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

Friday 5 February 2010

Written Answers to Questions

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

OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER

Sustainable Development

Mrs M Bradley asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister what action she is taking on a North/South basis to ensure that the island of Ireland is at the forefront of sustainable development.

(AQO 477/10)

First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): Our draft Sustainable Development Strategy states our intention to, "continue to work with colleagues throughout these islands to deliver our sustainable development commitments".

In this context, work being taken forward in the various workstreams within NSMC and BIC supports the aims of the overall sustainability agenda.

Officials from the Sustainable Development Unit in OFMDFM have met with colleagues from the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government (DEHLG) and Comhar (the Sustainable Development Council in the ROI) to discuss the approach taken by our draft Sustainable Development Strategy.

The meeting was intended to be an opportunity to familiarise official counterparts with the approach being taken to the development of the Strategy and its associated Implementation Plan and to discuss parallel developments in related areas in the respective jurisdictions.

The discussion included the respective approaches being taken to work on sustainable development indicators, the merits of mainstreaming sustainable development into government and engagement with non-government sectors.

These meetings will hopefully be supportive of mutual sharing of experience and best practice in areas and issues of joint concern.

Flights Booked for Civil Servants

Mr T Burns asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail (i) the number of flights booked for civil servants in their Department which were paid for wholly, or in part, but never used; and (ii) the costs and loss of revenue incurred booking these flights, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 3840/10)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: Table 1 below details how much the department has spent on unused flights in each of the last five financial years, and the number of such flights:

Table 1

Description	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08	2008/09
Number of unused flights	15	8	6	13	15
Costs of unused flights	£1,074	£363	£489	£1,160	£990

Community Relations Council

Lord Morrow asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister (i) how much the Community Relations Council currently pays in whole, or part to fund local Council staff in (a) Armagh City Council; (b) Belfast City Council; (c) Derry City Council; (d) Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council; (e) Fermanagh District Council ; and (f) Omagh District Council; (ii) how many staff this involves in each area; and (iii) to outline their respective job descriptions.

(AQW 4025/10)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Community Relations Council does not fund any posts in whole or part in these 6 council areas nor does it fund any such posts in any of the other 20 district councils.

Disability Discrimination (Transport Vehicles) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009

Mr J Shannon asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when the Disability Discrimination (Transport Vehicles) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 will come into force.

(AQW 4034/10)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Disability Discrimination (Transport Vehicles) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (the Regulations) were made on 21 December 2009 and will come into force on 25 January 2010.

Copies of the Regulations have been placed in the Assembly Library.

Investing for Health Strategy

Ms S Ramsey asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail any meetings or discussions that they, or their officials, have held with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety within the last year to discuss commitments under the Investing for Health strategy.

(AQW 4234/10)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: Ministers or officials in OFMDFM have not had any meetings or discussions within the last year to discuss commitments under the Investing for Health strategy. We understand that a meeting at official level is being arranged by the Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety in February 2010. OFMDFM will be represented at that meeting.

Biomass Incinerator at Glenavy

Mr M McLaughlin asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister if the Rose Energy proposal for a biomass incinerator at Glenavy requires Executive agreement, given the cross-departmental nature of the proposal.

(AQW 4470/10)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: We refer the Member to the answer provided to AQ3241/10 on 15 December 2009.

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Flooding and Bad Weather

Mr A McQuillan asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for an estimate of the cost to the agricultural industry of the recent flooding and bad weather.

(AQW 3997/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms M Gildernew): The extremely bad weather, including the recent flooding in Fermanagh and the more recent freezing conditions across the north of Ireland, has caused great inconvenience to people here. My thoughts are with everyone affected and my heart goes out to those in rural communities who have suffered disruption.

I do not have an estimate of the cost to the agricultural industry of the recent severe weather. However, I will be making representation to Executive colleagues, and if agreement can be reached and money found, I will direct officials to assess the damage that has been incurred.

You will also be aware of the ongoing work of the Flooding Task Force and there may be lessons to be learnt in relation to handling of severe weather conditions from this important exercise

Mountain Biking in Forests

Mr B Wilson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what she is doing to promote mountain biking in her Department's forests.

(AQW 4000/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: A Strategy for the Recreational and Social Use of our Forests was launched on 1 July 2009. This contained proposals to develop the potential of our forests to deliver a wider range of recreation, sport, health and educational opportunities and to encourage more visitors to our forests. In particular, it commits Forest Service to develop partnerships with a range of public and private sector service providers in order to secure a more diverse range of facilities and attractions.

The opportunities for mountain biking in forests are being considered in conjunction with local councils and other interested parties including the National Trust and the NI Tourist Board.

My officials will continue to explore the possibilities for mountain bike trail development with stakeholders

Land-fill Waste Disposal Site at Cam, Garvagh

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she is aware of planning application C/2009/0148, for a land-fill waste disposal site at Cam near Garvagh; and for her assessment of its potential impact on rural tourism given that the site is adjacent to the Ulster Way and in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

(AQW 4104/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: My Department provided comments in February 2008 to the consulting engineers who were preparing the environmental statement for the proposed planning application. The DARD response included comments on the possible effects of the landfill site on landowners with agri-environment schemes, habitats and field boundaries, as well as providing mitigation measures.

Comments were also provided to the Department of the Environment (DOE) in August 2008 with regard to the Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)) Regulations (NI) 1999 which reflected the comments in DARD’s response in February 2008.

As part of the planning application consultation process in mid 2009 comments were sent to DOE from DARD. These comments referred to the EIA (Forestry) Regulations (NI) 2006; animal health and welfare implications; The Plant Health Order (NI) 2006 and countryside management implications.

Approval of the application is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment and therefore within the stewardship of Minister Poots. I trust that the comments made by my Department will be considered as part of the planning application process.

It would be premature to be considering raising concerns until the outcome of the application is known. However I do want to confirm that I believe Rural Tourism to be key to the sustainability of rural communities, which is why the Rural Development Programme contains a measure to encourage tourism with a budget of £15m.

Cold Weather Hardship Payment

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development when proposals for a cold weather hardship payment will be brought to the Executive.

(AQW 4115/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: There are currently no proposals for a cold weather hardship payment. However, I intend to make early representations to Executive colleagues and if agreement can be reached and money found, I will then direct officials to assess the damage and resulting loss from the cold weather, with a view to considering hardship payments.

Cold Weather Hardship Payment

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what representations she has made to (i) DEFRA; and (ii) Europe, in respect of a cold weather hardship payment.

(AQW 4116/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: As you are aware there are no financial support measures available for farmers and my Department is currently facing significant resource pressures across the board.

I have not made any representations to Defra, or Europe in respect of a cold weather hardship payment.

I have however considered all avenues for financial support from Europe, including State Aid and the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF), but these are not feasible in the circumstances.

I do however intend to make representations to Executive colleagues, and if agreement is reached and money found, I will direct my officials to assess the damage and resulting financial loss from the bad weather, with a view to considering hardship payments.

Cold Weather Hardship Payment

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will publish all the data collected and sent to DEFRA on proposed cold weather hardship payments.

(AQW 4117/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: As you are aware I have indicated that I intend to make early representations to Executive colleagues, and if agreement is reached and money found, I will then direct my officials to assess the damage and resulting financial loss suffered by farmers following the recent severe weather conditions, with a view to considering hardship payments. Accordingly no data has been collected at this time, nor has any representation been made to Defra on the matter.

Axis 3 Funding

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how many projects have applied for funding from Axis 3 to date; and how much money is currently available directly from her Department for these projects.

(AQW 4146/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: Axis 3 of the RDP is being delivered on behalf of my Department by seven Joint Council Committees (JCC’s), each in partnership with a Local Action Group (LAG). As part of the delivery arrangements each JCC has agreed an implementation plan for their individual local development strategy which includes an integral financial plan.

To date all JCC’s have opened calls for applications under most measures and have received, in total 1961 applications. Not all of these applications will be successful nor are they all for projects likely to be completed within this financial year.

Presently the Financial Expenditure tables in the Implementation Plans agreed with the JCC’s amount to a figure in the region of £5.5m and I have resources available to meet this figure should all JCC’s achieve their investment targets.

Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she has considered the early payment of the Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances.

(AQW 4149/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: Recognising these tough economic times, and the long-term difficulties and disadvantages faced by those farming in the hills, I am doing all possible to enable the early payment of the allowance for a second successive year.

Also, I have increased this year’s payment rates. This reflects the current strength of the Euro and maintains the current double rate paid for our most severely disadvantaged areas.

The payment process for LFACA 2010 should begin in February and it will be worth an estimated £25m to the local economy

Theft of Cattle

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for an update on the investigation into the theft of cattle under the control of DARD officials in October 2009, including an expected completion date for the investigation; and if its findings will be made public.

(AQW 4158/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The PSNI investigation into this incident is ongoing. The Department is co-operating with them and no further comment can be made at this time.

The expected date of completion and whether the findings are made public are matters for the PSNI to decide upon.

February Monitoring Round

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if her Department will be making bids for additional funding in the February monitoring round.

(AQW 4194/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: In the final monitoring round for this current year we propose to submit one bid for £1.3m in relation to CAP disallowance.

New Entrants Scheme

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the cost of the New Entrants Scheme to date; and the number of applicants to the scheme.

(AQW 4200/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: Since the New Entrants Scheme opened in June 2005 to date, £1,066,486 has been paid out to cover interest payments on loans made by farmers.

There have been 432 applicants to the Scheme

Organic Farming Industry

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for her assessment of the state of the organic farming industry; and what effect the economic downturn has had on the production and consumption of organic foodstuffs.

(AQW 4217/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The organic food market is under pressure as a result of the current economic downturn. Local organic producers have reported that the market for organic food has declined, with some consumers more reluctant to travel to farm shops and other organic outlets for specific purchases.

In terms of production, very few farmers who operate to organic standards have ceased organic production. There is a core of dedicated organic food consumers who remain loyal to buying organic produce. Although the premium for organic beef has dropped, across the range the premium received for organic produce has generally remained in place.

While the organic market has slowed I recognise that organic farmers remain committed to developing their business. My Department also remains committed to the sector and continues to provide support through the Organic Farming Scheme and the NI Countryside Management Scheme.

Agricultural Land Farmed Organically

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (i) the percentage; and (ii) the acreage, of agricultural land that is currently farmed organically; and how these figures compare to 2000.

(AQW 4218/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: (i) Approximately 1.2% or (ii) 11,937 hectares of agricultural land is currently certified as farmed organically or is in the process of converting to organic certification.

These figures are more than three times greater than in the year 2000. Then, approximately 0.3% or 3,257 hectares of agricultural land was certified as farmed organically or was in the process of converting to organic certification.

Forest and Woodland

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for the current total hectares of forest and woodland; and how much of the proposed 1650 hectare increase targeted in the Programme for Government has been met.

(AQW 4219/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The total area of forest and woodland in the north of Ireland at the end of March 2009 was estimated to be 86, 600 hectares (to the nearest 100 hectares).

426 hectares of the proposed 1650 hectares of new woodland targeted in the Programme for Government has been planted up to the end of December 2009.

European Fisheries Fund

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how much European Fisheries Fund money will be allocated to (i) the Portavogie area; (ii) the Ardglass area; and (iii) the Kilkeel area.

(AQW 4220/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: It is not possible to say how much money will be allocated to particular areas. Most European Fisheries Fund (EFF) grant opportunities are available to individual businesses and the location of these businesses is not a factor in deciding whether grant is offered. There would be an element of "area based" investment in the "Ports, Landing Sites and Shelters" measure of the EFF. The investment priorities for the 3 fishing ports which the NI Fishery Harbour Authority owns are contained in the draft EFF Investment Plan. Similarly, Axis 4 of the EFF which covers investments for the "sustainable development of fisheries areas" will deliver projects based on a strategy devised by a Fisheries Local Action Group (FLAG).

Axis 4 will be opened later this year following the completion of an independent evaluation of the South Down Taskforce Programme and the setting up the FLAG to develop the strategy.

Swamp Fever

Mr W Irwin asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, given that DEFRA has confirmed that two horses have tested positive for swamp fever in Wiltshire, what steps she is taking to protect the equestrian sector.

(AQW 4272/10)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: On 19 January my Department were made aware by Defra colleagues of the confirmation of Equine Infectious Anaemia or ‘Swamp Fever’ in two horses imported from Romania via Belgium into the Wiltshire area.

Following notification from Defra, my Department notified equine stakeholders and private veterinarians of the situation. DARD portal staff were instructed to check for any imports of horses arriving from Romania and my Department undertook a check which established that there have been no recent imports of horses from Romania. The DARD website was also updated to provide a link to information produced by Defra relating to this case.

An EIA Code of Practice, produced as a result of the EIA outbreaks in the south of Ireland in 2006 is available on the DARD website. The Code of Practice provides background information on EIA and the consequences of infection. It also provides advice to those in the industry on precautionary measures that should be taken to minimise the risk of possible infection.

My officials remain in close contact with Defra and we will continue to monitor the situation to ensure that the risk to the equine sector in the north of Ireland is minimised.

DEPARTMENT OF CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE

Sport NI and Central Procurement Directorate

Mr D McNarry asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what steps he is taking to address the concerns of small and medium sized businesses who are unable to meet the procurement requirements stipulated by Sport NI and Central Procurement Directorate in relation to the awarding of contracts.

(AQW 4055/10)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr N McCausland): port NI, as with all public sector bodies and Government Departments in Northern Ireland, is required, in accordance with the Northern Ireland Executive’s Public Procurement Policy, to use Central Procurement Directorate (CPD) as its procurement service provider. Issues regarding the application of the Public Procurement Policy through CPD are a matter for the Minister for Finance and Personnel.

I have been informed by the Minister for Finance and Personnel that CPD recognises that the majority of businesses in Northern Ireland are Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs).

Furthermore, he has informed me that, in response to the economic downturn, he established a Construction Industry Forum for Northern Ireland (CIFNI) – Procurement Task Group. The Task Group reported in April 2009 and a number of the actions set out in its report are specifically aimed at maximizing opportunities for SMEs

Following the publication of the Task Group Report, CPD and the Centres of Procurement Expertise (CoPEs) engaged with the Construction Industry Group to develop proposals on how the pre-qualification process could be standardized and streamlined.

The proposals emerging from these working groups have been incorporated into a standard prequalification questionnaire (PQQ) template to be used to shortlist firms for invitation to tender. The Construction Industry Group was consulted on the template and generally positive feedback was received by CPD. It is anticipated that, subject to final agreement, the standard PQQ will be introduced for use by all CoPEs from 1 March 2010.

The standard PQQ includes proportionate minimum standards for financial standing for individual firms and accommodates applications from smaller enterprises to come together as consortia to bid for government contracts.

Book Prescriptions

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, pursuant to AQW 3506/10, how many book prescriptions have been issued by GPs in each of the last 3 years.

(AQW 4174/10)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: The number of book prescriptions that have been issued by GP’s in each of the last 3 years is;

2007*	278 books issued
2008*	1195 books issued
2009	1673 books issued

* Partial figures – these do not include prescriptions prior to mid 2008 for the former SEELB Board area which are not available.

Investing for Health Strategy

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail any meetings or discussions that he, or his officials, have held with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety within the last year to discuss commitments under the Investing for Health strategy.

(AQW 4232/10)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) has, within the last year, had on-going meetings and discussions with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) in relation to commitments under the Investing for Health strategy. These discussions have taken place in the context of meetings of DHSSPS’s Obesity Prevention Steering Group which was set up in 2008 in response to the Fit Future’s Task Force Report published in 2006.

Papers Referred to the Executive

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to list the subject matter of each of the 12 papers that his Department referred to the Executive between May 2007 and 7 December 2009; and to state whether the Executive agreed each paper.

(AQW 4269/10)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: It is not the practice to disclose details of Executive business. The content of Executive papers and all aspects of Executive business are confidential.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Every School a Good School - The Way Forward for Special Educational Needs and Inclusion

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Education to provide details of 'The inconsistency and delay in assessment, statementing and provision practices across the five Education and Library Boards' as alluded to in the policy proposals consultation document 'Every School a Good School - The Way Forward for Special Educational Needs and Inclusion'.

(AQW 3882/10)

Minister of Education (Ms C Ruane ): Each Education and Library Board (ELBs) has regard to the guidance contained in the Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs, issued by the Department of Education (DE) in 1998. While each Board is working within the common Special Educational Needs (SEN) Framework, detailed within the Code of Practice, it is widely recognised, however, that a number of differing practices in relation to statutory and non-statutory assessment, statementing and provision have become inculcated in the practices across the 5 ELBs.

Léirítear é seo trí réimse eolais, mar shampla, ar líon na bpáistí a fuair dearbhuithe oideachais speisialta, ar líon na npáistí atá ag fanacht ar mheasúnú ar riachtanais speisialta, agus ar na meánamanna feithimh chun measúnú a fháil ó shíceolaí oideachasúil ag Céim 3 den Chód Cleachtais. Léiríonn an t-eolas seo a leanas, a soláthraíodh ag Príomhfheidhmeannaigh de na 5 Bord Oideachais agus Leabharlainne, cuid den fhianaise seo.

This is evidenced by a range of information, for example, in the number of children who have received statements of special education, those who are currently awaiting an assessment of special needs and the average waiting times for an assessment by an educational psychologist at stage 3 of the Code of Practice. The following information, provided by the Chief Executives of the 5 Education and Library Boards, demonstrates some of this evidence.

The number of children who have received statements of special educational need in the 2008/09 academic year:-

BELB	NEELB	SEELB	SELB	WELB
451	280	335	342	200

The above figures refer to children and young people who received final statements of special education need. They do not include those who may have received reviewed statements.

The number of children who are currently awaiting an assessment of special needs as at December 2009:-

BELB	NEELB	SEELB	SELB	WELB
206	579	361	382	367

These figures are in regard to children with a variety of need, including Stage 3 (non-statutory assessments) and Stage 4 (statutory assessments) of the Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs (COP), reviews at Stage 3 and Stage 5 of the Code of Practice, pre-school and examination arrangements.

The average waiting times for an assessment by an educational psychologist at Stage 3 (non-statutory assessment) of the COP, at December 2009:-

BELB	NEELB	SEELB	SELB	WELB
41 days	70 days	136 days (195 if only school age)	56 days	50 days

With regard to the average waiting time for a statutory assessment, at Stage 4 of the COP, ELBs consider the need for a statutory assessment of SEN which will include an assessment by an educational psychologist. ELBs have 16 weeks from the date that the ELB notifies the parents that it is considering making an assessment or from the date that the request to carry out an assessment is received by the ELB from the parent or the school to complete the assessment.

