Stage 2 IDR cases: 64

Note: IDR refers to Internal Dispute Resolution procedures in which there are two stages

Civil Service Injury Benefits Scheme

Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel if he will confirm that no officials who were involved in an original decision of a Civil Service Injury Benefits Scheme (NI) are also involved in the appeal process in respect of the same benefit.

(AQW 610/08)

Mr Robinson: The appeals procedures in relation to the Civil Service Injury Benefit Scheme (Northern Ireland) are structured to ensure that each stage of the appeal is dealt with independently and that any official involved in the original determination takes no part in any stage of the appeal.

Public Sector Employment

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what steps he will take to address the level of public sector employment in East Antrim, where a level of only 10% exists, compared to a national constituency average of 20%, and 53% in the Belfast area.

(AQW 714/08)

Mr Robinson: I made a statement to the Assembly on 24 September 2007 outlining the Executive’s agreement to initiate a time-bound review of policy on the location of public sector jobs in Northern Ireland. I intend to take further detailed proposals on the terms of reference for the review to the Executive shortly.

Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Medical Secretaries

Mr Thomas Burns asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to provide an explanation of why all medical secretaries in Northern Ireland were matched to Band 3 pay levels, regardless of experience, compared to 70% of medical secretaries in Wales and 80% of medical secretaries in Scotland, who were matched to Band 4 pay levels.

(AQW 584/08)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Mr McGimpsey): Not all medical secretaries in Northern Ireland have been through the full Agenda for Change implementation process, which is being completed by Health and Social Care employers in partnership with staff representatives. My officials are currently working with employers and staff representatives in an effort to finalise this process. It is unhelpful to make comparisons with band outcomes in other parts of the NHS at this stage. I am confident that when the implementation process is complete we will have reached a fair and appropriate rate of pay for the Medical Secretary jobs in Northern Ireland.

MRSA

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what action he is taking to address the number of MRSA cases in the Ulster Hospital.

(AQW 589/08)

Mr McGimpsey: The Infection Prevention and Control Team in the Ulster Hospital has an active and ongoing programme of MRSA control. A comprehensive infection reduction plan for 2007-2008 has been produced and is being rolled out across the Trust.

This reduction plan contains the following significant elements: a monitoring programme of ward cleanliness; monitoring all multi-antibiotic resistant bacteria including MRSA; the appointment of a medical consultant microbiologist to provide medical leadership to the Infection Prevention and Control programme; a Trust-wide hand hygiene campaign targeting not only staff but also patients and the public; active auditing of hand hygiene practice at ward level with audit results being fed back to ward sisters for action; and display of hand washing posters. An extensive Infection Prevention and Control training programme is also under way.

Flu Jabs

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what action he is taking to promote flu jabs for the elderly and young people, over the winter period.

(AQW 591/08)

Mr McGimpsey: The winter flu immunisation programme 2007/08 was launched on 1^st October 2007 by the Chief Medical Officer and is targeted at those most in need and for whom it will be most effective. The elderly are targeted and young people who are deemed ‘at risk’ are also targeted. The full list includes:

People over 65 years old - even if they feel fit and healthy
Children and adults who suffer from any of the following:

chronic heart conditions
chronic chest conditions e.g. asthma
chronic liver disease
chronic kidney disease
diabetes
lowered immunity due to disease or treatment such as steroids or cancer therapy
any other serious medical condition.

Children who have previously been admitted to hospital with a chest infection
Carers (who are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person) and people who live in a residential or nursing home.
people with certain neurological conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis and inherited diseases of the nervous system.

GPs will be inviting patients in staged groups according to their level of risk. Everyone over 65 and young people within an ‘at risk’ category should expect to receive a letter of invitation from their GP surgery.

Information is provided on the DHSSPS website and local advertisement arrangements are in place across GP surgeries in Northern Ireland.

Flu Jabs

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what action he is taking, similar to that in the rest of the United Kingdom, to introduce flu jabs for young people who have asthma and diabetic health problems.

(AQW 592/08)

Mr McGimpsey: The winter flu immunisation programme 2007/08 was launched on 1^st October 2007 and is targeted at those most in need and for whom it will be most effective. Those targeted include:

People over 65 years old - even if they feel fit and healthy
Children and adults who suffer from any of the following:

chronic heart conditions
chronic chest conditions e.g. asthma
chronic liver disease
chronic kidney disease
diabetes
lowered immunity due to disease or treatment such as steroids or cancer therapy
any other serious medical condition.

Children who have previously been admitted to hospital with a chest infection
Carers (who are the main carer for an elderly or disabled person) and people who live in a residential or nursing home.
people with certain neurological conditions such as stroke, multiple sclerosis and inherited diseases of the nervous system.

GPs will be inviting patients in staged groups according to their level of risk. Young people with asthma and diabetic health problems should expect to receive a letter of invitation from their GP surgery.

Asbestos-Related Illness

Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what action he is taking to provide medical help to people suffering from asbestos-related illness.

(AQW 598/08)

Mr McGimpsey: Equality of access to health care services for all within Northern Ireland is a priority for my Department, and my officials continue to develop policy that will deliver modern high quality services to the whole population, including those suffering from asbestos-related illness.

In support of this aim I am fully committed to progressing the implementation of initiatives such Developing Better Services and A Healthier Future: A Strategic Framework for Respiratory Conditions to deliver high quality services that meet the needs of the population of Northern Ireland. This will include health promotion awareness, as well as provision of the full range of primary, secondary and community care services appropriate to the respiratory and oncology illnesses commonly associated with asbestos exposure.

Hospitality and Entertainment Expenditure

Mr Stephen Moutray asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to his answer to AQW 290/08, to detail (i) what type of expenditure is included in the 'other' category; and (ii) the reasons for the increase in expenditure in this category, in the last year.

(AQW 619/08)

Mr McGimpsey: Expenditure in the ‘Other’ or miscellaneous category covers payments for a range of miscellaneous expenditure items, including:

- Delegate fees

- Locum expenses for HSC Professionals attending Departmental meetings and working groups

- Locum travel costs

- Hotel reservations

- Christmas Cards

- Photocopying at events

Given the miscellaneous nature of the expenditure, it is not possible to make any meaningful comparison with expenditure under this heading in previous years.

Treatment for HIV/AIDS

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of people in Northern Ireland who are on the drugs cocktail treatment for HIV/AIDS; and what is the cost per year of this treatment.

(AQW 625/08)

Mr McGimpsey: Our records show that in 2006, there were 230 individuals on antiretroviral therapy. The cost of antiretroviral therapy for that year was £1.7m.

AIDS

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of heterosexual people who have contracted AIDS; and to provide a breakdown of their age groups.

(AQW 627/08)

Mr McGimpsey: Information is not available on the number of heterosexual or homosexual people who have contracted AIDS. However, information is available on the number of individuals diagnosed with AIDS whose first diagnosis was made in Northern Ireland and the probable route of their infection.

As of June 2007, the number of people who had contracted AIDS and whose probable route of infection was either as a result of sex between men or as a result of sex between men and women is given in the table below together with their age group at the time when AIDS was diagnosed.

Probable route of infection	Age Group			Total
Probable route of infection	15-29	30-44	45+	Total
Sex between men	17	33	15	65
Sex between men and women	5	15	13	33

Source: HIV and AIDS Patient Data – New Diagnoses. HIV and STI Department, Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, London.

AIDS

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of homosexual people who have contracted AIDS; and to provide a breakdown of their age groups.

(AQW 628/08)

Probable route of infection	Age Group			Total
Probable route of infection	15-29	30-44	45+	Total
Sex between men	17	33	15	65
Sex between men and women	5	15	13	33

Source: HIV and AIDS Patient Data – New Diagnoses. HIV and STI Department, Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, London.

HIV

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of new cases of HIV in Northern Ireland, in each of the last 3 years.

(AQW 629/08)

Mr McGimpsey: Information on the number of new cases of HIV in Northern Ireland in each of the last 3 years, is shown in the table below.

Year of diagnosis	Number of New Diagnoses
2004	62
2005	63
2006	57

Source: CDSC(NI) - HIV New Diagnoses Quarterly Surveillance Tables. UK data received to the end of June 2007.

Ambulance Response

Mr Declan O'Loan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the ambulance response times in the glens of Antrim area, since January 2007.

(AQW 637/08)

Mr McGimpsey: The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) does not hold response data for the glens of Antrim. However, the monthly percentages for responses within the eight minute target to Category A (life threatening) calls in the Causeway and East Antrim areas are set out in the table below.

Month	Causeway / East Antrim Combined
Month	Causeway / East Antrim Combined
January	40%
February	48%
March	48%
April	42%
May	54%
June	48%
July	51%
August	51%
September	53%

Whiteabbey Hospital Site

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans he has to redevelop the Whiteabbey Hospital site; and to give a timescale within which the medical facilities that are currently based on this site will be enhanced.

(AQW 660/08)

Mr McGimpsey: The Developing Better Services policy framework proposed, in conjunction with a rationalised network of 9 acute hospitals, a network of local hospitals, which included Whiteabbey Hospital, with facilities comprising inpatient assessment and rehabilitation for the elderly, day surgery, day procedures, outpatient services and complex diagnostics such as CT scans.

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is currently developing a Stage 2 Outline Business Case which is expected to confirm the proposed service model. I expect submission of this Business Case in the Spring of 2008.

Until the Business Case has been appraised and approved by the Department it is not possible to provide a timescale for this specific redevelopment.

Accident and Emergency Waiting Times

Mr Alex Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of occasions upon which patients waited longer than four hours for treatment at Accident and Emergency departments, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 664/08)

Mr McGimpsey: Information on the time that patients waited for treatment at Accident and Emergency departments has been collected centrally since the beginning of April 2007 only.

In the five months from April 2007 until August 2007 (the latest month for which information is available) 41,713 people waited longer than four hours from the time of arrival until the time when they left the Emergency Care Department.

Over this 5 month period there were 269,465 patients recorded as being seen in A&E Departments and Minor Injury Units. 15.5% waited longer than 4 hours to be treated.

A target has been set to ensure that 95% of patients are treated and discharged, or admitted to a ward, within four hours of arrival at A&E by March 2008. Progress towards this target is being closely monitored and my Department is supporting Trusts through a programme of reform and modernisation.

Cardiac Nursing Provision

Mr George Robinson asked the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail his department's expenditure on specialised cardiac nursing provision, broken down by Health and Social Services Board area, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 665/08)

Mr McGimpsey: The cost of specialist cardiac nurses cannot be readily identified and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost but it is possible to provide the cost of all qualified nursing staff working within the cardiac surgery and cardiology specialties and in coronary care units and coronary intensive care. This information is given below.

Table: HSS Trust expenditure on qualified nursing staff working in cardiac specialties, shown by the Board in which the Trust is located

Year	EHSSB	NHSSB	SHSSB	WHSSB
	£000’s	£000’s	£000’s	£000’s
2002/03	8,552	2,283	1,210	1,092
2003/04	9,533	2,253	1,403	1,158
2004/05	9,847	2,233	1,588	1,128
2005/06	10,777	2,563	1,810	1,335

Notes:

1. Trusts located in one Board can provide services for the residents of another Board area. This is particularly the case for the Eastern Board area where its Trusts provide regional services.

2. The information was not collected from Trusts in the same detail for years prior to 2002/03 and the 2006/07 information is not yet available.

Age Limit for Purchasing Cigarettes

Mr Adrian McQuillan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans he has to raise the legal age limit for purchasing cigarettes from 16 to 18, in light of the recent changes in England, Scotland and Wales.

(AQW 668/08)

Mr McGimpsey: A 12-week public consultation exercise on raising the age of sale in Northern Ireland will be launched later this month. Any proposals to raise the age of sale will be brought before the Assembly as soon as possible after the responses to the consultation exercise have been evaluated.

Health Implications of Wi-Fi

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans he has to contact the European Environmental Agency, and the German and Austrian Health Ministers, in relation to the warnings they recently issued about the health implications of wi-fi.

(AQW 685/08)

Mr McGimpsey: The Radiation Protection Division of the Health Protection Agency (HPA) provides government departments, including DHSSPS, and other bodies involved in radiological protection matters, with an independent, impartial and authoritative source of scientific advice on questions related to health effects from ionising and non-ionising radiations. The role of HPA in this regard includes maintaining an oversight of relevant international developments. HPA have asked the German Radiological Protection body - BfS (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz / Federal Office for Radiation Protection) to clarify their position on wireless computer networks (WiFi). The advice from BfS is a recommendation and not a warning. BfS believes that precautionary measures are important and appropriate in view of the existing scientific uncertainties in relation to these relatively new technologies. A precautionary approach would be to avoid WiFi where wired technology could be used just as well. However, HPA emphasise that there is no consistent evidence to date that WiFi and WLANs adversely affect the health of the general population.