In recognition that certain differences had developed over a period of time in relation to the criteria for initiating a statutory assessment of a child’s special educational need, the ELBs introduced the ‘Provisional Criteria for Initiating Statutory Assessments of Special Educational Need and for Making Statements of Special Educational Need’. This document, which will be fully implemented across all 5 Boards from September 2009, describes in detail the common criteria to be applied by Boards when considering requests to make a statutory assessment for children with SENs.

You will note that the above figures vary greatly across the Education and Library Boards. This was part of the evidence which was considered by the SEN and Inclusion Review and which raised awareness of the variations in special educational provision that has evolved over a period of time across the ELBs. A five Board Working Group is scoping the extent of the variations in relation to the type of provision at stages 3 and 5 of the Code of Practice, the expenditure per Board on each area of SEN and the type of support offered.

Within the context of the SEN and Inclusion Review the above figures also provided an indication that many children face lengthy delays before they receive appropriate in-school provision or before they reach the stage where a statutory assessment of their needs can be undertaken by an Education and Library Board. This delay is unacceptable and the Review proposals aim to enable more mainstream schools to meet the special educational needs of the majority of SEN pupils from within their own resources and through advice available to them from a range of professionals.

Key tenets of the Review proposals are for early identification of pupils’ needs, followed by appropriate early intervention to reduce the barriers to learning. The introduction of a Co-ordinated Support Plan - CSP for children and young people with complex or multiple needs or a Personal Learning Plan for all other SEN children will ensure that a child’s special educational needs are being met.

Flights Booked for Civil Servants

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) the number of flights booked for Civil Servants in her Department which were paid for wholly, or in part, but never used; and (ii) the costs and loss of revenue incurred booking these flights, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 3965/10)

Minister of Education: Chuir mo Roinn ceithre eitilt in áirithe le haghaigh Státseirbhíseach le linn na bliana gnó 2009/10 ar íocadh astu go hiomlán, nó go páirteach, ach nár úsáideadh. Ba é an costas agus an cailleadh ioncaim ná £484.41a tabhaíodh nuair a cuireadh na n-eitiltí seo in áirithe. Ní raibh aon eitilt neamhúsáidte sna ceithre bliana roimhe seo.

My Department booked four flights for Civil Servants during the 2009/10 business year which were paid for wholly, or in part, but never used. The costs and loss of revenue incurred booking these flights amounted to £484.41. There were no other unused flights booked in the previous four years.

Hotels Booked for Civil Servants

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) the number of nights in hotels booked for Civil Servants in her Department which were paid for wholly, or in part, but never used; and (ii) the costs and loss of revenue incurred booking these hotel rooms, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 3966/10)

Minister of Education: Níor chuir mo Roinn aon fhanacht thar óiche in áirithe le haghaidh Státseirbhíseach i ngach bliain de na cúig bliana a chuaigh thart ar íocadh atsu go hiomlán, nó go páirteach, ach nár úsáideadh agus, mar sin de, níor tabhaíodh aon chostais ná cailleadh ioncaim nuair a cuireadh na seomraí óstáin seo in áirithe.

My Department booked no nights in hotels for Civil Servants in each of the last five years which were paid for wholly, or in part, but never used and therefore there were no costs and loss of revenue incurred booking these hotel rooms.

Bunscoil, Ballymena

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Education what action her Department has taken in relation to the possible opening of a bunscoil in Ballymena this year.

(AQW 3971/10)

Minister of Education: Any significant change to the schools’ estate, such as the establishment of a grant-maintained school, requires the publication of a statutory Development Proposal. On 26 November 2009, the North Eastern Education and Library Board published Development Proposal No. 250, which proposes the establishment of a grant-aided, Irish-medium primary school in Ballymena to be known as Gaelscoil Choin Rí Uladh, with effect from 1 September 2010, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Chríochnaigh an tréimhse reachtúil chomhairlithe de dhá mhí ar an togra ar 26 Eanáir 2010. Déanfaidh mé cinneadh ar an togra, ag cur san áireamh gach ceann de na saincheisteanna ábhartha agus tuairimí a fuarthas chomh luath agus is féidir. Mar is eol duit, ní féidir líom tráchtadh ar aon togra sula ndéanfaidh mé mo chinneadh.

The statutory two-month consultation period on the proposal ended on 26 January 2010. I will make a decision on the proposal, taking account of all the pertinent issues and the comments received as soon as possible. You will appreciate, I cannot comment on any proposals in advance of my decision.

Literacy and Numeracy

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Education, in light of her answer to the Assembly on 18 January 2010 regarding the focus on literacy and numeracy, to detail all (i) actions; (ii) meetings; and (iii) decisions taken by her in relation to this.

(AQW 4038/10)

Minister of Education: Upon becoming Minister I decided to make it a priority to tackle underachievement and promote the raising of standards in literacy and numeracy.

That was the focus of my meeting (13th January 2010) with the Literacy & Numeracy Taskforce, which I appointed in February 2008, and also of North-South Ministerial Council meetings in education sectoral format (held on 14^th November 2007, 28^th May 2008, 10^th December 2008, 20^th May 2009, and 25^th November 2009).

Research on the impact of selection shows that preparing children for the transfer tests distorted the curriculum and required teachers to adopt a narrow repertoire of teaching strategies, rather than fully developing literacy and numeracy through more engaging approaches. Pupils not entered for the tests received unequal or less attention than transfer test pupils and some children had classroom experiences that not only failed to meet their needs as learners but left them uninterested, demotivated and misunderstood as learners. I therefore introduced Transfer 2010 to help put an end to the detrimental effects of the tests on pupils’ literacy and numeracy.

I issued a draft literacy and numeracy strategy for consultation from June to November 2008 and will shortly publish a revised strategy.  A complementary strategy for literacy and numeracy in the Irish medium sector is also nearing completion. In 2009/10, I allocated £4.9m to support the Boards’ regional literacy and numeracy action plan, which is in addition to the delegated funding provided to schools and the core funding provided to the Education and Library Boards.

Tá na bearta seo mar chuid de bheartas foriomlán de pholasaithe bainteacha atá á chur i bhfeidhm agam – Gach Scoil ina Scoil Mhaith, Aistriú 2010, an tAthbhreithniú ar Riachtanais Speisialta Oideachais & Chuimsiú, an tÚdarás um Oideachas agus Scileanna, straitéis na luathbhlianta, Achieving Belfast & Derry – agus tá sé mar aidhm acu ar fad torthaí a fheabhsú do na daoine óga agus a chinntiú go bhfágann siad scoil leis na scileanna litearthachta agus uimhearthachta atá de dhíth orthu.

These actions are part of the jigsaw of inter-connected policies I am putting in place – Every School a Good School, Transfer 2010, the SEN & Inclusion Review, ESA, the early years strategy, Achieving Belfast & Derry – all of which are aimed at improving outcomes for our young people and making sure they leave school with the literacy and numeracy skills they need.

Appointments to Boards of Governors

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Education what steps her Department has taken to confirm departmental appointments to the Boards of Governors of (i) voluntary grammar schools; and (ii) controlled grammar schools.

(AQW 4039/10)

Minister of Education: Athbhunaítear Boird Ghobharnóirí Scoile gach ceithre bliana. Tá dátaí difriúla le haghaidh athbhunaithe sna scoileanna deonacha gramadaí agus tá formhór na scoileanna sceidealta le hathbhunú a chríochnú go luath i mbliana. Tá mo Roinn ag leanúint d’iarratais agus de cheapacháin Roinne ar scoileanna deonacha gramadaí a phróiseáil mar chuid den chleachtadh atá faoi bhealach.

School Board of Governors are reconstituted every four years. There are different dates for reconstitution across the voluntary grammar schools with most of the schools due to complete reconstitution early this year. My Department is continuing to process applications and Departmental appointments to voluntary grammar schools as part of the on-going exercise.

My Department is also in the process of finalising nominations to the Education and Library Boards for the 17 controlled grammar schools. All controlled grammar schools are currently being reconstituted.

While some governors remain to be appointed due to vetting and other procedures, meetings of Boards of Governors can take place and business conducted so long as the meetings are quorate and any new governors have been vetted.

Middletown Centre for Autism

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Education how many (i) children; and (ii) parents have been directly assisted by Middletown Centre for Autism.

(AQW 4040/10)

Minister of Education: Thug an tIonad traenáil do níos mó ná 2,300 duine go dtí seo. Soláthraíodh traenail atá saincheaptha go speisialta i leith tuismitheoirí do 88 tuismitheoir ag an Ionad go dtí seo. Sholáthar an tIonad comhairle agus eolas do 30 tuismitheoir fosta a rinne teagmháil díreach leis an Ionad le haghaidh eolais. Déanfaidh an tIonad traenáil eisiach i leith tuismitheoirí fud fad thuaisceart na hÉireann idir mí Aibreáin agus Mí an Mheithimh i mbliana a mbeidh cúig sheisiún traenála dhá uaire atá ábharthach do thuismitheoirí iontu.

The Centre has to date delivered training to over 2,300 individuals. Training tailored specifically to parents has been delivered by the Centre to 88 parents to date. The Centre has also provided advice and information to 30 parents who have contacted the Centre directly for information. The Centre will also undertake extensive parent training across the north of Ireland between April and June this year consisting of five two-hour training sessions on topics of particular relevance to parents.

The two key services to be provided by the Centre that involve the referral of children and young people with autistic spectrum disorders are the Educational Assessment Service and the Learning Support Service. It is planned that an interim Advice and Guidance Service will commence provision directly to children in February 2010 and that the Learning Support Service will commence upon completion of the building programme.

Transitional Education and Library Boards

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Education if all of the statistics in Annex A of her Ministerial Statement of 1 December 2009 were accurate in relation to the membership of transitional Education and Library Boards; and if not, what steps she has taken to rectify any inaccuracies.

(AQW 4044/10)

Minister of Education: I mo ráiteas ar 1 Nollaig mhínigh mé go raibh sé de rún agam ballraíocht na mbord a laghdú go suntasach. Bhreithnigh mé na barúlacha a tugadh i dtaca leis na Boird ó shin agus bheartaigh mé líon na mball ar dhá cheann de na Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlainne a mhéadú- Bord Oideachais agus Leabharlainne Bhéal Feirste (le beirt) agus Bord Oideachais agus Leabharlainne an Iarthair (le duine amháin). Mar gheall ar na leasuithe seo, is é líon na mBall ar fad ar na ceithre Bhord ná 63 agus tá próisis roghnaithe agus cheapachán faoi shiúl. Tá sonraí leagtha amach sa tábla thíos ar líon na mball i ngach bord.

In my Statement on 1 December I explained my intention to reduce significantly membership of the Boards. Since that I have considered comments raised in regard to the Boards and, decided to increase the number of members in two of the Education and Library Boards - the Belfast (by two) and Western (by one). As a result of these amendments the overall membership across the four Boards is 63 and selection and appointment processes to fill these posts are now underway. Details of the numbers in respect of each Board are set out in the table below.

Board	BELB	NEELB	SELB	WELB	Total
Councillors	4	9	6	5	24
Transferors & Trustees	4*	6	4	4*	18
Others	4	8	5	4	21
Total	12	23	15	13	63

* increased from Statement of 1 December 2009

Castle Towers Special School, Ballymena

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Education for an update on the proposals for the new Castle Towers Special School in Ballymena.

(AQW 4063/10)

Minister of Education: Cuireadh Breithmheas Eacnamaíochta athbhreithnithe nuashonraithe i leith Scoil Speisialta Thúr Caisleáin faoi bhráid na Roinne le haghaidh faofa.

A revised and updated Economic Appraisal for Castle Tower Special School has been submitted to the Department for approval.

Every School a Good School - The Way Forward for Special Educational Needs and Inclusion

Mr F Cobain asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) the projected cost of implementing the policy proposals outlined in the consultation document 'Every School a Good School - The Way Forward for Special Educational Needs and Inclusion'; and (ii) where any additional funding will come from, particularly for teacher training.

(AQW 4066/10)

Minister of Education: The proposals outlined in the consultation document are at a high level at this stage of development. The formal consultation period closed on 31 January 2010 and detailed work will now begin to consider the responses. It will therefore be some months before an analysis of the responses can be made. This analysis will then enable me to consider which proposals are to be taken forward. It will be at that stage that work to project costs will be completed.

Any additional funding that may be required will be considered within the context of the spending round for the period 2011/12 to 2013/14.

Meastar go mbeidh costais thart fá £25m a bhaineann leis an túschéim acmhainn an phobail a fhorbairt, atá fíor-thábhachtach do sholáthar na dtograí ón Athbhreithniú, agus breithneofar foraíl le haghaidh seo i gcomhthéacs an leithdháilte iomláin don Roinn Oideachais.

Costs associated with the initial capacity-building phase, which is critical to the delivery of the proposals from the review, have been estimated to be in the region of £25m and provision for this will be considered in the context of the overall allocation for the Department of Education.

Programme for International Student Assessment

Mr J McCallister asked the Minister of Education how Northern Ireland ranked in the most recent Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development 'Programme for International Student Assessment' in (i) scientific literacy; (ii) reading literacy; and (iii) mathematical literacy.

(AQW 4067/10)

Minister of Education: The information below is taken from the 2006 PISA survey of the educational achievement of 15 year olds in the OECD.

Bhí an meánscór san eolaíocht i dtuaisceart na hÉireann níos airde ná meanscór na hEagraíochta um Chomhar agus Fhorbairt Eacnamaíochta (OECD). Bhí an meánscór sa léitheoireacht beagán thar meánscór an OECD, cé nach raibh an difríocht seo suntasach ó thaobh staitistice de. Mar an gcéanna, ní raibh an meánscór sa mhatamaitic go suntasach difriúil ó mheánscór an OECD.

The average score for science in the north of Ireland was higher than the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) average. The average score for reading was slightly above the OECD average, though this difference was not statistically significant. Similarly, the average score for mathematics here was not significantly different from the OECD average.

I am not content for achievement in the north to be ‘average’. I believe that we should create a world class system that provides excellence for all our young people. I am therefore putting in place a range of inter-connected policies all with the aim of raising standards, including Every School a Good School, Transfer 2010, the SEN & Inclusion Review, the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority and the Literacy and Numeracy Strategy

Boards of Governors

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Education how many schools have had their Boards of Governors reconstituted in each of the last three years; and how many are currently awaiting reconstitution.

(AQW 4084/10)

Minister of Education: Four schools were reconstituted during 2007 and three during 2008.

The Education and Library Boards (ELBs) are not yet in a position to provide figures for 2009. There were 1,202 schools undergoing reconstitution during 2009. Reconstitution involves a number of stages and therefore can take some time to complete. The stages can include the following: advertisement and recruitment processes for governors; the election of teacher and parent representatives by schools; consultation where required with bodies entitled to nominate, including ELBs, Trustees and the department; election of Transferor representatives from contributory primary schools in the case of controlled post primary schools; and vetting of all new governors before formal appointment.

D’iarr an Roinn nuashonrú a fháil ó na Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlainne maidir leis an chéim a bhain an t-athbhunú amach do na scoileanna rialaithe agus do na scoileanna faoi chothabháil. Scríobhfaidh mé chugat chomh luath agus a chuirfear an t-eolas ar fáil.

The Department has sought an update from the ELBs regarding the stage at which reconstitution has reached for the controlled and maintained schools. I will write to you as soon as the information is available.

Interactive Computerised Assessment System

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Education what discussions have been held within her Department regarding the continued use of the Interactive Computerised Assessment System in schools to identify dyslexia.

(AQW 4086/10)

Minister of Education: Níor coinneáladh aon díospóireacht laistigh de mo Roinn i dtaca le húsáid Chóras Measúnachta Ríomhairithe Idirghníomhach (InCAS) ar scoileanna le disléicse a aithint.

No discussions have been held within my Department regarding the use of the Interactive Computerised Assessment System (InCAS) in schools to identify dyslexia.

INCAS is an adaptive assessment tool which is designed to provide a profile of a child's strengths and areas for improvement in Reading and General Maths, which can inform action. The feedback provided by InCAS may indicate where a child has difficulty with specific aspects of literacy acquisition, such as word decoding or word recognition. If optional units are used, further information about a child's spelling, vocabulary acquisition, non-verbal ability, mental arithmetic and attitudes is also available, adding to a broader picture. In this sense, it is a diagnostic tool.

However, INCAS is neither designed nor intended as a single tool for formal identification of a learning difficulty, such as dyslexia, for statementing purposes.

Identification in this sense is the role of the educational psychologist, who will use a range of assessments and observations.

Staff Disciplined for Alcohol Consumption at Work

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Education how many (i) teachers; (ii) support staff; and (iii) non-teaching staff have been disciplined for alcohol consumption at work, and/or other alcohol related infringements in each of the last five years; and what sanctions were imposed on these individuals, broken down by Education and Library Board.

(AQW 4103/10)

Minister of Education: The Department of Education does not hold the requested information.

The Principal and Board of Governors of each school are responsible for the management of the school including the operation of its disciplinary procedures.  School-based staff employed by Boards of Governors may be subject to disciplinary action short of dismissal without reference to the employing authority. It is only when a member of staff is being dismissed that the employing authority must be informed. Therefore not all employing authorities hold the requested information.

Those employing authorities that do hold information have indicated that in total five members of staff (none of whom were teachers) have been disciplined for alcohol consumption at work and/or other alcohol related infringements during the last five years. The sanctions imposed on these individuals have included the issue of written warnings, final written warnings and dismissal.

Níl mé in ann miondealú de réir ceantair Bhoird a sholáthar, mar gurbh é sin ba chúis le duine a aithint nó eolais phearsanta a nochtadh, a sháródh an chéad phrionsabal den Acht um Chosaint Sonraí 1998, eadhon próiseáil chothrom agus dleathach.

I am unable to provide a breakdown by Board area, as to do so could lead to the identity of an individual and disclosure of sensitive personal information which would contravene the first principle of the Data Protection Act 1998, namely fair and lawful processing.

Schools Closed During the Recent Cold Weather

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) the total number of (a) primary schools; and (b) secondary schools which closed during the recent cold weather; (ii) the names of these schools; and (iii) for how long each school was closed.

(AQW 4127/10)

Minister of Education: Cuireadh in iúl dom ag Príomhfheidhmeannaigh na mBord Oideachais agus Leabharlainne gur druidim 140 bunscoil agus 19 meánscoil le linn na haimsire fuaire le déanaí. Cuireadh táblaí a liostaíonn ainmneacha na scoileanna agus fad na ndruidimí i Leabharlann an Tionóil.