Health Implications of Wi-Fi

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the insurance underwriter that is being used to guarantee that any health damage caused by wi-fi equipment will be fully compensated.

(AQW 686/08)

Mr McGimpsey: Telecommunications is a reserved matter and falls under the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (formerly DTI). Within the UK, telecommunications is a privatised and fully competitive industry that is subject to independent regulation by the Office for Communications (OFCOM). Wireless computer networks (WiFi), fall within the broad range of radio and wireless technologies used for communications which includes mobile phones and television. The Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 requires that no radio equipment is installed or used in the UK except under the authority of a licence or otherwise exempted by OFCOM. OFCOM monitors all radio activity to ensure it complies with the relevant UK/EC legislation and other relevant regulations. There is no legal requirement for communications companies to have insurance cover for WiFi or other radio networks.

Current advice from the Health Protection Agency is that there is no consistent evidence to date that WiFi and WLANs adversely affect the health of the general population.

Expenditure on Irish language

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail his department's expenditure on (i) Irish language translations; (ii) publication of booklets and other literature in Irish; and (iii) Irish language advertisements, in each year between the devolution of power in December 1999 and the suspension of devolution in October 2002.

(AQW 703/08)

Mr McGimpsey: Due to the time elapsed, detailed records are no longer available to provide specific costs of translations and production of documents into Irish.

	Translation and publication costs	Placement of Irish adverts	Total
1999/2000	£17,604	NIL	£17,604
2000/2001	£59,742	£1,519.	£61,261
2001/2002	£68,459	£51,364	£119,823
Totals	£145,805*	£52,883	£198,688

^*Irish Translation figures include costs for Press releases, speeches and advert translations.

It should be pointed out, that the practice of placing adverts in Irish, and having Press releases translated into Irish has now ceased as announced on 1^st October 2007.

Home-Start Armagh

Mr Cathal Boylan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans he has to continue to extend funding from the Children and Young People's Fund to Home-Start Armagh, to enable it to continue to employ a co-ordinator for its outreach scheme.

(AQW 718/08)

Mr McGimpsey: The coordinator post in Home-Start Armagh will continue to be supported by the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety through the Children’s Fund component of the Children and Young People’s Funding Package until March 2008. As you will be aware, Government spending plans after that date have yet to be finalised.

Regional Acquired Brain Injuries Unit

Mr Dominic Bradley asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to confirm that the age restriction of over 16 and under 65, which is part of the referral criteria applied by the Regional Acquired Brain Injuries Unit in Musgrave Park Hospital, is in keeping with Standard 1 of the National Service Framework for older people, which requires NHS services to be provided regardless of age, on the basis of need alone; and to give his assessment on whether or not this restriction of access to healthcare on the basis of age contravenes section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998.

(AQW 731/08)

Mr McGimpsey: When I was made aware of the age restriction for the admission of patients to the Regional Acquired Brain Injury Unit (RABIU) on 4 October 2007, I instructed my Officials to immediately undertake a review of the RABIU admissions policy. Terms of Reference have been agreed and I have directed that the report should be completed by 19 October 2007. Compliance with Equality and Human Rights duties will be assessed as part of this review.

The National Service Framework for Older People is not applicable in Northern Ireland. However, work has commenced on the development of a range of service frameworks which will set out measurable standards that patients and users should expect within health and social care. These frameworks will take cognizance of Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and the Human Rights Act 1998. Further information on Service Frameworks can be accessed at http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/phealth/sqs/sqsd-standards-service-frameworks.htm

Firefighters

Mr George Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans he has to allow retained firefighters in Coleraine to transfer to full-time status; and to outline the process that must be followed in order to complete this transfer.

(AQW 794/08)

Mr McGimpsey: The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service advises that it has no plans to provide for the direct transfer of Retained Firefighters into the Wholetime Service.

As has been the recruitment practice for many years, all Retained Firefighters have to apply for Wholetime firefighter positions in exactly the same manner as external candidates through stringent aptitude tests and, if successful, a structured interview followed by a medical examination.

This process is equitable and fair, and is also a fundamental requirement to ensuring that the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service’s recruitment policy meets all relevant statutory obligations with regard to equality of opportunity.

Registered Childminders

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the average time taken from the date of application to be registered as a childminder, to the registration being granted; and to provide overall registration figures for last year, broken down by Health and Social Care Trust.

(AQW 796/08)

Mr McGimpsey: The Health and Social Care Trusts are responsible for registering childminders and day care providers. At 31 March 2006, 3,627 childminders were registered with local Health and Social Care Trusts. Statistics for the average time taken for applications to be registered and the number of childminders registered last year are not held centrally.

Medical Secretaries

Ms Martina Anderson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to give an update on the possible industrial action by workers at Altnagelvin Hospital; and what is his assessment of the recommendations of the independent panel established to assess the pay of medical secretaries and to encourage the local health trusts to take all possible steps to avoid industrial action at the hospital.

(AQW 877/08)

Mr McGimpsey: The process for moving medical secretaries on to Agenda for Change rates of pay is not yet complete. Staff will only be moved to the new rates of pay when there is a partnership agreement between the Health and Social Care employer and the staff representatives. Management in the Altnagelvin Hospital are working in partnership with staff representatives to finalise the Agenda for Change implementation process. Staff representatives have now agreed to postpone the industrial action to allow this process to continue. I have instructed all Health and Social Care employers that I expect them to have the Agenda for Change matching process completed by the end of December 2007 and that all staff should be in receipt of the new rates of pay by 31 March 2008.

Regional Development

Belfast to Dublin Rail Link

Mr Mervyn Storey asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to his answer to AQW 45/08, to outline the nature of the work carried out by Northern Ireland Railways to achieve effective community relations on the Belfast to Dublin rail link; and what is his assessment of this work.

(AQW 373/08)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Murphy): In order to achieve effective community relations on the Belfast to Dublin rail link, Northern Ireland Railways has an ongoing and long-standing programme of engagement, support and joint activity programmes. This includes consultation with local representatives and community groups along the cross-border line together with a programme of visits to schools in the area. It also has a high level of engagement with local newspapers and other media.

I am content that NIR is working effectively to engender positive community relations around the Belfast to Dublin rail link.

Review of Road and Rail Infrastructure

Mr Mervyn Storey asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to his answer to AQW 43/08, to detail the frequency with which the measures he outlined will be subject to review, and what targets his department has set for improved competitiveness against the Republic of Ireland.

(AQW 375/08)

Mr Murphy: The mid-term review of the Regional Transportation Strategy will review all our transportation measures. Progress on implementing the Regional Transportation Strategy is monitored on a yearly basis.

My Department has not set targets for competitiveness with other administrations, either on the island of Ireland or elsewhere in these islands.

Belfast to Dublin Rail Link

Mr Mervyn Storey asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to his answer to AQW 44/08, if he will explain why he has not met with the PSNI in relation to security threats to the Belfast to Dublin rail link; and if he will (i) meet with the PSNI on this matter without delay; and (ii) make a statement to the Assembly regarding the security of the Belfast to Dublin rail link and the level of co-operation between his department and the PSNI on this matter.

(AQW 376/08)

Mr Murphy: Assessing the level of threat to the Belfast to Dublin rail link is a matter for the PSNI. During the last six months senior operational managers from NIR have met with senior divisional officers from PSNI on 6 occasions. I have not met with the PSNI to discuss this security threat as I am content that sufficient cooperation exists between the railway operators and the police. I am not aware of any raised level of security threat, at present, that would necessitate a meeting between myself and PSNI.

I do not intend to make a statement to the Assembly regarding the security of the Belfast to Dublin rail link. However, I am satisfied that there is good cooperation between NIR and the PSNI on matters relating to the security of the line.

Roads Service's Moratorium on Expenditure

Mr Patsy McGlone asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to his response to AQW 89/08, what detail he has since sought from Roads Service Headquarters in relation to this matter.

(AQW 389/08)

Mr Murphy: I can advise that I am updated regularly by my Departmental officials on expenditure matters.

I should explain that the financial contingency plan, developed by my Department’s Roads Service, addresses potential issues within the capital budget which will be reassessed in light of DFP’s quarterly budget review, the outcome of which should be known by late October/early November. The plan is a work in progress and does not currently have a significant impact on the roads programme.

Divisional Roads Managers have been briefed on the position and have been advised to press ahead with the implementation of their capital programme maintaining a close liaison with Roads Service Headquarters on commitments.

There are several exceptions within this approach comprising two carriageway widening schemes totalling around £3 million, on the A28 at Edenaveys and the A5 at Castletown, which were deferred earlier in the financial year.

I must emphasize that the number of schemes affected and the extent of any delays will be dependent upon the outcome of the October Monitoring Round. I am therefore not in a position to provide more detail at this time.

Roads Service's Moratorium on Expenditure

Mr Patsy McGlone asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to his response to AQW 89/08, to detail the capital, or other roads schemes and budgets, affected by the 'contingency plan'; and the delays associated with, and financial extent of, the cutbacks to those schemes and budgets.

(AQW 390/08)

Mr Murphy: I can advise that I am updated regularly by my Departmental officials on expenditure matters.

Residents' Parking Schemes

Dr Stephen Farry asked the Minister for Regional Development to provide an update on the formulation of a policy on residents' parking schemes, and to give a timescale for the introduction of the initial pilots.

(AQW 446/08)

Mr Murphy: The draft policy on the implementation of Residents’ Parking schemes was the subject of a full public consultation exercise between November 2006 and February 2007.

In total, sixty-three written replies and over five hundred pre-printed postcards were received in response and my Department’s Roads Service considered each in detail.

The final draft version of the policy and a draft report on the consultation process has been referred to the Regional Development Committee for scrutiny. Officials from Roads Service also gave a presentation to the Committee on 5 September 2007, and I am awaiting the Committee’s formal response.

Roads Service intends to start work developing schemes as soon as the policy is finalised. However, I am advised that it may be six to twelve months before the first schemes will be on the ground due to the local consultation and legislative processes that have to be followed.

Currently the pressure to deliver schemes is largely in the Belfast area and initially Roads Service will concentrate on developing potential schemes in the Belfast City Centre core parking area, as identified in the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan. Surveys are also underway in Derry, with a number of areas currently being assessed, with a view to developing schemes there.

Former MOD Sites

Mr George Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development , pursuant to his answer to AQW 134/08, to advise whether or not former MOD sites are considered by his department to have roads of adoption standard; and, if requested, whether or not he will undertake to adopt these roads.

(AQW 466/08)

Mr Murphy: My Department’s Roads Service have advised that it does not maintain records of the condition of roads in former MOD sites and therefore is not aware of whether any such sites have roads of adoption standard.

As I advised in my previous reply on this issue (AQW 134/08), sites can be considered for adoption under Article 9 of the Private Streets (Northern Ireland) Order 1980 as amended, where:

the majority of landowners or occupiers so request it;
the roads or streets are first brought up to adoption standard, normally at the expense of the landowners or occupiers; and
the Department is of the opinion that the street should become a public road.

Roads Maintenance

Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister for Regional Development what steps he is taking to reduce the corporate risk to his department and the Northern Ireland Executive, due to inadequate funding allocated to roads maintenance, as indicated in the Roads Service Annual Report and Accounts 2006/07.

(AQW 496/08)

Mr Murphy: My Department’s Roads Service endeavours to ensure that maintenance resources are targeted in a manner that optimises value for money and minimises risks to road users.

In line with my Departments Risk Management Policy, Roads Service operates a system of internal control, which is based on an ongoing risk management process. This identifies the principal risks associated with the achievement of Roads Service policies, aims and objectives, along with the controls in place to mange those risks. One of the risks identified on Roads Service’s Corporate Risk Register is the shortfall in the funding for structural maintenance.

In recognition of the need to manage this under-funding, Roads Service has developed a sub-optimal budget strategy. The strategy measures fall short of desired resurfacing frequencies, but aim to protect the public liability position. The strategy concentrates on giving priority to resurfacing motorways and trunk roads, so that patching is only carried out where it is necessary for safety reasons. The strategy also involves minimising footway expenditure, while ensuring that the Department maintains these assets in accordance with its statutory duty, and maximising surface dressing.

In support of this strategy, Roads Service undertakes a series of regular inspections and condition surveys, to ensure the road network is maintained to defined standards and that serious road defects are detected and repaired. These arrangements, together with the experience and professional judgement of the Roads Service engineers, ensure that roads remain safe and do not fall below satisfactory and serviceable levels.