I have been advised by the Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards that 140 primary schools and 19 secondary schools closed during the recent cold weather.

Tables listing the school names and the duration of the closures have been placed in the Assembly Library.

Capital Build Budget

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Education to detail the level of the capital build budget for her Department for 2010/11; and the reduction in this budget as a result of the Executive capital expenditure reductions.

(AQW 4164/10)

Minister of Education: Ba é leithdháileadh ollchaipitil an bhuiséid don bhliain 2010/11 ar a aontaíodh sa Bhuiséad 2007 ná £212.6 milliún. I dteannta le clár caipitil thógáil scoile, cuimsíonn an buiséad seo gach gné de chaiteachas caipitil, lena n-áirítear foráil do bhuiséid i leith Iompar Scoile, na hEarnála don Ógra agus Luath-Bhlianta.

The gross capital budget allocation for 2010/11 set at the outcome of the Budget 2007 was £212.6 million. In addition to the school capital building programme, this budget covers all aspects of capital spend including provision for Schools’ Transport, Youth Sector and Early Years budgets. The announcement of £22million cuts to the capital budget reduces this figure to £190.6 million.

Emotional Well-being of Pupils

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister of Education if she has a strategy to promote emotional well-being in (a) primary schools; and (b) post-primary schools; and (ii) if any research has been carried out on behalf of her Department into the effect of emotional well-being on academic performance.

(AQW 4198/10)

Minister of Education: Tá mo Roinn ag forbairt Cláir um Fholláine agus Leas Mothúchán na nDaltaí a bheidh dírithe i dtosach ar an earnáil iarbhunoideachais. Tabharfaidh sé le chéile an réimse imeachtaí atá á ndéanamh ar leibhéal scoile agus soláthróidh sé comhsheasmhacht sholáthair agus infhaighteachta ar fud na hearnála oideachais.

My Department is currently developing a Pupils’ Emotional Health and Well- Being Programme with a focus, initially, on the post primary sector. It will bring together the range of activities already occurring at school level and provide a consistency of delivery and availability across the education sector.

Five working groups, made up with members with a very wide range of experience and expertise drawn from the education sector, the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and a number of voluntary organisations with a focus on mental health and wellbeing are taking this work forward.

The working groups have been tasked with taking forward the development of specific aspects of the Programme, as follows:

• Group 1 - Self Assessment for Schools: to develop a shared understanding of what "pupils’ emotional health and wellbeing" means. To devise a tool(s) to help schools assess how they promote pupils’ emotional health and wellbeing and how this might be improved.
• Group 2 - Training and Support for Teachers and Others: to identify the immediate training / assistance requirements of schools’ covering the range from awareness through to specific skills. To prepare a commissioning brief for any identified training / or materials for teachers and other schools’ staff.
• Group 3 - Good Practice Identification and Dissemination: to identify evidenced based best practice, both here and in other jurisdictions, and prepare a plan on how this might be shared with schools.
• Group 4 – Mapping Available Resources: to identify evidenced based best practice, both here and in other jurisdictions, and prepare a plan on how this might be shared with schools.
• Group 5 - Critical Incidents Response: to update of the current guidance on suicide and self harm and to develop proposals for a regional approach to the management of critical incidents.

The outcomes from much of this work will be available over the course of 2010/11 and will be shared with schools in due course.

There is already a considerable volume of research evidence about the negative impact of poor mental health on the life chances of both adults and children and the links with social disadvantage. Further the members of the working groups have brought their experience, knowledge and expertise of the effect of emotional well-being on academic performance to the task. It is expected that the Programme, once established will make a significant contribution to the wider strategies around improving mental health in our community.

Promotion of Emotional Well-being in the Classroom

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister of Education (i) how the promotion of emotional well-being is integrated into the curriculum at all Key Stage levels; and (ii) what steps have been taken to reduce behavioural problems in the classroom in each of the last three years.

(AQW 4199/10)

Minister of Education: Emotional well-being is a key element of the revised curriculum across all Key Stages. At Primary level it is taught through the Personal Development and Mutual Understanding (PDMU) Area of Learning. At Foundation Stage pupils should be enabled to explore their own and others’ feelings and emotions and by Key Stage 1 they should be looking at how their actions affect others. At Key Stage 2, teachers should enable pupils to develop knowledge, understanding and skills in their management of a range of feelings and emotions and the feelings and emotions of others.

At post-Primary level, emotional well-being is taught through the Learning for Life and Work (LLW) Area of Learning. Through exploration of personal health pupils are provided with opportunities to understand the importance of recognising and managing factors that may influence physical and emotional/mental health throughout life.

My Department’s publication "Promoting and Sustaining Good Behaviour: A Discipline Strategy for Schools" sets out a support model of progressively more intensive interventions for pupils whose behaviour is challenging.

Tá Foireann Thacaíochta Iompair ag gach Bord Oideachais agus Leabharlainne a sholáthraíonn comhairle do scoileanna ar chláir iomchuí iompair agus, i gcásanna áirithe, tacaíocht fhadtéarma do dhaltaí aonair, comhairle ghinearálta ar chur chuige iomlán scoile agus ar scileanna bainistíochta sheomra ranga múinteoirí a fhorbairt; agus comhairle láithreach de bhun teagmhas dáiríre.

Each Education and Library Board has a Behaviour Support Team which provides advice to schools on appropriate behaviour programmes and, in certain cases, short term support for individual pupils; general advice on developing whole school approaches and teachers classroom management skills; and immediate advice in response to serious incidents.

Education and Skills Authority

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 3400/10, 3780/10, and 3781/10, to detail (i) the number of staff seconded to the Education and Skills Authority implementation team, broken down by (a) job title; and (b) salary scale; and (ii) how many of these posts are located at (a) Forestview, Purdy's Lane, Belfast; and (b) Omagh Library, Spillars Place, Omagh.

(AQW 4201/10)

Minister of Education: Tá miondealú ar fhoireann a tugadh ar iasacht don Údarás um Oideachas agus Scileanna ar taispeáint sa tábla thíos de réir teideal poist agus réimse tuarastail. Oibríonn ceathrar den fhoireann cuid den tseachtain ar an Ómaigh; tá siad lonnaithe i Radharc na Foraoise don chuid eile den tseachtain.

The breakdown of staff seconded to the Education and Skills Authority Implementation Team is shown in the table below by job title and salary range. Four staff work part of the week in Omagh; the remainder are based in Forestview.

Job Title	Salary scale	Number
Director (designate)	£82,000-99,500	2
Project Manager	£38,961-58,236	4
Principal Officer	£39,823-50,796	1
Deputy Principal	£30,142-38,893	1
Chief Executive Support Office Manager	£39,823-50,796	1
Transition Co-Ordinator	£48,800-53,043	1
Senior Support Officer	£30,142-38,893	2
Support Officer	£24,089-30,520	7
Project Officer	£31,753-52,205	3
Assistant Support Officer	£17,668-21,306	1
Administrative Support Officer	£15,726-16,830	1
Personal Assistant	£17,161-26,276	3
Total		27

Education and Skills Authority

Mr K Robinson asked e Minister of Education, pursuant to AQW 3780/10, for a breakdown by location of the £359,000 accommodation costs incurred up to 31 October 2009 in preparation for the Education and Skills Authority at (i) Forestview, Purdy's Lane, Belfast; and (ii) Omagh Library, Spillars Place, Omagh.

(AQW 4202/10)

Minister of Education: Tá miondealú leagtha amach sa tábla thíos ar na costais chóiríochta de £359,000 de réir suímh go dtí 31 Deireadh Fómhair 2009 in ullmhúchán don Údarás um Oideachas agus Scileanna.

A breakdown by location of the £359,000 accommodation costs incurred up to 31 October 2009 in preparation for the Education and Skills Authority is set out in the table below:

	(i) Forestview	(ii) Omagh Library	Total
Expenditure	£357,500	£1,500	£359,000

South Eastern Education and Library Board

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Education why she has not re-constituted the South Eastern Education and Library Board.

(AQW 4236/10)

Minister of Education: Bheartaigh mé gurbh é an bealach is fearr chun tosaigh do Bhord Oideachais agus Leabharlainne an Oirdheiscirt ná a iarraidh ar an cheathrar Coimisinéirí fanacht don idirthréimhse go dtí go mbunófar an tÚdarás um Oideachas agus Scileanna. D’oibrigh an Bord go maith faoi na Coimisinéirí agus mothaím fosta go mbeadh sé mícheart a chur isteach ar an chóras ag an am seo nuair atá fócas na hoibre coinbhéirseachta ar struchtúir agus próisis níos srúthlínithe a chur i bhfeidm.

I decided that the most appropriate way forward for the South Eastern Education and Library Board was to ask the four Commissioners to stay on for the transitional period until the Education and Skills Authority is established.

I feel it would be wrong to disrupt the system at this time when the focus of the convergence work is on having more stream-lined structures and processes.

Teaching Appointment Committees

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Education how the Teaching Appointment Committees will operate prior to the establishment of the re-constituted Education and Library Boards.

(AQW 4238/10)

Minister of Education: Paragraph 10(2) of Schedule 2 to the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 1986 provides that any vacancy or defect in the appointment of board members does not affect the validity of the Board’s decisions. This also applies to the constitution of the teaching appointments committees.

Go dtí go gceapfar ball boird don idirthréimhse roimh bhunú an Údaráis um Oideachas agus Scileanna, síneadh na téarmaí oifige de bhall reatha. Soláthraíonn sé seo baill leorga le coistí ceapacháin mhúinteoireachta a chomhdhéanamh agus a fheidhmiú.

Pending the appointment of board members for the transitional period up to the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority, the terms of office of a number of existing members have been extended. This provides sufficient members for the constitution and operation of teaching appointments committees.

Changing Primary Legislation

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Education to detail each step she is required to take as Minister to change any primary legislation.

(AQW 4239/10)

Minister of Education: There are two options available to enable changes to be made to primary legislation.

These are to: -

• make primary legislation which amends the existing legislation, or
• make completely new legislation and repeal the existing legislation.

Sa dá chás, chomh maith leis na gnáthchéimeanna a ghlacfadh mé agus mo Roinn i dtaca le forbairt bheartais, d’iarrfadh mé comhairle an Choiste Oideachais agus comhaontú an Phríomhfheidhmeannaigh i leith na reachtaíochta molta sula n-iarrfadh mé ar an Cheann Comhairle cead a thabhairt leis an Bhille a thabhairt isteach sa Tionól.

In both cases in addition to the normal steps I and my department would take in relation to policy development I would seek the advice of the Education Committee and the agreement of the Executive to the proposed legislation before asking the Speaker for permission to introduce the Bill to the Assembly.

The procedures in the Assembly are governed by Standing Orders 30 to 42 which can be found on the Assembly website at http://archive.niassembly.gov.uk/sopdf/2007mandate/standingorders.htm

Goods and Services Paid for Online

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) which goods and services provided by her Department can be paid for online; (ii) the total number of transactions processed by her Department for these goods and services in each of the last five years; (iii) the total number of these transactions which were (a) online payments; (b) payments by cheque; (c) postal order; (d) cash; or (e) other method; and (iv) the percentage of payments made online compared with other payment methods.

(AQW 4292/10)

Minister of Education: Ní sholáthraíonn an Roinn Oideachais aon earraí agus seirbhísí ar féidir a íoc astu ar líne.

The Department of Education does not provide any goods and services which can be paid for online.

Area Based Planning

Mr D Bradley asked the Minister of Education for an update on (i) Area Based Planning; (ii) when the report of the central group to consider the future of post-primary education, will be acted upon; and (iii) whether there is work being carried out at departmental level to examine the implications of this report in terms of the cost and location of post-primary provision.

(AQW 4304/10)

Minister of Education: Tugadh an beartas ar Phleanáil de réir Ceantair chun críche i mí Mhárta 2009 agus dréachtaíodh clásail i dtaca leis seo i leith an dara Bhille Oideachais atá faoi bhreathnú Choiste Oideachais an Tionóil faoi láthair.

The policy on Area-based Planning was finalised in March 2009 and clauses relating to this have been drafted for the second Education Bill which is currently being considered by the Assembly Committee for Education.

The Education and Skills Authority will have a statutory duty for Area-based Planning and overall operational responsibility for planning provision within the policy and strategic framework set by the Department. My Department is progressing work on detailed guidance on Area-based Planning, which will set out the roles and responsibilities of the key players as reflected in the Policy and draft Bill clauses and will take account of the recommendations contained within the "Together Towards Entitlement" Report.

The full Entitlement Framework will be a statutory requirement from 2013. I have considered carefully "Together towards Entitlement" and it is clear that we have made some progress towards the delivery of the Entitlement Framework, but not enough.

My officials are developing an action plan that responds to the recommendations in the report and ensures that the pace of change increases. Additionally I have asked Gavin Boyd and Sean Hogan to ensure, as part of their work on convergence, that there is sustained progress towards full implementation of the Entitlement Framework and that schools receive the support they need to improve the curricular offer available to their pupils. This is not simply about checking whether schools are offering a certain number of courses. It is about ensuring that the range of courses offered by each school is capable of supporting young people to achieve to their full potential with clear progression routes to fulfilling careers.

Unofficial Selection Tests

Mrs M Bradley asked the Minister of Education whether her Department is examining the impact of this year's unofficial selection tests on (i) teachers; and (ii) pupils in primary schools.

(AQW 4305/10)

Minister of Education: Scríobh mé chuig príomhoidí agus chuig cathaoirligh de Bhoird Ghobharnóirí de gach bunscoil ar 11 Bealtaine 2009 ag léiriú go soiléir an dualgais reachtúil a bhfuil orthu leis an churaclam athbhreithnithe a sholáthar agus is é sin an réimse ar chóir dóibh fócas a dhíriú air ar mhaithe lena ndaltaí. Atreisíodh an teachtaireacht seo i dTreoir deiridh na Roinne um Aistriú 2010 a foilsíodh ar 25 Meitheamh 2009.

I wrote to principals and Chairs of Boards of Governors of all primary schools on 11 May 2009 making clear the statutory duty they have to deliver the revised curriculum and that is where they should be directing their energies in the interests of their pupils. This message was reinforced in the Department’s final Transfer 2010 Guidance published on 25 June 2009.

It is evident from representations made to me that many educationalists, particularly those working within primary schools, are unhappy with the way that breakaway grammar schools have attempted to impose their independent admissions arrangements on primary schools. Testing, in whatever form it may take, places at risk delivery of the revised curriculum, and that is why I have urged all along that schools refrain from this practise, and allow primary school teachers and pupils to concentrate on what is most important for a child’s educational development, the revised curriculum.

My Department continues to monitor the implementation of its Transfer 2010 policy.

Literacy and Numeracy Skills

Mr A Attwood asked the Minister of Education to outline the statistical model that her Department uses to measure the number of children leaving school without basic literacy and numeracy skills.

(AQW 4306/10)

Minister of Education: Faightear an t-eolas litearthachta agus uimhearthachta i dtaca le páistí a fhágann scoil ó Shuirbhé bliantúil na bhFágálach Scoile a thaifeadann ceannphointí agus cáilíochtaí na ndaltaí sin go léir a fhágann oideachas dara leibhéil i ngach bliain acadúil. Soláthraítear an t-eolas don Roinn ag na hiarbhunscoileanna. Baintear úsáid as na gráid a bhaineann daltaí amach i mBéarla agus i matamaitic sa GCSE chun scileanna litearthachta agus uimhearthacha a thomhas.

The literacy and numeracy information relating to children leaving school is obtained from the annual School Leavers Survey which records the destinations and qualifications of all those pupils leaving secondary level education in each academic year. The information is provided to the Department by the post- primary schools. Literacy and numeracy skills are measured from the School Leavers Survey using the grades that pupils achieve in GCSE English and mathematics. The School Leavers Survey is the data source for the annual publication ‘Qualifications and Destinations of School Leavers’.

Rights Respecting School Award

Mr R McCartney asked the Minister of Education if she has considered making the 'Rights Respecting School' award part of the school curriculum.

(AQW 4308/10)

Minister of Education: Citizenship education, which includes human rights and social responsibility, sits at the core of the revised curriculum and is included under compulsory areas of learning for all pupils from Year 1 to Year 12. At primary level, it is part of the area of learning, Personal Development and Mutual Understanding and at post-primary level, Local and Global Citizenship is part of the area of learning, Learning for Life and Work.

Citizenship education will equip all pupils with the knowledge and skills they need to participate fully in society. They will have opportunities to use local and global examples to investigate topics such as diversity, inclusion, cultural heritage, equality, democracy, participation and human rights, for example the key principles outlined in instruments such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Is ar gach scoil a chinneadh cad iad na hacmhainní, cláir nó seirbhísí a bhreithníonn siad a bheith iomchuí chun tacú lena soláthar curaclaim. Mar sin de, is ag na scoileanna aonair atá an rogha le páirt a ghlacadh i mBronntaí Scoileanna um Meas a Thabhairt do Chearta mar chuid dá soláthar oideachais Saoránachta.

It is matter for individual schools to decide which resources, programmes or services they consider appropriate to support their curricular provision. The choice on whether to take part in the Rights Respecting Schools Awards, as part of their delivery of Citizenship education, therefore rests with individual schools.

Education and Skills Authority

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Education to detail the cost, to date, of the recruitment process for the Education and Skills Authority.

(AQW 4344/10)

Minister of Education: Ba é costas ar phoist an Phríomhfheidhmeannaigh (Ainmnithe) agus an Chathaoirligh (Ainmnithe) a fhógairt a cheapfar mar fhoireann an Údaráis um Oideachas agus Scileanna (ESA) nuair a bhunófar an tESA ná £66,738. Thabhaigh ceapacháin seisear Stiúrthóirí (Ainmnithe) a bheidh mar fhoireann an ESA nuair a bhunófar an tESA costais de £50,612. Bhí costas de £4,167 ar fhógraíocht ar baill Bhoird an ESA a cheapadh, nár ceapadh go fóill iad. Tugann sé seo iomlán de £121,517 go dtí seo.

The cost of advertising the posts of Chief Executive (Designate) and the Chairperson (Designate) who will become Education and Skills Authority (ESA) staff once ESA is established, was £66,738. Appointment of six Directors (Designate) who will become ESA staff once ESA is established, incurred costs of £50,612. Advertising for ESA Board members, who have not yet been appointed, cost £4,167. This gives a total to date of £121,517.

Budget Cuts

Mr J McCallister asked the Minister of Education, in relation to recent budget cuts (i) what percentage of her budget has been cut; (ii) whether this percentage cut is capital or recurrent; (iii) if her Department has announced where these cuts are to be made; (iv) what impact this will have on the School Buildings and Repair Programme; and (v) whether any new school build projects will be affected.