Expenditure on Consultants

Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail Roads Service's expenditure on consultants employed in the preparation pool work for future capital road schemes, during 2005/06 and 2006/07.

(AQW 497/08)

Mr Murphy: In 2005/06 and 2006/07 a total of £7.0 million and £8.4 million respectively was spent on consultants developing future roads schemes within Roads Service’s Major Works Programme.

Typically this work includes:

Route Corridor Study;
Selection of Preferred Route;
Public Consultation;
Environmental Statement;
Economic Appraisal;
Progression through Statutory Orders/Public Inquiries;
Detailed Design; and
Contract Procurement.

Road Network Survey Results

Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister for Regional Development to advise of the most recent road network survey results, in particular the results from SCRIM tests that assess the skid resistance of the road surface; and to detail those roads in Northern Ireland that are below the recommended level for skid resistance.

(AQW 498/08)

Mr Murphy: My Department’s Roads Service constantly strives to improve road safety standards on our roads. One means of achieving this is to ensure that roads have a satisfactory level of skidding resistance. This reduces the risk of uncontrolled skids and improves braking efficiency. Roads Service has a programme of measuring skidding resistance using the SCRIM (Sideways-Force Coefficient Routine Investigation Machine) and reports annually on the percentage of the network which is equal to or below the relevant investigatory level.

The most recent survey results available indicate that some 3.6% of the motorway network and around 43% of the trunk road network are at or below the national skidding resistance investigatory level. However, it is important to note that a road with a skidding resistance below the investigatory level is not necessarily unsafe; it simply means that there is a need for further investigation, to determine the need for maintenance if appropriate. Roads Service engineers carry out these investigations on all roads that are found to be below the investigatory level and arrange remedial work, where necessary.

In view of the way in which the results are presented, it is difficult to provide a detailed listing of all road sections that are at or below the ‘investigatory level’. However, if there are concerns about specific locations, the local Roads Service Section Office will be able to provide the relevant SCRIM results. Details of local Section Offices can be found at the Roads Service website www.roadsni.gov.uk

Land at the Ulster Bar Corner, High Street, Antrim.

Mr David Burnside asked the Minister for Regional Development to give an update on the current status of land at the Ulster Bar Corner, High Street, Antrim.

(AQW 510/08)

Mr Murphy: The land at Ulster Bar Corner is owned by the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company. The site is currently unoccupied. Translink have declared that they have no long term operational need for the land. NITHC have undertaken to prepare a business case for its disposal subject to the approval of my Department.

Pedestrian Crossings

Mr Willie Clarke asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will consider the installation of specialised buttons for the disabled and the elderly, to allow extra time to cross at pedestrian crossings.

(AQW 515/08)

Mr Murphy: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that it follows advice from the Department for Transport in Great Britain in relation to the provision of traffic signal equipment and the time which is allocated to cross at pedestrian crossings.

In order to assist the visually impaired, Road Service has an ongoing programme of installing tactile paving, tactile cones and also the use of audible signals where this is appropriate. At pelican crossings, the 'green man' period is an invitation to cross, and once the 'green man' time has expired, there is still a 'clearance' period during which the pedestrian has right of way to complete crossing the road.

Roads Service is currently looking at the development of puffin crossings (an extension of the pelican crossing), a feature of which would be an on-crossing detector, which would detect pedestrians crossing the road and, if required, extend the crossing time as necessary up to a pre-set maximum.

Bypass for Ballynahinch, Co. Down

Mr Willie Clarke asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will make a statement on the timetable for the proposed bypass for Ballynahinch, Co. Down.

(AQW 516/08)

Mr Murphy: The Ballynahinch Bypass scheme is included in the Forward Planning Schedule of my Department’s Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan 2015, which was published in March 2005. These schemes are expected to be implemented within the next 5-10 years, subject to clearing the necessary statutory procedures, a satisfactory economic appraisal and the availability of funds at the time.

Work is currently underway to confirm the feasibility of this scheme and develop the design in preparation for progressing it through the statutory procedures.

While the consultant’s work is progressing well, with extensive traffic studies and work in preparation for an environmental impact assessment complete, I am not in a position at this time to advise when the scheme might commence.

Road Upgrade

Mr Thomas Burns asked the Minister for Regional Development to give a timescale within which the proposed scheme to upgrade the road in the residential street 'Bramblewood' in Crumlin (BT29 4FQ) will commence; and to detail when this road will be adopted by Antrim Borough Council.

(AQW 518/08)

Mr Murphy: My Department’s Roads Service has advised me that, while the streets in Bramblewood have been substantially complete for a number of years, adoption has been delayed due to the presence of service strip infringements and large scale sewer defects, including pipe settlement.

The private dwelling sewer connections have been repaired and, in October 2006, residents removed service strip infringements.

Roads Service issued a Notice to the developer under Article 11 of the Private Streets (NI) Order 1980 on 30 October 2006, to have the work completed and streets adopted. The large volume of sewer work requires employing a Northern Ireland Water (NIW) contractor to carry out these repairs.

NIW has advised that the sewers at Bramblewood were not constructed to a satisfactory standard in 1992 to enable Water Service to adopt them. At that time, the developer was advised of the remedial works that would be required to bring the sewers up to adoption standard. The remedial works were not undertaken by the developer and the condition of the sewers has deteriorated since 1992.

NIW is considering the use of its contractor to undertake the work, subject to the availability of funding, but is not yet in a position to estimate when work will commence. The Chief Executive of NIW will write to you when a decision has been made.

Roads Service is currently liaising with NIW and once the sewers have been brought to the necessary standard, Roads Service will employ a roads contractor to complete the streets for adoption.

Water Pressure

Mrs Dolores Kelly asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans Water Service NI has any plans to remedy water pressure difficulties in the Derrytransa/Derryinver area.

(AQW 552/08)

Mr Murphy: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water that a number of complaints about poor water pressure were received from residents of the Derrytrasna area on Monday 24 September 2007. Investigations undertaken to determine the source of the problem discovered a malfunctioning water pressure regulating valve in the Highfield area of Craigavon. A replacement valve was installed on 2 October 2007 and the water pressure to the Derrytrasna and Derryinver areas returned to normal.

Traffic Management Review

Mr Willie Clarke asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will authorise a traffic management review in Castlewellan, Co. Down, in view of the housing and commercial development which has taken place in the town.

(AQW 555/08)

Mr Murphy: My Department’s Roads Service is fully aware of the general traffic management needs for Castlewellan. Monitoring and assessment of the town is a continual process as development occurs within the area.

In recent years, Castlewellan has benefited from a number of traffic improvements, including:

high friction surfacing and pedestrian guard rail at Upper Square;
extension of 30 mph limit at Bunker’s Hill / Drumee Road;
bus lay-by at Upper Square, Castlewellan;
dropped kerbs and tactile paving at Upper Square / Circular Road; and
addition of the 40mph limit on the Bann Road.

A request for another pedestrian crossing in Main Street has been recently received and assessed by Roads Service. It is hoped that this will be provided in 2008.

I am aware that you recently wrote to Roads Service regarding the speed limits on the A50 Bann Road, Castlewellan. The introduction and extension of speed limits are subject to certain criteria and are assessed jointly by Roads Service and the PSNI. A recent examination of the Bann Road limits has revealed that the 30 mph limit is in the correct position; however it would be possible to extend the 40 mph limit. Roads Service will pursue the necessary legislative process, including a consultation period during which objections may be made, with a view to facilitating the extension of the 40 mph limit.

Parking Tickets

Mr Daithí McKay asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the number of parking tickets that have been issued on Victoria Street, Ballymoney, since Roads Service assumed responsibility for parking enforcement, broken down by month.

(AQW 599/08)

Mr Murphy: Since my Department’s Roads Service became responsible for on-street parking enforcement on 30 October 2006, a total of eleven Penalty Charge Notices have been issued at Victoria Street, Ballymoney. The monthly break-down is as follows:-

Month	Number of Parking Tickets Issued
November 2006	1
December 2006	1
January 2007	3
February 2007	0
March 2007	3
April 2007	0
May 2007	0
June 2007	1
July 2007	1
August 2007	0
September 2007	2

Road-Humps

Mr Daithí McKay asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the number, and locations, of road-humps that have been installed in the North Antrim constituency in (i) 2001/02; (ii) 2002/03; (iii) 2003/04; (iv) 2004/05; (v) 2005/06; and (vi) 2006/07.

(AQW 600/08)

Mr Murphy: The number and locations of road-humps that have been installed in the North Antrim constituency between 2001 and 2007, by my Department’s Roads Service, are detailed in the table below.

Year	Scheme Details
2001/02	23 in an area wide scheme in Tobar Park/Kimakevitt, Cullybackey 20 in an area wide scheme in Glebeside, Ballymoney 1 was installed at the junction of Ann Street and Station road, Ballycastle
2002/03	35 in an area wide scheme in Ballee, Ballymena
2003/04	36 in an area wide scheme in the Glendun, Doury Road, Dunvale and Dunclug area of Ballymena 18 in an area wide scheme in the Demesne, Ballymena 7 were installed in Altananam Park, Ballycastle
2004/05	3 in Ballymoney Street, Ballymena 15 in an area wide scheme in the Intermediate Road/Armour Avenue, Ballymoney
2005/06	15 in an area wide scheme in Chichester Park, Ballymena 16 in an area wide scheme in Fisherwick, Warden Street, Suffolk Street, Ballymena 1 in Mill Street, Ballymena 5 in Princess Gardens, Cypress Park and Strand Park, Cloughmills
2006/07	1 in Lower Wellington Street, Ballymena 9 in Village/Royal Court, Gracehill, Ballymena

Largy Road Route Study

Mr Daithí McKay asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the proposals of the Largy Road Route Study that have not yet been implemented; and to outline the work that has been carried out to date as a result of this study.

(AQW 601/08)

Mr Murphy: My Department’s Roads Service has confirmed that a ‘Whole Route Study’ was recently completed on the B62, Largy Road. I understand a copy of the Study was forwarded to you for information.

As you will be aware, the Study identified a number of locations where it was considered that improvements would be beneficial. These were:

Aughnahoy Road – Vertical realignment to improve sight visibility and improve sight distance.
Largy Lounge – Vertical alignment to improve sight distance.
Casheltown Crossroads – Introduction of a one way system on the western leg of this road from the Largy Road towards Kilcurry Road to prevent access onto the Largy Road at this junction where sight lines are poor. Improvements to the sight lines at the junction of the Kilcurry Road and Casheltown Road.
Duffin’s Bend – Improvements to the horizontal alignment to improve the sight distance, widening the existing verges and widening the existing road width.
Gillistown Road – Improvements to sightlines.
Chesney’s Corner – Introduction of right turn lanes.
Kilknock Crossroads – Introduction of right turn lanes.

To date, the proposed improvements at the Gillistown Road Junction have been completed and the Casheltown Crossroads scheme is in the Minor Works programme for completion this financial year.

The remaining five scheme proposals are being assessed with a view to advancing to preliminary design stage and subsequent prioritisation within a works programme for Roads Service’s Northern Division. Prioritisation will take account of the technical merit of each scheme, availability of funding, Council consultation as well as Road Service priorities.

The Study also proposed a number of enhancements to warning signage and road markings along this route. I am pleased to inform you that all the improvements to warning signage and road markings as detailed in the Study have now been completed.

Directional Signs

Mr Daithí McKay asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the number of directional signs that Roads Service has erected to date, for (i) soccer club grounds; (ii) rugby club grounds; (iii) GAA club grounds; and (iv) other sports club grounds; and the number of these that have been fully funded by Roads Service.

(AQW 602/08)

Mr Murphy: My Department’s Roads Service facilitates the provision of directional traffic signs through its policies on "Directional Signage", and "Tourist Signing in Northern Ireland". Both policies, were introduced in 2004, the latter being jointly developed and agreed with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

Unless designated by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board as a tourist attraction, public sports facilities owned and operated by local councils are not eligible for white-on-brown tourist signing. However, under the Directional Signage policy, sporting facilities, whether privately owned or operated by local councils, may be signed where:

there is a clear road safety reason for doing so; or
the facilities are hard to find and will generate a significant volume of traffic from outside the locality.

The following table details the number of directional signs to sporting facilities provided since the introduction of these policies:

Facility	No	Funded by Roads Service
Soccer Club Grounds	1	1
Rugby Club Grounds	6	0
GAA Club Grounds	0	0
Other Sports Club Grounds	30	0

I should advise that the majority of the signs provided to "Other Sports Club Grounds", were for golfing facilities, which are considered under the tourist attraction policy.