(AQW 4358/10)

Minister of Education: Of the £74 million savings to be delivered by my Department, £51.7 million are to be delivered from current expenditure with £22 million savings coming from capital investment. This equates to savings of to 2.6% from the current budget and 11.5% from the capital budget. I am currently considering options for delivering these savings and no decisions will be made or announcements made until an equality assessment is carried out on each of the proposals.

Ba mhaith liom a chinntiú chomh oiread agus is féidir go soláthrófar na coigiltí seo ar bhealach a laghdaíonn an tionchar ar sheirbhísí túslíne agus go gcinntíonn sé úsáid is fearr na n-acmhainní atá ar fáil ar mhaithe le gach páiste agus duine óg.

I want to ensure that as far as possible these savings are delivered in a way that minimises the impact on front line services and ensures the best possible use of all available resources for the benefit of all our children and young people.

I hope to be in a position to make final decisions in the coming weeks.

Bus Passes

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Education to outline the criteria used for issuing bus passes to children attending secondary schools in rural areas.

(AQW 4379/10)

Minister of Education: The criteria used to determine eligibility for assistance with school transport (including "bus passes") are, (a) distance (three miles in the case of pupils attending secondary schools), and (b) nearest suitable school.

Tá sainmhíniú cruinn ag an téarma "scoil oiriúnach". Is ionann "scoil oiriúnach" agus scoil i gceann de na catagóirí aitheanta de Scoileanna Rialaithe, faoi Chothabháil, Chomhtháite, Gaeloidechais, nó Scoileanna sainchreidmheacha gramadaí nó Scoileanna neamh-shainchreidmheacha gramadaí. Ní ghlactar leis aon shainmhíniú eile an téarma "oiriúnach".

The term "suitable school" has a precise definition. A "suitable school" is one in the recognised categories of Controlled, Maintained, Integrated, Irish-Medium, or Denominational or non-Denominational grammar. No other definition of the term "suitable" is accepted.

Therefore, to be eligible for transport assistance to a secondary school, a pupil must live more than three miles from a suitable school, or have been refused a place in all suitable schools within three miles of the parental home.

DEPARTMENT FOR EMPLOYMENT AND LEARNING

Hotels Booked for Civil Servants

Mr T Burns asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail (i) the number of nights in hotels booked for civil servants in his Department which were paid for wholly, or in part, but never used; and (ii) the costs and loss of revenue incurred booking these hotel rooms, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 3838/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning (Sir Reg Empey): The following table details the number of nights unused in hotel accommodation and the total costs incurred for each of the last five years:

YEAR	NO OF NIGHTS CANCELLED	TOTAL COSTS INCURRED
2004/05	Information not held	£
2005/06	Information not held	£
2006/07	Information not held	£
2007/08	20	£110.24*
2008/09	28	£151.58*

* A small administration fee is charged for each cancelled booking rather than the full cost of the accommodation.

University Scholarships

Mr J Craig asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what monies he has allocated for scholarships in science, technology, engineering and mathematics in universities for the financial year 2010/11.

(AQW 3850/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: My Department does not currently provide funding for scholarships in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in universities. However, the Department has recently commissioned research into the possibility of providing a bursary or scholarship for STEM students. The research was commissioned to make recommendations on whether bursaries or scholarships would impact on the number of applications for STEM subjects, the types of bursaries or scholarships that should be made available and the impact on other subject areas.

The final report is due to be published shortly and I will provide you with a further update when this is available.

Admission to Higher Education

Mr T Lunn asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to provide the most recent years’ comparative figures for the percentage of pupils from the four lowest socio-economic groups in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK gaining admission to Higher Education.

(AQW 3856/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Information on the percentage of pupils from the four lowest socio-economic groups is not available.

However, as an alternative measure, my Department holds information on the percentage of young full-time first degree entrants to NI and GB Higher Education Institutions, from Socio-economic groups 4 to 7. For each of the last five academic years for which data are available these are detailed in the table below:

	2003/04	2004/05	2005/06	2006/07	2007/08
NI	42.4	41.2	41.0	41.7	40.6
GB	28.2	27.8	28.9	29.4	29.2

Source: Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

Drop Out Rate for Students

Mr A Ross asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the drop out rate for students in (i) Further Education colleges; and (ii) universities, who were studying STEM subjects in each of the past ten years.

(AQW 3915/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The table below details the drop out rates for students studying STEM subjects in Further Education (FE) colleges in each of the last ten years for which data are available. Drop out rates in FE are calculated as the percentage of Final year enrolments who withdraw from their course. Overall drop-out rates in the context of students being tracked across academic years are not available.

Academic year	Drop out Rate
1998/99	8%
1999/00	7%
2000/01	6%
2001/02	7%
2002/03	8%
2003/04	8%
2004/05	9%
2005/06	10%
2006/07	9%
2007/08	9%

Source: Further Education Leavers Survey

ii) Data on drop out rates in higher education (HE) are provided by the Higher Education Statistics Agency to DEL and are calculated on a different basis to those in FE. In 2007/08, 11.3% of full-time first year undergraduates studying STEM subjects at NI Higher Education Institutions were no longer in HE following entry in 2006/07.

DEL does not hold this information for years prior to 2007/08. However further information may be obtained from: -

a) For the academic years from 2001/02 - 2006/07: -

Higher Education Statistics Agency
95 Promenade
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
GL50 1HZ

b) For academic years prior to 2001/02: -

Higher Education Funding Council for England
12th Floor
Centre Point
103 New Oxford Street
LONDON WC1A 1DD

Anti-Social Behaviour in the Holyland Area

Mr J Craig asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what discussions he has had with Queen's University, Belfast and the University of Ulster in the last year about anti-social behaviour in the Holyland area of South Belfast.

(AQW 3991/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: As you may be aware, I contacted the Vice Chancellors of Queen’s University and the University of Ulster on the morning of 18 March 2009, after the disorder the previous day in the Holylands area. Representatives from both universities have been liaising with my officials in helping to develop the Holyland Action Plan which was presented at the Second Holyland Stakeholder Forum.

In addition, representatives from both universities attended the Stakeholder Forums which I convened on 7 May 2009 and 28 October 2009.

University representatives continue to be involved with Belfast City Council’s Holyland Inter-Agency Group which has agreed to take on a more strategic oversight role in addressing the ongoing problems associated with anti-social behaviour in the Holyland area.

Student Accommodation

Mr J Craig asked the Minister for Employment and Learning if there is a requirement on universities to provide accommodation for a minimum number of students.

(AQW 3992/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: There is currently no requirement for either Queen’s University Belfast or the University of Ulster to provide accommodation for a minimum number of students.

Whilst the provision of accommodation is primarily an issue for the universities, I have been advised by the University of Ulster that its current provision of over 900 student accommodation places at the Jordanstown Campus is not fully occupied. Queen’s University has invested some £45m to date in creating the Elms Village which provides accommodation for nearly 1800 students.

PhD Research Students

Mr J Craig asked the Minister for Employment and Learning (i) how much money will be available for PhD research students in the next financial year; (ii) for where will this money become available; and (iii) for which subject areas.

(AQW 4054/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: (i) The financial year 2010/2011 budget for research (MPhil, DPhil PhD) and for approved courses of advanced study (Masters) is £13.3M. This includes funding for an additional 300 PhDs as outlined in (iii) below. The allocation between PhD and Masters level courses is at the discretion of the universities and these decisions have not yet been taken for the next financial year. It is therefore not possible at this stage to state how much funding will be allocated solely to PhDs.

(ii) The £13.3M will be apportioned between Queens University and University of Ulster.

(iii) Each year, my Department makes available funding to Queen's University Belfast and the University of Ulster for 495 postgraduate students, which includes (MPhil, DPhil PhD) and approved courses of advanced study (Masters) in the fields of Humanities, Science and Technology and Social Science. The universities are responsible for administering the postgraduate scheme and allocating the awards. They have discretion in determining how the funding is allocated. It is for each university to decide the mix of PhD and Masters studentship awards it wishes to make, within the levels of funding available and to meet its own strategic goals.

The Programme for Government committed the Department to "increase by 300 the number of PhD research students at local universities by 2010." taking the total number of research students supported by my Department in the academic year 2010/11 to 795.

These additional 300 PhD research places are being part funded by the "Funding for Innovation" stream and are focused on areas of economic relevance as agreed by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI). The economic priority areas for the academic year 2010/11 are: agri-food, life and health sciences, advanced materials (including clean technologies), engineering, ICT, electronics, software engineering, construction (including clean technologies), creative media and financial services. In considering applications, account will be taken of engineering and technology, mathematical sciences and biological sciences which, as evidenced in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) report, are particularly under-represented at doctoral level graduation in Northern Ireland.

Merger of Stranmillis College and Queen's University

Mr A Easton asked the Minister for Employment and Learning when the business case for the merger of Stranmillis College and Queen's University will be available.

(AQW 4077/10)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The economic appraisal for the proposed merger of Stranmillis University College and Queen’s University Belfast has been reviewed by my Department and is currently being reviewed by economists within the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP). If approval is obtained from DFP, my Department will take a policy decision on the proposal and if this is supportive, it is intended that the proposal to merge will be put out to public consultation following engagement with the Employment and Learning Committee. I would expect that to be in Spring 2010. The economic appraisal will be available as a supporting document to the consultation.

DEPARTMENT OF ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Property Developers

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to list the number and names of property developers who have (i) declared bankruptcy; (ii) gone into administration; and (iii) entered into Individual Voluntary Arrangements in each of the last two years.

(AQW 3969/10)

1. Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Mrs A Foster): It is not possible to provide the exact information requested. The Insolvency Service does not use any classification of property developer.
2. The table below shows the number, estimated liabilities and assets of Bankruptcies and Companies Wound Up by the Court within the "Construction" classification for the last two years for which information is available. Some may to varying degrees have been involved in property development but this could only be determined by checking each individual file the cost of which would be disproportionate.

	Bankruptcy Orders and Orders for Administration of Estates ofDeceased Insolvents			Company Winding-Up Orders
Construction (year ending) 31.03.2008)
	No.	Liabilities£	Assets£	No.	Liabilities£	Assets£
General Construction & Demolition	99	5,422,386	2,689,761	15	1,127,414	297,047
Home Improvements	13	229,068	337,872	3	206,927	0
Decorating & Small Works	20	569,973	742,695	1	114,541	0
Building Repairs	6	1,078,780	122,816	1	54,157	0
Electrical & Plumbing	16	785,446	1,007,431	5	2,036,116	570,285
Construction (year ending 31.03.2009)
	No.	Liabilities £	Asset £	No.	Liabilities £	Assets £
General Construction & Demolition	107	13,273,236	4,134,736	17	3,071,503	65,274
Home Improvements	22	1,309,147	263,305	4	1,096,531	133,451
Decorating & Small Works	41	1,102,065	171,409	2	284,105	3,000
Building Repairs	21	1,423,224	8,309	5	562,349	974
Electrical & Plumbing	29	1,294,099	954,857	4	571,644	45,136

3. In addition, no Companies in Administration were classified as being in property development during this period. There were no companies in year ending 31.03.08 with descriptions connected to the general construction industry but in year ending 31.03.09 four companies were described as general builders and five as property owning and managing.
4. The Insolvency Service also maintains the Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) Register. However, the information provided does not include debtors’ trades or professions.

Wood Chip Boilers

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (i) how many (a) domestic; and (b) commercial wood chip boilers are currently in operation; and (ii) to detail the increase in usage in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4007/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: My Department only holds information on the numbers of wood fired boiler installations in Northern Ireland where a grant or other form of government intervention has occurred. The table below outlines the range of data in relation to the numbers of wood chip boilers and it includes an extrapolated figure from work commissioned in 2005 into the number and range of renewable energy installations in operation.

Year	Domestic Number of grants from Reconnect for wood fired boilers. 2006/08	Commercial Number of loans from the Carbon Trust for wood fired boilers	Number of domestic and commercial wood fired boilers from 2005 DETI study
2005			53
2006-07	514	9
2007-08	740	9
2008-09		4
2009-10		7
Total	1254	29

Renewable Energy Sector

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what steps he is taking to create jobs in the renewable energy sector; and what discussions he has had with other Ministers in relation to this.

(AQW 4008/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Invest NI has designated specific resources to identify business opportunities in the renewable energy sector and build awareness of these within local industry. An Invest NI strategy for the renewables sector is under development, but several activities have been initiated to promote and stimulate the uptake by Northern Ireland businesses of the opportunities that are rapidly unfolding. One such activity of note was the very successful Northern Ireland Energy & Environment Conference in October 2009, which over 650 local businesses attended.

Invest NI is currently working with a number of clients providing products and services within a wide range of renewable sub-sectors; this includes onshore and offshore wind, marine, biomass, anaerobic digestion and solar thermal. Since April 2009, clients within the renewables sector have received financial assistance amounting to £4.4 million against total investment costs of £16.6 million for a range of activities including research and development, training, job creation and the development of collaborative networks. A number of other projects are at various stages of development and it is likely that some of these will come to fruition in the next financial year.

The Sustainable Energy Inter-Departmental Working Group, mandated by the Executive, will demonstrate a strategic, joined-up Government approach to Sustainable Energy; an area in which a number of Departments have legislative responsibility for energy efficiency and renewable energy. A sub-group, chaired by Invest NI, has been set up to look specifically at opportunities for ‘green jobs’ and skills development within Northern Ireland. This group focuses on the economic opportunities that might be realised through Departments’ appreciation of the significant impact they have on generating and stimulating markets for sustainable energy goods and services and gearing their policies accordingly.

Invest NI also works closely with other regions on areas of mutual interest, particularly, in harnessing the economic potential of marine energy.

Presbyterian Mutual Society

Mr M Durkan asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what assessment has been made of the cost to the Northern Ireland economy resulting from the administration of the Presbyterian Mutual Society.

(AQW 4071/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: My Department has not made an assessment of the cost to the Northern Ireland economy resulting from the administration of the Presbyterian Mutual Society.

The Society continues to operate as a going concern under the management of the Administrator. I am, however, aware that these are exceptional circumstances and, following representations from one business which was affected adversely by the Society’s current difficulties, I took action on their behalf which has resulted in HMRC deferring tax payments for them and similar cases for nine months.

I remain willing to consider any further representations from affected businesses which are made to me.

Investing for Health Strategy

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail any meetings or discussions that she, or her officials, have held with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety within the last year to discuss commitments under the Investing for Health strategy.

(AQW 4181/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: My Department’s main contribution to the Investing for Health strategy is through the promotion by the Health and Safety Executive of workplaces as health promoting and safe environments. There are regular meetings with DHSSPS at official level to develop work in this area. DETI also continues to be represented at senior official level on the Group, chaired by the DHSSPS Minister, which oversees the strategy.

Gas and Electricity Bill Arrears

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, pursuant to AQW 3683/10, (i) how many households have defaulted on (a) gas bills; and (b) electricity bills in the last year; and (ii) how many households have entered into a payment recovery scheme for (a) gas bill; and (b) electricity bill arrears in the last year.

(AQW 4204/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment:

(i) (a) Gas

Phoenix Supply has advised the Department that 1,393 households defaulted on their gas bill in the last year. firmus energy has confirmed that 9 households defaulted within the last year.

(b) Electricity

NIE Energy Supply has advised that approximately 1.4% (around 10,000) of their domestic customers have defaulted on electricity bills in the last year.

(ii) (a) Gas

Phoenix Supply has advised that over the last year 685 customers entered into a repayment

scheme for unpaid bills.

firmus energy has advised the Department that during the last year, they had 52 households

on debt repayment schemes.

(b) Electricity

NIE Energy Supply has advised that approximately 8,000 domestic customers have entered

into payment recovery arrangements in the last year for electricity bill arrears.

Companies in Receivership

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment how many companies have (i) gone into receivership; and (ii) laid-off staff on a short term basis, in the last year, broken down by constituency.

(AQW 4258/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: In the year ending 31 December 2009, 15 companies went into administrative receivership. In the same period 17 companies also went into administration, 76 companies were wound up by going into a creditors voluntary liquidation and 156 companies were wound up by Order of the High Court.

My Department does not collate information about short term staff lay-offs.

The Insolvency Service does not record the constituency in which an insolvent company carries on business. To obtain this information would necessitate examination of each individual case file, the cost of which would be disproportionate.

Papers Referred to the Executive

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to list the subject matter of each of the 22 papers that her Department referred to the Executive between May 2007 and 7 December 2009; and to state whether the Executive agreed each paper.

(AQW 4268/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: It is not our practice to disclose details of Executive business. The content of Executive papers and all aspects of Executive business are confidential.

Walled City Signature Scheme

Mr M Durkan asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for an update on the development of (i) the Guildhall; (ii) St.Columb's Cathedral; and (iii) the First Derry Presbyterian Church as part of the Walled City signature scheme.

(AQW 4380/10)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment:

1. The original economic appraisal for the Guildhall project was revised following the reduction in Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) funding. The revised economic appraisal is currently being considered on the basis of a funding shortfall of £2.72million. If the appraisal is supportive, NITB will be seeking approval of the project through processes established for the Integrated Development Fund and the Northern Ireland Executive.
2. A letter of offer for £2,029,279 was issued to St. Columb’s Cathedral in February 2009. A project board has been created, tendering undertaken and contractors have been on site since January 2010 with the programme of works well underway. It is anticipated that the project will be completed by January 2011.
3. A letter of offer for £1,387,279 was issued to the First Derry Presbyterian Church. A project board has been created and tendering undertaken. Contracts were signed with the successful contractors in January 2010 and works are due to commence on site in February 2010 with completion by February 2011.

DEPARTMENT OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Maze/Long Kesh Site

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister of the Environment if he has any plans to de-list any of the listed buildings on the Maze/Long Kesh site.

(AQW 3887/10)

Minister of the Environment (Mr E Poots): I have no plans to de-list any of the listed buildings on the Maze/Long Kesh site. The original decisions to list and schedule structures at the Maze were taken only after a detailed examination and consideration of the architectural and historic significance of the site and buildings. Following the expression of concerns by the public, and some members of this Assembly, my predecessor asked the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (which is responsible within my Department for listing decisions) to carry out a further review of the listing and potential for delisting on this site. This review has concluded that the listed buildings on the site merit such protection.

Flights Booked for Civil Servants

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of the Environment to detail (i) the number of flights booked for Civil Servants in his Department which were paid for wholly, or in part, but never used; and (ii) the costs and loss of revenue incurred booking these flights, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4049/10)

Minister of the Environment: The table below gives details of the figures requested for my Department over the last five years.

Flights and expenditure details	2005- 06	2006- 07	2007- 08	2008- 09	2009- 10 (April 2009- to date)	Total
Number of flights	85	75	60	33	29	282
Expenditure incurred	£5,542	£5,859	£5,140	£4,689	£2,389	£23,619

PPS21

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of the Environment for an update on the publication of PPS21.

(AQW 4072/10)

Minister of the Environment: PPS 21 has been submitted to the Executive for consideration and will be published after it has been agreed.

Probationary Drivers

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of the Environment, given the high rate of road deaths among young male drivers aged 18-24, if he has given consideration to the probationary drivers peer passenger restriction enforced in the State of Victoria in Australia, which permits probationary drivers to carry no more than one passenger aged between 16 and 21 years old, excluding family members, at any time.

(AQW 4098/10)

Minister of the Environment: I am very concerned about the unacceptably high number of young and novice drivers involved in fatal and serious collisions on our roads each year. This is why I intend to consult shortly on Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) to reduce the exposure of risk to all new drivers. Preparation of the GDL consultation paper has involved considering evidence of graduated driving licensing systems in various countries including the State of Victoria in Australia.

Research from Victoria highlights that 26% of first year probationary drivers involved in fatal crashes were carrying multiple passengers, but only 9% of their total driving is with multiple passengers. The risk of a probationary driver being involved in a fatal crash increases four fold if they are carrying two or more passengers.

Under new graduated licensing regulations in Victoria (effective from July 2008), drivers on their "P1" licence are not permitted to carry more than one peer passenger (aged 16 -21 years). The P1 licence is awarded upon successful completion of the learner period, and must be held for at least one year before progressing to the minimum three year "P2" licence. Some exemptions are in place (e.g. for family members).

The introduction of similar passenger restrictions in Northern Ireland for newly qualified drivers will be one of a range of GDL - related measures which will be proposed in the forthcoming public consultation. Other examples of what will be discussed in consultation include night-time curfews, passenger restrictions and compulsory learning periods.

MOT Tests

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of the Environment to detail (i) the number of cars which underwent their first MOT test in (a) 2005; (b) 2006; (c) 2007; (d) 2008; and (e) 2009, broken down by car type and manufacturer; and (ii) the number of cars which failed their first MOT test broken down by car type and manufacturer in each of these years.

(AQW 4099/10)

Minister of the Environment: The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) collects data on vehicle registration and vehicle tests. However, information in the form requested is not readily available in the format requested and could be compiled only at disproportionate cost.

11 July Bonfires

Mr B Leonard asked the Minister of the Environment if 11 July bonfires on grounds owned or managed by local councils are (i) permitted by law; and (ii) covered by all categories of liability and indemnity insurances, as is required for all council premises, land and events.

(AQW 4122/10)

Minister of the Environment: There is no legislation that expressly permits bonfires on grounds owned or managed by district councils.

As regards insurance, it is a matter for individual councils to consider and decide on the need to take out liability and indemnity insurance in connection with bonfires on lands owned and managed by them.

Local Council Pension Funds

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of the Environment if local councils have independent responsibility for managing their own employee pension funds, and if so, are any local council pension funds currently in deficit.

(AQW 4129/10)

Minister of the Environment: District councils do not have independent responsibility for managing employee pension funds. District council employees are members of the Local Government Pension Scheme administered by the Northern Ireland Local Government Officers’ Superannuation Committee.

Nitrates Directive

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of the Environment with whom the eventual liability for non-compliance with the Nitrates Directive lies in respect of (i) a failure to provide a lawful facility or process for the disposal of poultry litter; and (ii) any consequential failure to lawfully dispose of poultry litter.

(AQW 4141/10)

Minister of the Environment: (i) The Nitrates Directive allows the application of poultry litter to land as a fertiliser within the 170 kilogrammes of Nitrogen per hectare per year livestock manure limit. The land spreading of poultry litter at this level is not sustainable in the long term due to the high phosphorus content of the litter, the enriched status of soils and the resultant impact on water quality. Further controls may be required under the Water Framework Directive.

In addition any poultry farms which exceed the thresholds of the Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations, are required to demonstrate that they have sufficient land to take the quantity of manure generated on the installation. Poultry litter to be put to any other use, may be considered a waste and in this case its disposal would be subject to further controls. 

(ii) The responsibility to lawfully dispose of poultry litter falls to the farm on which the poultry litter arose, any other site to which it has been transferred for application or disposal and anyone transporting the litter.

Hydro-electric Turbine System

Mr P Doherty asked the Minister of the Environment (i) if a licence was issued by his Department for the hydro-electric turbine system that has been in operation on the River Mourne at Sion Mills since 1996; and (ii) if his Department monitors the impact of the turbine system on the smolt and salmon population of the river Mourne.

(AQW 4160/10)

Minister of the Environment: My Department is close to finalising a decision on the application for a licence for the hydro-electric turbine system in operation on the River Mourne at Sion Mills.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and Loughs Agency, which is co-sponsored by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, all have responsibilities for the monitoring of adult migrating salmonids and smolt runs under their respective legislation.

Freedom of Information Requests

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of the Environment to list the councils that have failed to respond to Freedom of Information requests from members of the public in (i) 2007; (ii) 2008; (iii) 2009; and (iv) to date in 2010.

(AQW 4178/10)

Minister of the Environment: District Councils in Northern Ireland are listed as distinct public authorities in paragraph 36 of Schedule 1 to the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The Department has no advisory or monitoring role in relation to the Councils’ performance under the Act. Consequently, information on how many requests have not been answered by Councils is not held by the Department.

Minutes of Council Meetings

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of the Environment to list the councils that do not publish minutes of council meetings on their websites.

(AQW 4179/10)

Minister of the Environment: Castlereagh Borough Council and Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council do not publish minutes of council meetings on their websites.

Minutes of Council Meetings

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of the Environment if he plans to ensure that all councils publish up to date minutes of council meetings on their websites.

(AQW 4180/10)

Minister of the Environment: It is my intention, as part of the local government reform programme to bring forward proposals that will provide for increased transparency in the operation of councils, including the publication of council minutes.

Investing for Health Strategy

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister of the Environment to detail any meetings or discussions that he, or his officials, have held with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety within the last year to discuss commitments under the Investing for Health strategy.

(AQW 4182/10)

Minister of the Environment: Within the last year my Department has held no direct meetings or discussions with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on the Investing for Health Strategy.

However my Department has continued to contribute to targets in the current Investing for Health Strategy and to the Investing for Health Review throughout 2009. This includes responding to a comprehensive survey for the Investing for Health Review and reporting on ongoing commitments for air quality, road safety and other associated activities that contribute to the Investing for Health objectives.

Primacure Health Village, Ballygawley

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of the Environment why the Planning Service has recommended that the application for the proposed Primacure health village, Ballygawley, should be refused.

(AQW 4185/10)

Minister of the Environment: The Department has judged the proposed development to be unacceptable under PPS1 General Principles and policy DES 2 Townscape of the Planning Strategy for Rural NI on the following grounds:

• the proposed development would overshadow, overlook and dominate adjacent dwellings adversely affecting their amenity; and
• the scale, form and massing of the buildings would be insensitive to the character of the area surrounding the site and would thereby fail to make a positive contribution to townscape.

Following consultation with Dungannon & South Tyrone Borough Council, an office meeting was held to discuss these issues involving elected representatives, the applicant and the agent. The application will be formally reconsidered and the Council re-consulted in due course taking into account the representations made at the office meeting and the Minister’s Statement on Economic Development.

Peace Garden at Townsend Street, Strabane

Mr A Bresland asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the planning permission granted for the erection of memorial plaques in the Peace Garden at Townsend Street, Strabane.

(AQW 4242/10)

Minister of the Environment: No planning permission has been applied for or granted for the erection of memorial plaques in the Peace Garden at Townsend Street, Strabane.

Bonfire Site in Antrim Borough Council Area

Mr T Clarke asked the Minister of the Environment how much it cost to clean each bonfire site in Antrim Borough Council in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4261/10)

Minister of the Environment: Antrim Borough Council only holds detailed records for the 2008/2009 financial year. The clean up cost of each bonfire site for that year is listed below.

BONFIRE SITE	AMOUNT
Neillsbrook	775.00
Caulside	1,220.00
TOTAL	1,995.00

Papers Referred to the Executive

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of the Environment to list the subject matter of each of the 47 papers that his Department referred to the Executive between May 2007 and 7 December 2009; and to state whether the Executive agreed each paper.

(AQW 4278/10)

Minister of the Environment: It is not my Department’s practice to disclose details of Executive business. The content of Executive papers and all aspects of Executive business are confidential.

Bi-lingual Street Signage Policies

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of the Environment which councils have bi-lingual street signage policies.

(AQW 4397/10)

Minister of the Environment: My Department does not hold any information on councils bi-lingual street signage policies.

District councils are statutory authorities in their own right, and are responsible for fulfilling their obligations under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND PERSONNEL

Government Owned Land in East Belfast

Lord Browne asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the land in the East Belfast parliamentary constituency which is currently held by Government Departments and their agencies; and to outline the proposals each Department or Agency has for each land holding.

(AQW 3701/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr S Wilson): The information requested is detailed in the attached table.

Name of Land or Building	Postal address (if available)	Owned or Leased	Current use of land/building	Proposed future use
DOE
Driver & Vehicle Agency, Driving Test Centre	Dill Road Castlereagh Belfast BT6 9HT	Owned	Driving Test Centre	Driving Test Centre
Shandon Park Mound	To rear of local resident No 43 Shandon Park, Knock, Belfast	Owned	Historic Monument in State Care (Anglo-Norman Motte)	The Department has a statutory duty to continue to protect this monument
DCAL
PRONI	Titanic Quarter	250 year lease	New Public Record Office – under construction	New Public Record Office – under construction
DSD
	155-157 Newtownards Road & 2 Tower Street	Owned	Vacant Land	Regeneration purposes
	232 Newtownards Road	Owned	Derelict Building	Regeneration purposes
	275-277 Albertbridge Road	Owned	Vacant Land	Regeneration purposes
	2-10 Castlereagh Street/139-141 Albertbridge Road, 1a Stormount Lane and 16-24 Castlereagh Street	Owned	Vacant land and derelict buildings	Regeneration purposes
Former Hospital/Health Centre	98-98a Templemore Avenue	Owned	Derelict Building	Regeneration purposes
Former Rupert Stanley College	55 Templemore Avenue	Owned	Derelict Building	Regeneration purposes
	183-191 Beersbridge Road	Owned	Vacant Land	Apartment development
	211-217 Beersbridge Road	Owned	Vacant Land	Retail/apartment development
	130-138 Castlereagh Street/60-64 Clandeboye Street	Owned	Vacant Land	Regeneration Purposes
DRD
Land	351 Albertbridge Road, Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	355 Albertbridge Road	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	357 Albertbridge Road	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	11 Barnett’s Crescent Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	13 Barnett’s Crescent Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	15 Barnett’s Crescent Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling occupied	17 Barnett’s Crescent Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	12 Barnett’s Crescent Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	14 Barnett’s Crescent Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	16 Barnett’s Crescent Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	18 Barnett’s Crescent Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling – occupied	21 Barnett’s Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	25 Barnett’s Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	29 Barnett’s Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	17-19 Connswater Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling – Vacant	37-45 Connswater Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	1 Finvoy Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling – Vacant	15 Finvoy Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	17 Finvoy Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	19 Finvoy Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	21 Finvoy Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	23 Finvoy Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling- Vacant	25 Finvoy Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	27 Finvoy Street Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling - Vacant	31 Finvoy Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling - Vacant	37a Finvoy Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling - Vacant	2 Finvoy Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling - Vacant	6-8 Finvoy Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	65 Holywood Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	Holywood Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Surplus	Disposal
Land	87-89 Old Holywood Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Surplus	Disposal
Land	91 Old Holywood Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Surplus	Disposal
Land	93 Old Holywood Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Surplus	Disposal
Land/Site	1 Humber Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	7 Humber Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	1 & 7 Humber Street & 159-163 Dee Street Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Surplus	Disposal
Land	159-163 Dee Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	86-88 Kings Road & 1 Knockdene Park Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	4 Knock Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land/Site	4a, 6 & 6a Knock Road & 45 Knockdene Park Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land/Site	30-32 Knock Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land/Site	34-38 Knock Road + lands at Cherryvalley Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	42 Knock Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land/Site	44 Knock Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	46-50 Knock Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	52 Knock Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land/Site	62 Knock Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land/Site	70-72 Knock Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	74 Knock Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	80 Knock Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	82-86 Knock Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	88-96 Knock Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	98-104 Knock Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	2 Orangefield Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	14 Orangefield Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	16 Orangefield Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	20 Orangefield Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	22 Orangefield Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling – occupied	15 Parkgate Avenue Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	10 Parkgate Avenue Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Commercial Property – Occupied	12 Parkgate Avenue Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	12a Parkgate Avenue Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling – vacant	14-16 Parkgate Avenue Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling – vacant	22 Parkgate Avenue Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling	26 Parkgate Avenue Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	Scrabo Street Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Surplus	Disposal
Land	27 Upper Newtownards Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling – vacant	29 Upper Newtownards Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling	35 Upper Newtownards Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	481 Upper Newtownards Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling – vacant	62 Upper Newtownards Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling – vacant	64 Upper Newtownards Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling – blocked up	68 Upper Newtownards Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	Beechill Road/Cedarhurst Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	East Link Road Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	Hanwood Park/East Link Road Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	21-23 Connswater Street Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	47-53 Connswater Street Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Commercial Property – Occupied	380 Newtownards Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Commercial Property – Occupied	382 Newtownards Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Commercial Property – Occupied	386-388 Newtownards Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	Newtownards Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Surplus	Disposal
Land	Saintfield Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	183 Saintfield Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Surplus	Disposal
Land	32 Gortin Park Belfast	Wayleave	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	38 Gortin Park Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	27 Abbey Park Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	692 Ravenhill Road Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	694 Ravenhill Road	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	696 Ravenhill Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	Depot Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	Depot Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Surplus	Disposal
Land	27 Sandhill Gardens Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	14 Ballylenaghan Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Surplus	Disposal
Dwelling – occupied	87 Abbey Park Belfast	Leasehold	Surplus	Disposal
Land	Dunlady Road/Dunlady Manor Dundonald	Freehold	Surplus	Disposal
Land	Blanchflower Park Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Surplus	Disposal
Land	27 Grampian Avenue Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	26 Grampian Avenue Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	28-30 Grampian Avenue Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	441A Beersbridge Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling – occupied	11 Shandon Park Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling – occupied	13 Shandon Park Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	2-4 Shandon Park Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	Parkway/Belmont Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Surplus	Disposal
Dwelling	1 Kenbella Parade Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Dwelling – occupied	72 Kingsdale Park Belfast	Leasehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	Railway Lands Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	Beechill Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	Beechill Road, Purdysburn Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	Abbey Road & Comber Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	276a Comber Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Surplus	Disposal
Land	278 Comber Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold	Surplus	Disposal
Land	Knock Dual Carriageway & Newtownbreda Road Belfast	Fee Simple/Freehold		Unsaleable
Land/Site	360 Comber Road Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	13 Hanwood Park Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	15 Hanwood Park Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	17 Hanwood Park Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	29 Hanwood Park Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	21 Hanwood Park Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	23 Hanwood Park Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	25 Hanwood Park Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	27 Hanwood Park Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	33 Hanwood Park Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	35 Hanwood Park Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	39 Hanwood Park Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	41 Hanwood Park Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	43 Hanwood Park Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	45 Hanwood Park Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	47 Hanwood Park Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	3 The Close Millar’s Forge Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	5 Millar’s Lane Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	4 Grahamsbridge Road Dundonald	Leasehold	Surplus	Disposal
Land	40-56 Beechwood Manor Dundonald	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	Beechill Road/Beaufort Avenue Castlereagh	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	16 Berkley Road/Beechill Road Castlereagh	Fee Simple/Freehold	Surplus	Disposal
Land	Beechill Road Castlereagh	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	Cedarhurst Road/Beechill Road Castlereagh	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	Cairnshill Park & Ride Castlereagh	Fee Simple/Freehold	Interim Estate	Held for future road scheme
Land	Millmount Dundonald	Owned	Estate	Acquired for a Park and Ride Site
DHSSPS
Joss Cardwell Centre	401 Holywood Road Belfast	Owned	Vacant	Belfast Trust have proposals to re-use
Cregagh Clinic	331 Cregagh Road Belfast	Owned	Vacant	Belfast Trust have proposals to re-use
Dundonald Health Care Centre	16 Church Road Belfast	Owned	Health Centre	N/A
Palmerston House	6 Palmerston Road Belfast	Owned	Leased to Clanmil Housing Association	N/A
North Road Children’s Home	60 North Road Belfastq	Owned	Children’s Home	N/A
Former Willowfield Childrens Home	12 Willowfield Avenue Belfast	Owned but lon lease to Clanmil	Supported Housing	N/A
Pine Lodge Elderly Persons Home	186 Belmont Road Belfast	Owned	Elderly Persons Home	N/A
Woodstock Lodge	1-15 Woodstock Link Belfast	Owned	Mental Health Services	N/A
Dundonald Mens Hostel	53-57 Davaar Avenue Belfast	Owned	Vacant	Property to be sold early 2010
Etttaville	4 Kirkliston Drive Belfast	Owned but leased to NI Assoc for Mental Health	Mental Health Services	N/A
Ravenhill Adult Centre	318-322 Ravenhill Road Belfast	Owned	Day Centre	N/A
The Island Resource Centre	7 Cuba Walk Belfast	Owned	Day Centre	N/A
Millars Lane Day Centre	13 Millars Lane Enler Park Belfast	Owned	Day Centre	Services to relocate to new Enler Centre. When complete property to be sold
Beersbridge Road Family Centre	216 Woodstock Road Belfast	Owned	Family Centre	N/A
Edgecumbe Training and Resource Centre	10 Edgecumbe Gardens Belfast	Owned	Day Centre	N/A
Arches Well Being and Treatment Centre	1 Westminister Avenue Belfast	Owned	Wellbeing and Treatment Centre	N/A
Braniel Clinic	16 Glen Road Belfast	Owned	Part Vacant – joint user property with Library	Property to be sold
195 Templemore Avenue	195 Templemore Avenue Belfast	Owned	Office and Support Services	N/A
Gilnahirk Rise Belfast	2 Gilnahirk Rise Belfast	Owned	Office and Support Services	N/A
Victoria Day Centre	Unit 5 25 Tamar Street Belfast	Owned	Day Centre	N/A
Knock Golf Club	Summerfield Stoney Road Belfast	Owned but leased to Knock Golf Club	Used as part of Knock Golf Club	N/A
Ulster Hospital	700 Upper Newtownards Road Belfast	Owned	Acute Hospital	N/A
Cherryvalley Health Centre	17 King Square Belfast	Owned	Health Centre	N/A
McCartney House	529 Upper Newtownards Road Belfast	Owned	Vacant	Belfast Trust have proposals to re-use
DFP
Stormont Estate and associated buildings and land	Upper Newtownards Road Belfast	Owned	Office and recreational use	N/A
Rosepark House and associated buildings and land	711-715 Upper Newtownards Road Belfast	Owned	Office use	N/A
83 Ladas Drive Belfast	83 Ladas Drive Belfast	Owned	Office use	N/A
Holywood Road JBO	106-108 Holywood Road Belfast	Owned	Office use	N/A
Health Estates	Stoney Road Belfast	Owned	Vacant	Transferring to Hospital Trust
Netherleigh	Massey Avenue Belfast	Owned	Office use	N/A
Arches Centre	Bloomfield Avenue Belfast	Leased	Office use	N/A
DARD
Portal Inspection Office, Belfast City Airport	George Best Belfast City Airport, Sydenham Road Belfast	Leased	Portal Inspection Duties	No change of use proposed.
AFBI Stoney Road	Stoney Road Belfast	Owned	The land and buildings are used to provide and support scientific services	No change of use proposed

Buildsoft Programme

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel (i) how many capital projects; and (ii) how much individual data, including key performance indicators, have been input to the Buildsoft programme.