It should also be noted that other facilities may have been signed before the adoption of these policies in 2004. Such signs will be allowed to remain in place until such times as they are in need of replacement.

Staff Team Building

Mr Stephen Moutray asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the total cost of (i) away days; and (ii) staff team building exercises, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 620/08)

Mr Murphy: The total cost in each of the years concerned was as follows:

Financial Year	Total Cost (£) *
2004/05	13,091
2005/06	4,814
2006/07	7,047
Total for Period	24,952

* Reflects expenditure on hire of venues and cost of guest speakers/outside facilitators.

These figures do not cover agencies and NDPBs.

Road Improvements

Rt Hon Mr Jeffrey Donaldson asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will confirm the timescale for the commencement of works to provide improvements to the junctions of the Dromore Road, Hillsborough, and the Banbridge Road, Dromore, with the A1 dual carriageway.

(AQW 646/08)

Mr Murphy: The proposals to upgrade the Dromore Road, Hillsborough and Banbridge Road, Dromore junctions with the A1 dual carriageway, included in the Regional Strategic Transport Network Transport Plan (RSTN TP) 2015, are being progressed through a Design Build Finance and Operate (DBFO) Package.

My Department’s Roads Service is currently progressing the tendering process, for the procurement of this package of road projects, as a Public Private Partnership, and it is anticipated that the contract will be awarded before the end of October 2007.

The phasing of the construction of individual schemes within the overall DBFO package of schemes is a matter for the successful tenderer. However, current indications (from the Preferred Bidder) are that both schemes will commence in early 2008.

Executive Sub-Committee on Rural Planning

Mr Patsy McGlone asked the Minister for Regional Development if he can confirm the reason why, three months after its formation, there has been no meeting of the Executive Sub-Committee on Rural Planning.

(AQW 647/08)

Mr Murphy: The Executive Committee on 5 July agreed to a review of rural planning policy, including the establishment of an Inter-Departmental Group of Ministers to take this matter forward. The first meeting of the Executive Sub-Committee on Rural Planning was scheduled for 10 September. However, given the uncertainty arising from the Judgement of the Judicial Review on PPS 14 delivered on 7 September, and its implications for Departments, this meeting was subsequently postponed. Work has however progressed with the stakeholders meetings on 29 and 30 August. The first meeting of the Executive Sub-Group will be held shortly.

Roads Service Traffic Watch

Mr Mark Durkan asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans he has to extend the cameras available on the Roads Service Traffic Watch website, to locations outside Belfast.

(AQW 653/08)

Mr Murphy: My Department’s Roads Service has no plans at present, to extend the cameras available on the trafficwatch website to locations outside Belfast.

Speed Limit in School Zones

Mr Raymond McCartney asked the Minister for Regional Development what consideration he will give to implementing a 20mph speed limit in school zones; and to complementing its introduction with a '20 is plenty' advertising campaign.

(AQW 681/08)

Mr Murphy: The imposition of speed limits generally at schools has been considered by both my Department’s Roads Service and PSNI - who are responsible for enforcement. It is acknowledged that for perhaps 90% of the time, reduced speed limits at schools may be totally inappropriate for example at nights, weekends and holiday periods and experience has shown that inappropriate speed limits are ignored and may have the potential to bring speed limits, generally, into disrepute. I can confirm however, that Roads Service is planning to pilot a variable speed limit at 2 schools over the next year to measure their effectiveness. A variable speed limit at a school refers to a part-time speed limit e.g. 20mph, which is effective at certain times of the day (when children are arriving and leaving) and is indicated by a variable message sign on the approach to the school. The speed limit would be enforced by the police in the normal manner.

You may be aware that Roads Service, as part of its Safer Routes to Schools programme, has been working pro-actively with schools across the North to promote road safety at schools and on the journey to school. Since this initiative started in 2001, Roads Service has implemented a series of speed management measures at around 80 schools, to alert drivers to the presence of school children and to encourage them to drive responsibly.

In September 2006, Roads Service accelerated this initiative to focus more particularly on the introduction of speed management measures at rural schools where the national speed limit (60mph) applies. In 2007/08 Roads Service aims to introduce speed management measures at a further 60 schools, both urban and rural.

Roads Service has also undertaken educational campaigns in schools raising awareness of the benefits of walking and cycling to school safely.

In relation to the Twenty’s Plenty advertising campaign, I understand that this initiative has been implemented in England and Scotland where "advisory" 20mph limits have been introduced in residential areas. I can confirm that a number of "advisory" 20mph zones have been introduced across the North together with many formal traffic calming schemes in a bid to reduce speed and reduce collisions and casualties on our roads.

Social Development

First Time Home Buyers

Mr Willie Clarke asked the Minister for Social Development what steps she is taking to help first time home buyers.

(AQW 556/08)

The Minister for Social Development (Ms Ritchie): The Co-ownership shared equity scheme administered by the Northern Ireland Co-ownership Housing Association remains the Department’s main measure for assisting first time buyers. The scheme has successfully assisted over 19,500 households since its inception in 1978.

In addition Sir John Semple’s report published in April 2007 has made a series of 80 recommendations. The wide scope of these recommendations shows that concerted action across organisational boundaries is necessary to improve the delivery of affordable housing across tenures. The Semple report devotes a full chapter to potential changes relating to the scheme to allow better use of public funding and to help reduce those on the waiting list for social housing.

In response I have set up an Interdepartmental Affordability Review Implementation Group, which I chair. The role of the Interdepartmental Group is to agree and deliver on an affordability implementation plan through determining which of the Semple recommendations are acceptable and developing an implementation plan by Christmas 2007. I have also set up an Advisory Panel of Experts to assist the Interdepartmental Group by assessing the departmental responses to the Semple recommendations, highlighting and advising on any improvement or alternative approaches or timescales that could or should be applied. This will include potential improvements to the scheme in light of the Semple report.

The sale of social houses to sitting tenants through the House Sales Scheme also makes a contribution in assisting first time buyers into home ownership.

Child Support Agency

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the number of applications to the Child Support Agency that are exclusively dealt with in Northern Ireland, and the number that are dealt with in Great Britain.