(AQW 4013/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: There are 709 projects, in total, registered on the ‘Buildsoft’ system.

There are 645 individual scorecards associated with these projects, created in the program. Of these, 536 scorecards have been completed.

The scorecards require multiple data inputs relating to Government Construction Clients Group Key Performance Indicators, Customer Satisfaction and Sustainability.

The total number of projects registered on the ‘Buildsoft’ system includes 327 capital projects.

Buildsoft Programme

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel if he can confirm that analytical data from only one capital project has been input to the Buildsoft programme.

(AQW 4014/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: There are 709 projects registered on the ‘Buildsoft’ system, of which 327 are capital projects. Of these capital projects, 249 have scorecard data recorded against them.

Achieving Excellence in Northern Ireland - Validation of Construction Management Maturity Report

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel how many drafts were prepared before the final publication of the 'Achieving Excellence in Northern Ireland - Validation of Construction Management Maturity' report.

(AQW 4015/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: An initial and a final draft report were prepared by Constructing Excellence in Northern Ireland (CEni) prior to the publication of its 'Achieving Excellence in Construction - Validation of Construction Management Maturity' report.

Achieving Excellence in Northern Ireland - Validation of Construction Management Maturity Report

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail (i) his Department's input; and (ii) Central Procurement Directorate's input into the 'Achieving Excellence in Northern Ireland - Validation of Construction Management Maturity' report.

(AQW 4016/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Central Procurement Directorate (CPD), within the Department of Finance and Personnel, commissioned Constructing Excellence in Northern Ireland (CEni) to prepare the ‘Achieving Excellence in Construction – Validation of Construction Management Maturity’ report.

Departments and Centres of Procurement Expertise (CoPEs), with significant construction procurement programmes, use a National Audit Office Maturity Matrix to self-assess their progress in implementing the ‘Achieving Excellence in Construction’ initiative.

In preparing its report, CEni conducted structured interviews with the Departments and CoPEs and reviewed the evidence to support the self-assessment scores. CPD attended the interviews and contributed to the evidence in respect of the Departments for which it acts as a CoPE.

CPD provided written feedback on the layout, format and general content of CEni’s initial draft report. CPD did not comment on CEni’s validated maturity scores. CEni subsequently issued a final draft to Departments and CoPEs for their comments in November 2008. CEni published its final report in April 2009.

Unfilled Vacancies in the Civil Service

Ms M Anderson asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the number of unfilled vacancies at Staff Officer level in the Derry City Council area across each Civil Service Department; and at which locations they are based.

(AQW 4022/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Only DSD has unfilled vacancies in permanent posts at Staff Officer level, in the Derry City Council area, as follows:

• North West Development Office (1)
• Foyle Jobs and Benefits Office (0.2)

Unfilled Civil Service Vacancies in the Derry City Council Area

Mr P Ramsey asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the number and location of unfilled vacancies at Staff Officer level in the Derry City Council area in each Department.

(AQW 4062/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Only DSD has unfilled vacancies in permanent posts at Staff Officer level, in the Derry City Council area, as follows:

• North West Development Office (1)
• Foyle Jobs and Benefits Office (0.2)

Achieving Excellence in Northern Ireland - Validation of Construction Management Maturity Report

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel if he can confirm that (i) his Department; and (ii) Central Procurement Directorate, had no input, either written or verbal, to the production and finalisation of the contents of the 'Achieving Excellence in Northern Ireland - Validation of Construction Management Maturity' report.

(AQW 4068/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Central Procurement Directorate (CPD), within the Department of Finance and Personnel, commissioned Constructing Excellence in Northern Ireland (CEni) to prepare the ‘Achieving Excellence in Construction – Validation of Construction Management Maturity’ report.

Departments and Centres of Procurement Expertise (CoPEs), with significant construction procurement programmes, use a National Audit Office Maturity Matrix to self-assess their progress in implementing the ‘Achieving Excellence in Construction’ initiative.

In preparing its report, CEni conducted structured interviews with the Departments and CoPEs and reviewed the evidence to support the self-assessment scores. CPD attended the interviews and contributed to the evidence in respect of the Departments for which it acts as a CoPE.

CPD provided written feedback on the layout, format and general content of CEni’s initial draft report. CPD did not comment on CEni’s validated maturity scores. CEni subsequently issued a final draft to Departments and CoPEs for their comments in November 2008. CEni published its final report in April 2009.

Efficiency Savings

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel (i) what systems are in place to (a) monitor; and (b) secure efficiency savings within his Department; (ii) how often these systems are reviewed; and (iii) for his assessment of their effectiveness.

(AQW 4074/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The systems which are in place to monitor and secure efficiency savings within my department are the ongoing monitoring of business performance against PfG/PSA targets, departmental targets, agency Ministerial targets and ongoing internal financial management.

These systems are reviewed on an ongoing basis to ensure that they continue to be effective in meeting business needs.

Review of Public Administration

Mr J McCallister asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel (i) for an update on his Department's implementation of the Review of Public Administration; (ii) if he is on target to meet the March 2011 RPA saving targets; and (iii) how staffing levels have been reduced as a result of RPA.

(AQW 4107/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: No services within my department have been identified for transfer to local councils or to any of the other bodies being established as a result of the Review. The department therefore has no RPA savings target and staffing levels will not be directly impacted as a result of RPA.

DFP has a key role to provide advice and guidance to departments and public sector employers in order to effect the smooth transfer of staff to the new organisations established as a consequence of the Review of Public Administration. The department has contributed to the development of guidance notes and a Code of Practice on Staff Transfers developed in consultation with Trade Union.

Land Registry

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel (i) how many people are currently employed in Land Registry; (ii) at what grade; and (iii) what are the pay bands for these grades.

(AQW 4130/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The Land Registry (the office responsible for registering the ownership of land in Northern Ireland) was formerly part of the organisation known as Land Registers of Northern Ireland. It merged with, and became part of, Land & Property Services on 1 April 2008.

The table below provides details of staff employed in Land & Property Services who provide the services required to cover registration functions in accordance with the Land Registration Act (Northern Ireland) 1970.

Grade	Staff in Post	Full Time Equivalent (FTE)	Pay Band(as at 01/08/08)
Grade 5	2	1.8	Pay Band 1 (Senior Civil Service 2009 Pay Bands apply at this grade)
Grade 6 Solicitor	1	1	£46,400 to £62,407
Grade 7	1	1	£39,823 to £50,796
Principal Legal Officer	4	3.6	£39,823 to £50,796
Deputy Principal	5	4.55	£30,142 to £38,893
Deputy Principal Accountant	1	1	£30,142 to £38,893
Staff Officer	9	8.5	£24,098 to £30,520
Executive Officer I	9	8.9	£20,801 to £26,086
Executive Officer II	20	18.54	£17,668 to £21,132
Senior Mapper	2	2	£17,668 to £21,132
Administrative Officer	85	80.14	£14,890 to £17,099
Mapper	5	4.96	£14,890 to £17,099
Administrative Assistant	23	22.07	£13,130 to £14,420
Typist	1	1	£13,130 to £14,420
TOTAL	168	159.06

Land Registry

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what were the running costs of Land Registry in each of the last five financial years.

(AQW 4131/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The Land Registry (the office responsible for registering the ownership of land in Northern Ireland) was formerly part of the organisation known as Land Registers of Northern Ireland. It merged with, and became part of, Land & Property Services on 1 April 2008.

The table below shows running costs in connection with land registration for the last five financial years.

Financial Year	Costs
2004/2005	£14.214m
2005/2006	£15.969m
2006/2007	£16.693m
2007/2008	£16.502m
2008/2009	£12.548m

Land Registry

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel how many queries were received by Land Registry from the general public in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4132/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The Land Registry (the office responsible for registering the ownership of land in Northern Ireland) was formerly part of the organisation known as Land Registers of Northern Ireland. It merged with, and became part of, Land & Property Services on 1 April 2008.

The following table shows the number of land registration queries received in each of the last five years. These were mainly received from the general public and members of the legal profession acting on behalf of the citizen.

Queries received in respect of Land Registration queries for the last five years.
Period	Total
1 April 2005 to 31 March 2006	78,764
1 April 2006 to 31 March 2007	83,885
1 April 2007 to 31 March 2008	88,832
1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009	71,723
1 April 2009 to present	47,379

Mortgage Rescue Scheme

Mr S Hamilton asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel why every in-year monitoring round bid by the Department for Social Development for funding for a mortgage rescue scheme has been unsuccessful.

(AQW 4186/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: DSD have submitted a bid in respect of the Mortgage Rescue Scheme in every monitoring round of the 2008-09 and 2009-10 financial years, with the exception of February 2008-09.

However, DFP did not receive a business case for this scheme until 10 February 2009. In response to DFP’s initial assessment of the business case, DSD suggested progressing the advisory element of the proposal on a pilot basis to assess the extent of the requirement in Northern Ireland. Initially it was to be a six month pilot, but in April, DSD extended this to 12 months after which, the scheme would be given further consideration. We have not yet received any details of this evaluation in order to support the bid.

Notwithstanding the failure of this bid to secure funding, it is important to recognise that throughout the 2008-09 and 2009-10 financial years DSD received 47.2% of the capital investment allocations made through the in-year monitoring process.

Investing for Health Strategy

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail any meetings or discussions that he, or his officials, have held with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety within the last year to discuss commitments under the Investing for Health strategy.

(AQW 4188/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Neither I nor my officials have had meetings or discussions with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety within the last year to discuss this issue.

Delivery of Capital Projects

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to list any specific projects that have benefited from his Department's decision to speed up the delivery of capital projects.

(AQW 4191/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The Chancellor’s Pre Budget Report 2008 provided my Department with the opportunity to accelerate capital expenditure funding from 2010-11 into 2008-09 and 2009-10.

The decision to accelerate £9.4 million into 2008-09 was taken in the 2008-09 December Monitoring, and the Executive Response to the economic downturn exercise, where it formed part of the overall funding envelope available to the Executive. Allocations of £26.8 million capital investment were made to departments in this exercise: £20m to DARD for the Farm Nutrient Management Scheme; £1.8m to DRD for Transportation Capital Works and £5m to DSD for the shortfall in Housing Executive receipts.

During 2008-09 and 2009-10, the construction industry benefited significantly as a direct result of the Executive’s commitment to the Investment Strategy. The latest forecast information provided by departments indicates that gross capital investment by the Executive during 2009-10 will be in excess of £1.7 billion. This represents a similar level to that achieved in 2008-09, and an increase of 20% from 2007-08.

Civil Service Employees

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel how many people were employed in the Civil Service, at year end, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4209/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The number of staff (permanent and temporary), based on headcount, employed in each of the 11 Northern Ireland Departments and their agencies at 1 January in each of the last 5 years is set out in the attached table.

NICS Staff (Headcount) in the eleven NI Departments and their Agencies at 1 January 2005 – 1 January 2009

Year	Staff Headcount
2005	28105
2006	27977
2007	26855
2008	24501
2009	25081

Notes:

Figures at 1 January 2010 are not yet available

Staff on Career break are excluded.

Staff on secondment within the NICS are included within the Departments to which they are seconded.

Both permanent and casual staff are included.

Staff in executive Agencies are included in the figures for their parent Department.

Papers Referred to the Executive

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to list the subject matter of each of the 94 papers that his Department referred to the Executive between May 2007 and 7 December 2009; and to state whether the Executive agreed each paper.

(AQW 4265/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: It is not the Executive’s practice to disclose details of Executive business. The content of Executive papers and all aspects of Executive business are confidential.

Nuffield Report

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for his assessment of the recently published Nuffield Report which claims that the health service in England has a greater level of efficiency than the service in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

(AQO 698/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: As Finance Minister I welcome the Nuffield Report. It provides a useful insight into the funding and performance of the NHS across the UK. Importantly, it supports existing evidence that demonstrates that the health service in England has relatively fewer resources than Northern Ireland but still delivers more. The report concludes that overall NHS expenditure per capita in Northern Ireland has been higher than in England consistently since 1996 but that Northern Ireland has lower levels of productivity.

The Nuffield Report confirms the need for DHSSPS to continue to deliver further efficiency savings and service improvements. It supports the Executive’s decision as part of the Budget 2008 – 2011 to seek for efficiencies across all departments. The DHSSPS is allocated almost 50 per cent of the Northern Ireland Block and much more needs to be done to ensure that resources are being directed to the frontline and where they are needed most.

The report shows that the health service in Northern Ireland is performing relatively well in terms of outputs per capita but relatively poorly in terms of outputs per staff member. I look forward to hearing the Health Minister’s response to the Nuffield Report.

All-Island Procurement

Mr A Attwood asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what assessment there has been of the opportunities for savings through all-island procurement of goods and services; and what plans the Central Procurement Division has to advance this approach.

(AQO 700/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Central Procurement Directorate has lead on a small number of all island procurements. For example they put in place an all island fridge disposal contract which won a UK wide waste management award.

In addition, CPD has provided their professional support in the development of the Republic of Ireland’s (RoI) new National Public Procurement Unit (NPPOU). The development of this unit will create increased opportunities for all island collaborative arrangements which in the past have been difficult due to the large and varied number of Contracting Authorities in RoI.

It should be recognised that the development of all island contracts is both time and resource intensive. In addition, it presents risks such as currency fluctuations, different governance arrangements and legal frameworks. While aggregation of spend can improve overall value for money it can impact on small businesses which make up the majority of local supplier.

Ulster Savings Certificates

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what steps he has taken to trace the owners of the £6 million in Ulster Savings Certificates still outstanding between 1922 and 1991.

(AQO 701/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: My Department is responsible for administering the Ulster Savings Scheme, and maintains a list of all valid certificates when the scheme was formally withdrawn on 31 March 1997. The Department continues to make payments to investors on production of a valid certificate or, in the case of lost certificates, on completion of an indemnity form.

In 2007, Ulster Savings Scheme contact details were made available on the DFP website. The Post Office and National Savings also provide contact details in relation to the Scheme. In 2009 information was also made available on the newly launched NI Direct website.

Officials in my Department have worked closely with the NI Consumer Council to raise awareness of the Scheme through the local media and the potential of using ‘Myforgottenaccount’ website is also being pursued.

I met with the Consumer Council on 3 December 2009 and as a result, a further publicity campaign was undertaken during December 2009. As a result of this campaign, my Department has received valid claims from investors for around £17,000, the payments for which are currently being processed.

During 2009/10 a total of £205,000 has been paid to 82 individuals.

Government Decentralisation

Mr P Doherty asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to outline his plans in relation to the decentralisation of Government Departments and their agencies.

(AQO 702/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: I have no plans to decentralise Government Departments or Agencies. That is a matter for agreement by the Executive, provided it can be convinced that to do so is affordable and represents good value for money.

Public Service Cuts

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel whether, in the consideration of financial cut-backs, account was taken of additional costs incurred by public services in the West of Northern Ireland due to the wide dispersal and remoteness of the population.

(AQO 703/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The Review of 2010-11 Spending Plans was undertaken to address the significant spending pressures facing the Executive next year with the aim of ensuring that public finances remained on a secure basis.

It is for individual Ministers to determine how the savings agreed by the Executive should be achieved in line with the priorities set out in the Programme for Government.

In order to facilitate the consultation process, I have asked my Ministerial Colleagues to publish these details on departmental websites.

Civil Service Equal Pay

Mr J Wells asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to outline the timetable for the settlement of the equal pay award for individual civil servants.

(AQO 704/10)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: It is not possible to give a timescale at present. Whilst NIPSA have confirmed their decision to accept the offer they still need to complete the legal process leading to the withdrawal of claims. There will be a detailed and lengthy process to be followed before payments can be made. The precise details of the process and the timescales are currently being developed but it is my intention that it should not take any longer than is absolutely necessary.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY

Cost of Employing Hairdressers in each Health and Social Care Trust

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety the annual cost to each Health and Social Care Trust of employing hairdressers.

(AQW 3924/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Mr M McGimpsey): Expenditure on hairdressing is not collected centrally. Hairdressing provision varies across all Trusts and is used for dementia patients, older people, elderly rehabilitation, patients receiving Chemotherapy and wig fitting for therapeutic reasons.

Hairdressers also perform non–hairdressing duties such as shaving for male mental patients.

Swine Flu Pandemic

Mr B Wilson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the claims by the Head of Health at the Council of Europe that the swine flu pandemic was one of the greatest medical scandals of the century and that the vaccination programme was unnecessary.

(AQW 3927/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I am aware of the comments made by Mr Wolfgang Wodarg and note the World Health Organisation has described his claims as "irresponsible" and dismissed them as "scientifically wrong and historically inaccurate". I can advise that all decisions on Swine Flu policy here have been taken in accordance with the best available scientific advice in the UK and the swine flu vaccination programme has been guided by the advice of the independent Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) at all times.

New Fire Station in Cushendall

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for an update on the provision of a new fire station in Cushendall.

(AQW 3928/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service has completed a feasibility study on the original site at Coast Road in the town and is now developing an outline Business Case which will be submitted in due course to my Department and DFP for consideration.

Causeway Hospital: Surgical and Medical Wards

Mr B Leonard asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) how many junior doctors are attached to surgical and medical wards in the Causeway Hospital; (ii) how the ratio of junior to senior doctors in the Causeway Hospital compares to other hospitals; and (iii) for his assessment of whether staffing levels in the Causeway Hospital's surgical and medical wards render a safe hospital enviroment and service.

(AQW 3943/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Junior doctor rota allocations, which were made in August 2009, indicate that 29 junior doctors were attached to surgical and medical specialities at the Causeway Hospital. The Department does not collect data centrally on the ratio of junior to senior doctors for each hospital.

The provision of safe and effective services is fundamental to the Health and Social Care service and integral to this are regular reviews of staffing levels across all specialties including surgery and medicine.

Recurrent Funding Budget

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if his Department operates a recurrent funding budget.

(AQW 3948/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: DHSSPS operates a recurrent funding budget.

Support and Protection to Young People Leaving Foster Care

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what levels of support and protection are offered to young people who decide legally, under the regulations contained in their Residents Order, to leave their foster home at sixteen years of age.

(AQW 3975/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Residence Orders may be particularly suitable for older children/young people who are in stable and secure foster placements and it is unlikely that there will be a conflict between the birth parents and the carer who has acquired a Residence Order.

A young person subject to a Residence Order is no longer a Looked After Child and the carer has parental responsibility and is not a foster carer, although financial support may be provided in the form of a Residence Order Allowance.

Trusts do however have a general duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of the children within its area who are in need. When a Residence Order comes to an end Trusts carry out a full assessment of the young person’s needs under Article 18 of the Children (NI) Order 1995. This will enable the Trust to determine the level of support, intervention, pathway and protection that is required for that young person. In some cases due to the young person’s vulnerability this may entail making them Looked After and providing all the support this entails.

Reception Service at Daisy Hill Hospital

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if he can confirm that the 24 hour telephone reception service at Daisy Hill Hospital is to be reduced by over 40%, and that the subtracted hours will be transferred to Craigavon Area Hospital.

(AQW 3977/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Southern Health and Social Care Trust is currently reviewing the switchboard service at Daisy Hill Hospital. The Trust is at the very early stages of its review and has not made any decisions regarding operating hours or location.

Hiring of Taxi Firms for Health Related Trips

Mr M McLaughlin asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if there is a policy within each Health and Social Care Trust in relation to the hiring of taxi firms for health related trips, and whether there is an open and transparentprocurement process; and if he will make a statement on this matter.

(AQW 3982/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: There is an open and transparent procurement process. The DHSSPS Business Services Organisation's Procurement & Logistics Service oversee the tendering process for the provision of taxis for the Health & Social Care Trusts. Contracts are awarded to the tenderer(s) whose tender has been judged to have been most economically advantageous with regard to a range of financial and qualitative criteria. Procurements are conducted in line with relevant standards and legislation, including those in respect of openness and transparency.

Each Health and Social Care Trust follows protocols when authorising the use of taxis. The protocols require each service group to have eligibility criteria for the use of taxis. Taxis are only used in cases where the criteria are met and after all other more cost effective transport options have been exhausted.

Nursing Posts in the Health Service

Mr M McLaughlin asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) how many student nurses qualified in the last eighteen months; (ii) of these, how many have been successful in gaining nursing posts in the Health Service; (iii) how many have had to seek work abroad; and (iv) how many have had to take up other employment or seek government benefits.

(AQW 3984/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: From July 2008 to January 2010, 1010 student nurses qualified in Northern Ireland. The number of nursing training places commissioned annually is based on workforce planning estimates, aimed at ensuring a supply of trained nurses to meet the needs of the HSC. Universities collect only a limited amount of data following graduation and this information is not sufficiently robust to provide a definitive answer on employment outcomes or those moving to government benefits. The majority of newly qualified nurses can be expected to take up positions in the HSC.

Nurse to Patient Ratio

Mr M McLaughlin asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) if there is a minimum nurse to patient ratio standard in acute specialist services to ensure improved patient outcomes and protect safety standards; (ii) to provide up-to-date nurse to patient ratio details in each acute speciality including intensive care, acute dialysis, coronary care units and neonatal units etc; (iii) to provide comparative details for nurse to patient ratio in these specialties at January 2007; (iv) for his assessment of whether these levels of staffing are sufficient in 2010; (v) to provide evidence of staffing consistency in all Health and Social Care Trusts in the past year; and (vi) to make a statement on these matters.

(AQW 3985/10)

1. Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: There is no minimum nurse to patient ratio standard in acute specialist services.

(ii) This information is not available.

(iii) This information is not available.

(iv) Safety and quality of care is a priority for the service. Trusts through their governance arrangements must ensure that they maintain safe staffing levels.

(v) This information is not available.

(vi) Currently the overall ratio in Northern Ireland of registered nurses and midwives to support staff is 74% registered to 26% support staff. This ratio recognises that some areas such as Intensive Care will operate on a higher ratio in order to provide safe and effective care for patients. The clinical need of patients determines the appropriate treatment and care and the levels of nursing, medical or social care intervention.

Nursing Skill Mix

Mr M McLaughlin asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if there is a minimum benchmark for the nursing skill mix of hospital wards and acute settings; and what action he has taken to drive this issue forward to protect the safety and well-being of patients.

(AQW 3986/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: There is no minimum benchmark for the nursing skill mix of hospital wards and acute settings. Staffing ratios should reflect the number and dependency of patients and therefore it will vary between clinical settings.

Currently the overall ratio in Northern Ireland of registered nurses and midwives to support staff is 74% registered to 26% support staff. This ratio recognises that some areas such as Intensive Care will operate on a much higher ratio in order to provide safe and effective care for patients.

Wheelchair Upgrades

Mr M McLaughlin asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how long wheelchair dependent patients with pressure sores have to wait for a wheelchair upgrade in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust area.

(AQW 3998/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Trust staff would initially review the patient’s wheelchair cushion utilising a pressure mapping system that can confirm the suitability of the patient's existing cushion. The Trust retains a small stock of pressure relieving cushions which can be issued immediately if required.

Where the need for a change of wheelchair is identified, a full Occupational Therapy assessment is carried out. Once the prescription for the new wheelchair is agreed, one which meets the user’s specific needs, the wheelchair is ordered immediately. In general, the delivery time is 6 weeks.

In addition, Occupational Therapists work closely with District Nursing colleagues and Tissue Viability Nurses during pressure care management.

Cocaine Abuse

Mr M McLaughlin asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) how many hospital admissions were related to cocaine abuse in (a) 2009; and (b) 2010 to date; (ii) for a breakdown of these admissions by age; (iii) if he will prioritise a public health campaign publicising the dangers of cocaine and other recreational drugs; and (iv) if he will make a statement on this matter.

(AQW 3999/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Information is not available on the number of hospital admissions which were related to cocaine abuse in 2009 or 2010.

Cocaine use is an issue my Department takes very seriously. Through the New Strategic Direction for Alcohol and Drugs, relevant literature and education/information programmes currently available to young people, young adults, parents and professionals at both regional and local level provide information on cocaine, particularly highlighting the risks associated with its use. In addition, schools address cocaine use as part of the substance misuse programme of their "Preparing for Life" education courses. In 2009 the former Health Promotion Agency (now the Public Health Agency) produced a booklet entitled "The Truth About Cocaine", they also produced a targeted convenience advertising campaign on the issue.

My Department has recently commissioned research projects looking at cocaine use and users, in terms of prevalence and attitudes. Once finalised, these research projects will inform decisions in relation to the need for a targeted regional cocaine public information campaign, and how this should be developed.

IVF/ICSI

Ms D Purvis asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety when funding will be available to provide three full cycles of IVF/ICSI treatment as recommended by NICE; and, when he intends to introduce a cycle of Frozen Embryo Transfer in addition to the stimulated cycle of treatment currently available.

(AQW 4009/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Northern Ireland aspires to provide three cycles of fertility treatment as recommended by NICE however financial constraints currently make this unachievable. The current provision of one publicly funded cycle of treatment is comparable to many other areas of the United Kingdom.

Last year I announced an additional £1.5m recurrent funding for fertility services. This, in addition to an investment of £800k in a waiting list initiative, means that no patient will now wait more than 12 months for treatment from being placed on a waiting list. It is hoped that it will also be possible to introduce a cycle of Frozen Embryo Transfer in addition to the currently funded stimulated cycle of treatment where this is appropriate. This is something that the Belfast Trust is keeping under review.

Fertility Treatment

Ms D Purvis asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how Health Service fertility treatment in Northern Ireland compares to the rest of the United Kingdom.

(AQW 4011/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Information is not available to do a comprehensive comparison of provision between regions however I am aware that many regions across the UK provide a greater number of treatment cycles than the available resources currently permit in Northern Ireland. Access criteria in Northern Ireland are however wider than in some other regions of the UK, thus allowing more people to avail of one cycle of publicly funded treatment. A recent public consultation on access criteria in Northern Ireland supported the current criteria.

Transporting Non-Emergency Patients

Mr G Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what consideration he has given to co-operation with the community transport sector in transporting non-emergency patients to routine out-patient appointments.

(AQW 4012/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: My officials recently met with the Department of Regional Development to discuss the potential for co-operation between Health and Social Care services and the community transport sector. When the DHSSPS and DRD met it was agreed that as comprehensive provision already existed there was limited scope for co-operation. I am confident that the arrangements which already exist to aid patients in accessing health and social care services are operating effectively. However I have no objection to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service or other health and social care trusts working in partnership with rural community transport providers to improve access for patients in rural communities.

Efficiency Plans

Ms C Ní Chuilín asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what discussions he has had with staff-side representatives regarding his Department's efficiency plans.

(AQW 4017/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I have met with Regional Trade Union Representatives in my Department’s Partnership Forum at which this topic is regularly discussed. HSC employers have also been keeping local Trade Union representatives informed of their proposals for efficiency savings and the impact that this will have on Health and Social Care.

Domestic Violence

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the role of Social Services when they are requested to intervene in a domestic violence situation, in relation to the victim and children who are resident in the family home.

(AQW 4026/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Social Services have a general duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children by providing directly, or arranging for others to provide, services designed to meet children’s assessed need including the parent’s/carers capacity to keep the child safe and to promote the child’s welfare.

All children referred to Social Services, including for reasons of Domestic Violence, are subject to a family and child assessment of need and risk. This assessment will determine the appropriate pathway for Social Work intervention which could be through family support or child protection. In some instances information and advice may be given and no further Social Work involvement required.

The Department and NIO have also launched jointly a five-year strategy for tackling domestic violence and abuse in the key areas of prevention; protection and justice; and support. HomeHThe Department is in discussion with Women’s Aid Federation and DENI regarding delivery of educational programmes for school children which are age-specific and teach children about personal safety and healthy non-violent relationships.

Denta Express Clinic, Irvinestown

Mr T Gallagher asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the total cost to date of the treatment of Health Service patients at the Denta Express Clinic in Irvinestown; and if he can confirm that Health Service patients, whose treatment was incomplete when the clinic closed, can access treatment elsewhere.

(AQW 4029/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: DentaExpress was not sponsored by my Department but was a business venture set up by local businessmen, which provided both Health Service and private dental treatment. The total Health Service treatment costs paid by Business Services Organisation to DentaExpress, was £67,317.44 during the period that this practice was operational i.e. from 30 March 2009 until 31 December 2009.

Any patients who were deregistered from DentaExpress when it ceased practising can register for Health Service treatment with any general dental practice in the area which is currently taking Health Service patients. The recently-opened Enniskillen Oasis Dental Care practice, or the Omagh Oasis Dental Care practice due to open at the beginning of February 2010, are such practices. Patients can register using this internet site: http://www.oasisdentalcare.co.uk from which page there is a link to Oasis’ Northern Ireland business.

Occupational Therapy Officers

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what steps he is taking to ensure that there is cover available for Occupational Therapy officers who are off on leave.

(AQW 4031/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: All Health Service staff have a right to take annual leave. Staffing levels are set taking into account that periods of absence on leave should be covered. This is the responsibility of HSC organisations and must be managed locally to ensure continuity of service.

Hotels Booked for Civil Servants

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (i) the number of nights in hotels booked for Civil Servants in his Department which were paid for wholly, or in part, but never used; and (ii) the costs and loss of revenue incurred booking these hotel rooms, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4042/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: This information is not held centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Swine Flu

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to estimate how much money will be saved within the Health budget with the reduction in swine flu cases.

(AQW 4043/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: As part of the December Monitoring Round it was predicted that Swine Flu would cost in the region of £61.5m. This estimate is being re-evaluated, and an updated bid will be submitted to DFP as part of the February Monitoring Round.

Causeway Hospital

Mr A McQuillan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if he has any plans to downgrade the Causeway Hospital from its current status.

(AQW 4056/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I can assure you that I have no plans to downgrade Causeway Hospital either now or in the future.

Swine Flu Vaccine

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how much has been spent to date on vaccines for swine flu.

(AQW 4058/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Department is unable to divulge the monetary value of vaccines as it would violate confidentiality clauses in the contracts with the manufacturers.

Swine Flu Vaccine

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many swine flu vaccines were stock piled.

(AQW 4059/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: To date in NI we have received 751,200 vaccines. Of that total, 416,600 vaccines have been distributed to GPs/Trusts to vaccinate those individuals in phase 1 and 2 of the vaccination programme. Trusts/GPs can now order any additional stock they require from the regional pharmacists. There are currently 334,600 vaccines held centrally in Northern Ireland.

Swine Flu Vaccine

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many doses of the swine flu vaccine have been administered to date.

(AQW 4060/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: By 16 January 2010, a total of 252,182 swine flu vaccinations have been administered in Northern Ireland.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many primary school pupils have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in each of the last five years, in each Health and Social Care Trust area.

(AQW 4070/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The information requested is not available centrally.

Tami Flu Vaccine

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what will happen to the Tami Flu vaccines that are not used.

(AQW 4076/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Tami flu is an antiviral, not a vaccine.

A small number of Tamiflu courses have been made available for purchase to other countries in need. This does not affect the ability to treat people in Northern Ireland. The majority of the Tamiflu stockpile will be maintained to mitigate against the possibility of a third pandemic wave or a future pandemic.

Occupational Therapists

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what steps he is taking to increase the number of Occupational Therapists available to carry out visits in relation to applications for disabled facilities grants and disabled aids so that these applications can be completed and processed more quickly.

(AQW 4088/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Currently all referrals to the Occupation Therapy service are subject to a 13-week response time. Referrals to OT resulting from applications for Disabled Facilities Grants are also subject to these timescales.

There is presently significant pressure on all aspects of OT services (assessing clients for Disabled Facilities Grants forms only a part of an OTs workload). Health and Social Care Trusts are working to find more efficient ways of working to cope with these additional pressures and resource constraints.

Hypothermia

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many people were admitted to hospital with hypothermia since 1 October 2009; and how many of these patients died.

(AQW 4089/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: It is not yet possible to give an accurate assessment of the number of people that were admitted to hospital with hypothermia since 1 October 2009; and of these the number of patients that died.

Medical Detoxification

Mr W Clarke asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what services are currently provided for the medical detoxification of patients with dual addictions of drugs and alcohol.

(AQW 4091/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Detoxification services across Northern Ireland are offered in a range of settings from the client’s own home to acute general hospitals depending on the client’s medical condition. A range of the services provided is set out below:

• community detoxification led by the GP is provided in the patient’s own home for those clients who have no major health problems, and have high levels of motivation and support;

• home detoxification is also offered in the patient’s own home in partnership with GPs and Addiction Services for those patients who need additional support. Addiction nurses visit daily and support both the carer and the patient;

• clients who meet the criteria for home detoxification but who do not have supportive domestic arrangements can be offered a detoxification service in community based staffed hostel facilities; and

• inpatient detoxification in acute general hospitals for clients who have a history of Delirium Tremens or other serious health problems.

Mephedrone

Mr B Armstrong asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what assessment has been made of the impact and availability of the drug Mephedrone; and what steps he proposes to take to ban its sale over the counter.

(AQW 4096/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: ‘Legal highs’ are substances currently not controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 and which are self-administered to achieve an altered state of mind.

It is the duty of the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) to advise Ministers on appropriate measures to be taken with respect to drugs which are being, or appear to them are likely to be, misused and which are causing or may cause a social problem. Following recent reports of the availability of mephedrone and emerging evidence of its harms, the ACMD is now looking at this issue as a priority, and are due to report in early 2010. The ACMD assessment of a drug’s harms is a key consideration in any decision to bring forward proposals to control any drug.

My approach is to act to protect the public from dangerous or otherwise harmful drugs. The availability of these so-called "legal highs" changes the environment in which some young people are now finding themselves. It is therefore imperative that appropriate legislation is introduced that not only deals with current trends but also foreseeable ones. To this end, legislation was introduced on the 23 December 2009 to make it illegal to possess or distribute a range of substances including:

• GBL and 1,4-BD;
• BZP and a group of substituted piperazines;
• a range of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists; and
• 24 anabolic steroids, and two growth promoters.

Swine Flu Vaccine

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for a summary of the uptake of the swine flu vaccine for the 2009/10 winter, broken down by 'at risk' groups.

(AQW 4101/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: GPs and Trusts are reporting good uptake for all groups with an overall total of over 252,000 people vaccinated to date

By the 16^th January 2010 the uptake of the swine flu vaccine for the 2009/10 winter, broken down by 'at risk' groups was as follows:

At Risk Group	Cumulative number received 1st dose to end of reporting period.
Under 65 At Risk	124,304
65+ At Risk	68,637
Over 6 months, Under 5 years	11,336
Pregnant Women	10,461
At Risk Inpatients	1,409
Egg Allergy	665
Special Schools	2,136

Patient Transport

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many people, who would otherwise have qualified, were denied patient transport due to recent winter pressures, since the start of December 2009 in each Health and Social Care Trust area.

(AQW 4102/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) does not collect patient transport data for Health and Social Care Trust areas.

Nuffield Report

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what action his Department intends to take to address the issues raised in the Nuffield Report 'Funding and Performance of Healthcare Systems in the Four Countries of the UK Before and After Devolution'.

(AQW 4112/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Nuffield report is based on out of date information, does not adjust figures to account for the integration of Health and Social Services and in several cases fails to use the correct information. The last year of data they analysed was 2006, since then we have had devolution, RPA and waiting list initiatives. To that extent it is unhelpful to me in forming any kind of view on relative performance today.

Disabled Facilities Grant Reports

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if he would co-operate with the Minister for Social Development to discuss the secondment of an Occupational Therapist to DSD to ensure that referrals and reports necessary for disabled facilities grants are carried out in good time.