(AQW 564/08)

Ms Ritchie: The total number of applications exclusively dealt with by the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency is 221,435. Of these applications, 45,924 are from Northern Ireland customers and the remainder relate to applications from customers in the Eastern area of Great Britain.

In Great Britain the total number of applications to the Child Support Agency is 876,766. This figure excludes 175,511 cases which are from Eastern area of Great Britain customers and therefore dealt with by the Northern Ireland Child Support Agency.

Child Support Agency

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the number of applications to the Child Support Agency that resulted in payments being issued to the parent with care, within (i) one month; (ii) three months; (iii) six months; (iv) twelve months; and (v) eighteen months or more.

(AQW 566/08)

Ms Ritchie: In the last 18 months, from February 2006, the Agency has calculated maintenance on 3,404 applications. A first payment was issued to the parent with care in 1,556 of these cases. Of this total:

3 were cleared within one month
119 were cleared within 3 months
592 were cleared within 6 months
702 were cleared within 12 months, and
140 were cleared within 18 months.

Child Support Agency

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development what steps she is taking to ensure the quick turnaround of applications to the Child Support Agency.

(AQW 567/08)

Ms Ritchie: The Child Support Agency reviews its internal working practices on an ongoing basis. The information provided by the Computer System is now more accessible and allows managers to prioritise and target specific workloads to ensure a quick turnaround of applications.

As part of its operational improvements, there are plans for additional organisational changes linked to IT enhancements which should lead to further improvements in the speed of processing new applications.

Social Housing

Mr Willie Clarke asked the Minister for Social Development if she will make a statement on the provision of social housing in South Down.

(AQW 587/08)

Ms Ritchie: Growing demand has been identified in Warrenpoint, Kilkeel, Rostrevor, Downpatrick, Ballynahinch, Newcastle, Castlewellan and Crossgar. In all of these areas, land for social housing has been very difficult to acquire due mainly to high cost and competition from the private sector.

During 2006/07, 30 homes at Bridal Loanan, Warrenpoint and one at Dunwellan Park, Newcastle were completed and a scheme at Bryansford Road for 12 supported units of accommodation commenced on site. A scheme at Windmill Drive, Ballynahinch is due to complete this year delivering a further 12 general needs units.

Housing Associations are actively seeking sites in areas where housing need has been identified and the Housing Executive is continually reviewing its own land holdings and working with others to try to identify suitable development opportunities.

The 5 year Social Housing Development Programme is currently being rolled forward this year and the programme for 2008/09 – 2012/13 is due to be published in January 2008. All programmes however will be subject to the availability of funding.

All efforts are being made to increase the supply of social housing in South Down, as across the whole of Northern Ireland.

Disability Action

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the amount of funding allocated by her department to Disability Action, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 654/08)

Ms Ritchie: The Department for Social Development provided funding to Disability Action NI in 2004/2005 under the Executive Programme Fund for Key Voluntary and Community Sector Services. The total amount awarded was £49,578 to develop the capacity of people with disabilities to empower themselves and meaningfully address the root causes of their marginalisation and exclusion.

Neighbourhood Renewal

Mr Cathal Boylan asked the Minister for Social Development if she is aware of the concerns of community representatives in Armagh city's 'Neighbourhood Renewal' areas, regarding the funding proposals for statutory bodies, in light of the fact that this appears to be a duplication of services that are already provided by these bodies; and of her department's apparent support for these bodies in regard to this matter.

(AQW 717/08)

Ms Ritchie: The funding proposals for statutory bodies in the Armagh Neighbourhood Renewal Area are aimed at tackling deprivation in line with the targets and objectives set out in the Action Plan which was developed by the local community. All proposals will be subjected to a rigorous appraisal process to ensure that they address the causes of deprivation, complement rather than duplicate existing services, offer value for money and that there are no other more appropriate funding sources available. My officials are engaging with the local community representatives and the relevant statutory bodies to address concerns which have been raised in this regard.

WRITTEN ANSWERS

Friday 12 October 2007

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
Regional Development
Social Development

Child Support Agency

Disability Action

First Time Home Buyers

Neighbourhood Renewal

Social Housing

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

Friday 12 October 2007

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 Regional Development Social Development

Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister

Planning Appeals

Planning Appeals

Gender Equality Strategy

Annual Remembrance Ceremonies

Inward Investment

North-South Ministerial Council Meetings

Undocumented Irish

Attacks on Orange Halls

Economic Development

European Union Agenda

Civic Forum

Development at the Maze Site

Victims' Commissioner

Programme for Government

Cost of Division

Agriculture and Rural Development

Designated Water Courses

Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 - Action Groups

Sperrins Environmentally Sensitive Area Scheme

New Entrants Scheme

Common Fishing Strategy

Flooding at Tromra Road, Cushendall

Farmers Affected by Flooding

Brown Crab

Animal Incinerators

Animal Incinerators

Animal Incinerators

Number of Approved On-Farm Incinerators in Northern Ireland by District Council Area

Number of Approved On-Farm Incinerators in Northern Ireland by Constituency

Kilkeel Harbour

Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Alpha-Nortesterone

Bluetongue Disease

Comprehensive Spending Review

Lamb Promotion

Deliberate Introduction of Tuberculosis or Brucellosis to Livestock

Rural Development Programme 2007-2013

Common Agricultural Policy

Renewable Energy

Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis

Agri-Food Matters

Rural Diversification

Rural Development Programme 2007-2013

Fishing Rights

Information Technology in Farming

Agricultural Wages Board

Irish Fish Stocks

Bluetongue Disease

Bluetongue Disease

Culture, Arts and Leisure

Irish Language Act

Motorcycle Road Racing

Motorcycle Racing on Circuits

Equestrian Sports Events

World Pipe Band Championships

Derelict Library in Cullybackey

National Stadium

Gaeltacht Quarter in West Belfast

Community Festivals Fund

Public Angling Estate

Ulster-Scots Curriculum Development

National Stadium

Ulster-Scots and Irish Gaelic Spending

Belfast Mela

North-South Ministerial Council Sectoral Meetings

Cost of Translations

Sign Language

Education

Staff Team Building

Curriculum Reserve Support

Chinese Language School

Report of the Independent Strategic Review of Education

Report of the Independent Strategic Review of Education

Strategic Review of Education

Strategic Review of Education

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
Regional Development
Social Development

Number of Approved On-Farm Incinerators in Northern Ireland
by District Council Area

Number of Approved On-Farm Incinerators in Northern Ireland
by Constituency