(AQW 4119/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Referrals to the Occupational Therapy service relating to a claim for Disabled Facilities Grant will always need assessment at a local level which would be carried out by an occupational therapist based in the client’s local HSC Trust.

A permanent Housing Adaptations Liaison Manager post is funded jointly by DHSSPS and DSD and is based in the NIHE to promote interagency communications.

My Department is working with DSD and the NIHE to review housing adaptations and to seek ways to improve the processes involved.

Occupational Therapists

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if Occupational Therapists' (i) reconsiderations; and (ii) recommendations, are co-ordinated on the same criteria, with uniform wording, in each Health and Social Care Trust.

(AQW 4120/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The process of reviewing the circumstances of disabled people in relation to housing adaptations is undertaken in accordance with regionally agreed criteria for the provision of housing adaptations. This criteria has been regionally agreed by the Occupational Therapy Community Managers Forum and was reviewed in 2009 in response to the need for continuity across the services regionally.

The current DSD/DHSSPS interdepartmental review of housing adaptations will review the design standards and interagency communications between the five HSC Trusts and housing providers in relation to recommendations for housing adaptations.

While standardisation of interagency practice is desirable in many situations, the ability to respond to the complex and sometimes unique circumstances of disabled people and their families with customised design solutions, needs to be maintained.

Late Discharge of Patients

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many 'bed days' were lost due to late discharge of patients in 2009.

(AQW 4126/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: We do not hold data totalling lost bed days due to late discharge.

Winter Vomiting Bug

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if there have been any outbreaks of the 'winter vomiting bug' in hospitals this winter; to detail where they occurred and the number of ward closures which occurred as a direct result.

(AQW 4128/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: There have been 12 outbreaks of the ‘winter vomiting bug’ in hospitals this winter. Outbreaks occurred in the Belfast City Hospital, Bluestone Unit CAH, Craigavon Hospital, Daisy Hill Hospital, Moyle Hospital, Longstone Hospital, RBHSC, St Lukes and the Ulster Hospital

No wards were closed, however 19 wards throughout the hospital system stopped admitting new patients temporarily to prevent the spread of the virus.

Proposed Health Village at Ballygawley

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether he, or his officials, have held any meetings with Primacure in relation to the proposed health village at Ballygawley.

(AQW 4177/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Neither myself nor officials from my Department have held meetings with Primacure in relation to proposals in Ballygawley or anywhere else in Northern Ireland.

Ketogenic Diet

Mrs C McGill asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many (i) full-time; and (ii) part-time staff are currently employed in the Health Service to administer the ketogenic diet; and how long is the post-assessment waiting list in each Health and Social Care Trust for patients who need this treatment.

(AQW 4263/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Belfast Health & Social Care Trust delivers a regional epilepsy service, which includes treatment with ketogenic diets. Within the Belfast HSC Trust, there is one (0.5 whole-time equivalent) staff member employed to administer the ketogenic diet. There is currently funding for a further 0.5 whole-time equivalent member of staff. There are currently 10 people on the waiting list for post-assessment by dietetics. Patients are not assessed by dietetics until treatment can commence.

Evergreen Centre at Gransha Healthcare Park

Mr M Durkan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) if the Evergreen Centre at Gransha Healthcare Park is registered with the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority; (ii) to detail the activities regulated under any such registration; and (iii) the date this registration came into effect.

(AQW 4273/10)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Evergreen Day Care Centre at Gransha Health Care Park is not registered with the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA).

RQIA has received an application for the registration of the Evergreen Centre in accordance with the Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 and, having carried out pre-registration inspections, requires the provider to carry out a number of actions to make the necessary changes, to allow registration to proceed.

DEPARTMENT FOR REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Bus Lanes

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister for Regional Development if he has received any correspondence on private hire taxis being permitted to use bus lanes in Belfast.

(AQW 4113/10)

Minister for Regional Development (Mr C Murphy): I can confirm that during my time as Minister for Regional Development I have only received two pieces of correspondence regarding private hire taxis using bus lanes in Belfast.

One was a letter from the Regional Development Committee and the other was a written assembly question.

Bus Lanes

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister for Regional Development what consideration he has given to granting Private Hire Taxis 'permitted taxi' status on all bus lanes.

(AQW 4114/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service completed a detailed study on the use of bus lanes by motorcycles and private hire taxis in August 2008. The study made a number of recommendations for the future use of the bus lanes of which I am supportive. I have also sought the views of the Regional Development Committee. I am currently assessing all of the relevant information and will make a final decision in due course.

Bus Lanes

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister for Regional Development (i) if the prohibitions on the types of vehicles using bus lanes are applied uniformly across Belfast; and (ii) to make a statement on why certain categories of vehicle are permitted to use the bus lanes while others are not.

(AQW 4124/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that most bus lanes in Belfast are available to buses, permitted taxis, cycles and motorcycles, during their hours of operation. However, for safety and traffic control reasons there are some bus lanes which are not available to all of these categories of vehicles. These include the bus lanes on the motorway and any contraflow bus lanes. Taxis and motorcycles are not permitted into the East Bridge Street bus lane as there is electronic detection equipment embedded in the carriageway which detects buses and changes the traffic lights to assist them. Only buses or vehicles of a comparable size would be large enough to trigger this equipment.

As explained in my reply to your question AQW 4114/10, I am currently considering a Roads Service study on the use of bus lanes by motorcycles and private hire taxis. I will consider making a statement when I make a final decision on the outcome of that study.

Resurfaced Pavements

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development, on average, how often pavements are resurfaced.

(AQW 4142/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service undertakes an annual programme of footway reconstruction and resurfacing works, subject to the availability of financial resource.

This programme is prepared taking account of a range of factors including usage of the footway, its general surface condition, structural deformation, as well as the number of public enquiries and public liability claims.

A number of factors affect the condition of a footway and the resultant time span between surface treatments. These include the quality of the initial construction, the wear they have experienced from traffic due to vehicle overrun / parking, how frequently they have been excavated to install and repair public utility services, weather conditions and, of course, how they have been maintained.

Pavements in South Belfast

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development if he has any plans to improve the pavements in the South Belfast constituency.

(AQW 4143/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service undertakes an annual programme of reconstruction and resurfacing works, which is implemented on a scheme priority basis and subject to the availability of financial resources. In general, Roads Service does not hold information on schemes on a constituency basis. However, the works programme for Eastern Division, for the 2010 – 2011 financial year, is currently being developed and will include footway improvement schemes in the South Belfast constituency.

I would remind the Member that information on completed and proposed schemes can also be found in the Roads Service’s Spring and Autumn Reports to Councils. These reports can be accessed from the Roads Service internet site at the following web address: http://www.drdni.gov.uk/index/publications/publications-searchall.htm

Pavements Resurfacing

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline the criteria currently used by Roads Service to determine which pavements require resurfacing.

(AQW 4144/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service undertakes an annual programme of footway reconstruction and resurfacing works, subject to the availability of financial resource.

I should explain that Roads Service has a statutory duty to maintain the public footways in a safe and serviceable condition. To comply with this duty, Roads Service operates a system of regular safety inspections to ensure that essential response maintenance is identified and completed, as necessary.

These safety inspections assess the condition of the public footways and the information gathered is then used in the preparation and prioritisation of Roads Service’s annual footway reconstruction and resurfacing programme.

This programme is prepared taking into consideration a number of factors, including the usage of the footway, the general surface condition, any structural deformation, as well as the number of public enquiries and public liability claims.

NI Water Staff

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to AQW 3441/10, (i) on what date the four employees transferred became NI Water staff; (ii) from what company or agencies did they transfer; (iii) which office or department within NI Water managed the incorporation of the four new staff; (iv) under what regulations were these transfers made; (v) their grades and pay scales; and (vi) if there was any form of interview or selection process.

(AQW 4145/10)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) that the information requested in relation to the four staff transferred into the company is as follows:-

(i) the four staff transferred to NIW on 3 July 2009.

(ii) they transferred from Steria Limited.

(iii) the business improvement and information technology directorates of NIW managed two staff each.

(iv) the transfers took place under the terms of the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE).

(v) the NIW grade equivalent for the transferred staff was two at Level 3 and two at Level 4. As they were all transferred to NIW under their existing terms and conditions of appointment, they were not positioned on the NIW pay scale for these grades but placed on individual pay points. NIW is unable to disclose details of their individual salaries under the terms of the Data Protection Act.1998.

(vi) as the transfers took place under the terms of TUPE legislation there was no requirement to have an interview or selection process.

NI Water Staff

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to AQW 3441/10, if any further employees have transferred into NI Water since April 2007.

(AQW 4148/10)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water that, apart from the four staff mentioned in AQW 3441/10, no further employees have transferred into the Company since April 2007.

NI Water Staff

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to AQW 3441/10, what functions and posts were held by the 15 staff who transferred out of NI Water.

(AQW 4150/10)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) that the functions and posts which were held by the 15 staff who transferred out of NIW are as set out in the table below.

GRADE	FUNCTION	POST
Level 3 Manager	Information Technology	Service Manager
Level 4 Manager	Information Technology	Service Support Manager
Level 4 Manager	Information Technology	Customer Support Manager
Level 5 Manager x2	Information Technology	Shift Leader
Level 5 Manager x3	Information Technology	ICT Support Officer
Class I Industrial	Water Supply	Process Operator
Class II Industrial x 1	Water Supply	Process Operator
Class II Industrial x 5	Waste Water	Process Operator

Investing for Health Strategy

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail any meetings or discussions that he, or his officials, have held with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety within the last year to discuss commitments under the Investing for Health strategy.

(AQW 4184/10)

Minister for Regional Development: I have not had any discussions with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) within the last year on commitments under the 10 year cross cutting Investing for Health (IFH) Strategy, which was developed by the cross departmental Ministerial group on Public Health (MGPH). This group is chaired by the Minister for DHSSPS and membership comprises senior representatives from all Departments.

The Department was represented at official level at the meeting of the Ministerial Group for Public Health held on 10 December 2008 and will be represented at the next meeting planned for 25 February 2010. Discussions have taken place between my officials and DHSSPS officials on the Review of the IFH Strategy initiated in June 2009.

Although my Department does not have any specific targets in the IFH strategy, we have identified a range of actions to help meet its goals and objectives. These include the development and implementation of the Regional Development Strategy (RDS) and the Regional Transportation Strategy (RTS); extension of the concessionary fares scheme; the development of rural community transport programmes; the development of walking and cycling schemes and infrastructure; measures to reduce road traffic collisions; the improvement of drinking water quality; improved compliance with wastewater treatment works discharge standards; and the provision of some form of assistance to households without mains water supply to help improve the quality of their private supplies. There is regular contact between my officials and DHSSPS officials on all of these issues.

Directional Signage at Major Junctions

Mr G Savage asked the Minister for Regional Development (i) to detail the criteria used by Roads Service to determine which towns and locations are placed on directional signage at major junctions; and (ii) for an update on his Department's plans to install directional signage indicating 'Banbridge' at the Sprucefield junction on the M1.

(AQW 4187/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that it follows national standards in the design of its directional signage. This guidance includes, among other design considerations, advice that the number of side destinations on motorway direction signs should not exceed two locations. Therefore, it is not possible to include every possible destination along a route. Side destinations are chosen according to the particular route, along with major destinations such as "The SOUTH", and the route number.

With regard to directional signage on the M1 at Sprucefield, Roads Service decided to increase the number of side destinations to three at this location, because it was the minimum number considered necessary at this important junction. Roads Service has no plans to modify the existing signage, to include additional destinations, at this time.

Roads Gritted in the Upper Bann Constituency

Mr G Savage asked the Minister for Regional Development (i) to list the roads that were gritted; (ii) how many nights the roads were gritted; and (iii) the cost per night of gritting the roads in the Upper Bann constituency during the recent cold spell.

(AQW 4196/10)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service does not hold information in respect of its Winter Service programme on a constituency basis. Roads included in the Roads Service gritting schedule within the Upper Bann Constituency are treated from its Craigavon and Banbridge depots. Information in relation to the roads gritted from these depots will be placed in the Library. It should be noted that Roads Service Section Office boundaries do not mirror constituency boundaries, therefore there will be a number of roads on the list provided that do not fall within your constituency.

I have taken the period of the recent cold spell as being from the 16 December 2009 to 13 January 2010 for the purpose of answering your question regarding the number of nights that the roads were gritted. Within this period a total of 59 primary gritting operations, along with other secondary gritting operations, were carried out. Please note, that gritting was carried out daily, both during nights and mornings, along with other secondary gritting action during the daytime.

The average daily cost of gritting in the Craigavon and Banbridge areas, during this period, was estimated at £16,000 per day.

ROADS GRITTED WITHIN CRAIGAVON SECTION

A3 Portadown Road from roundabout to junction with Francis Street

A3 to Meeting Street in Moira

Annesborough Road, Tanaghmore North Road, Casterbay Road, Lake Street, North Circular Road to B12 Cornakinneger Road

Antrim Road to North Circular Road

Artabrackagh Road to A3 Armagh Road

B12 Aghalee Road to B105 Soldierstown Road, Aghalee

B2 to Goodyear Roundabout

B3 Plantation Road to A26 Waringstown Road Roundabout

B76 (via Lurgan Town centre), to B3/A26 Roundabout

B78 to A27 Mahon Road

Bachelors Walk, Gilford Road, Moyallen Road, and A50 Banbridge Road, Gilford Road

Backwood Road to 30 mph signs

Ballycairn Road, Brankinstown Road, Derrymore Road, Cranagh Road Whitehall Road to the junction of. B12 Aghalee Road

Ballyhannon Road to Old Lurgan Road

Balteagh Road to Highfield North

Bleary Road to C155

B2 Bluestone Road and B2 Drumnacanvey Road to Moyallen Road

Bridge Street to Alexandra Crescent

Brownlow Road to Drumgask Roundabout

Brownlow Road to Lismore Roundabout

Brownlow Road to Westacres Roundabout

Bus Bays & offslip Road to the Junction of West Street to Traffic Lights at the junction of Northway

C168 to B78 Markethill Road

C169 and C168 to Laurelvale

Carleton Street to Thomas Street

Carnegie Street to end

Carrickblacker Road to Bridge Street Roundabout

Castle Street to Bridge Street

Central Way dual carriageway to B&Q entrance

Central Way to Marlborough House Roundabout

Charles Street and Garvaghy Road to Ballyoran Hill

Charles Street, Oakfield Terrace and Silverwood Drive to Francis Street

B2 Charlestown Road, Derrytrasna Road, B2 Derrymacash Road, Ballynamony Road, Goodyear Roundabout

C364 Clare Road to B3 Plantation Road

B12 Cornakinneger Road to junction of Ballycairn Road, Aghalee

Cornmarket Street, Montague Street and Ballymore Road to Turnberry Green

Cottage Road to junction of Kilmore Road

C156 Deans Road and C155 to B2 Drumnacanvey Road

C156 Deans Road to Drumgask Road

Dromore Road and B2 Lurgan Road to Banbridge Road Roundabout in Dromore

Drumgor Road, Moyraverty Road, Drumgask Road to Monbrief Road

Drumgor West Road and The Lakes to The Lakes Roundabout

C356 Dunkirk Road to A26 Waringstown Road

Edward Street, North Street, Lake Street and Victoria Street to Lough Road

B3 Gilford Road and B3 Plantation Road to Wells Crossroads, Dunkirk Road, Bleary

B3 Gilford Road and B3 Scarva Road to Tandragee Road

Hall Road C358 to Waringstown Road

Hanover Street to Church Street

High Street (dual carriageway section ) and Market Street to junction

High Street to Thomas Street

Highfield North Road to junction with Highfield Road

Highfield North to Northway

Highfield North to Roundabout at Highfield Road

Hill Street to Kitchen Hill

Hill Street to Union Street

Hospital loop

Kernan Hill, Carbet Road, Kilvergan Road

Kernan Hill, M12 junction 1 Roundabout, Seagoe Road, Bridge Street, High Street, Castle Street, Wilson Street to entrance to railway station carpark, Garvaghy Road, Ballyoran Hill, Charles Street, Corcrain Road, & Northway to Mill Avenue

Killycomain Road to Gilford Road Roundabout

Kilmore Road to junction with Antrim Road

Kiln Road to B76 Lough Road

Kinnego Embankment to M1 Roundabout at Junction 10

Kitchen Hill to Millennium Way, Alexandra Square, Alexandra Crescent to Kitchen Hill

Knockmenagh Road, Parkmore Roundabout and Knockhenagh Roundabout, to Westacres Roundabout

Lake Road to Central Roundabout

Lake Road to Eastway Roundabout

Lake Road to The Lakes Roundabout

Lake Road to Tullygally Roundabout

Lakeview Road Roundabout, Balteagh Road Roundabout, and Highfield Road Roundabout, to Highfield Roundabout

Levin Road to Lake Street, Lake Street to North Circular Road

LHS traffic island to M1 roundabout

C358 Lisnasure Road to B9 Drumlin Road

Lisniskey Lane & Lisniskey Road to roundabout at Lurgan Road

Loop Church Place triangulated junction, Edward Street, Parkview

B76 Lough Road and M1 Junction 10 Roundabout

Lurgan Road and A3 Belfast Road, Avenue Road

A3 Lurgan Road to junction of Backwood Road

Lurgan Road and Church Road to Seagoe Road

Lurgan Road, Upper Church Lane and Old Lurgan Road to junction of Lisniskey Lane

M12 to junction with Northway

M12 to South bound off slip Junction 1

M12 from off slip Carn Roundabout (under roundabout) to end of on slip Carn Roundabout

M12 left turn sliproad (across island) to Northway

M12 under Carn Roundabout to end of Southbound onslip road, Carn Roundabout

A51 Madden Road to Market Street (in Tandragee)

Malcolm Road to High Street

Malcolm Road from Right Turn Lane through Millennium Way Junction only

Mandeville Road to Lurgan Road Roundabout, Roundabout no 6

Mandeville Road to Central Roundabout

Mandeville Road to Highfield Roundabout

Mandeville Street & West Street, to Traffic Lights at Northway

Market Street to Castle Street

Market Street to Church Place

Market Street to Mandeville Street

B78 Markethill Road to A51 Marlacoo Road

Marlborough Retail Park (Past B&Q) to Highfield Road Junction

Meadow Lane to Thomas Street

Meadow Lane, Portmore Street and Clonavon Avenue to Thomas Street

Meeting Street, Clare Hill Road to Bottier Road

Mill Avenue to Castle Street via Bridge Street and Castle Street to Park Road

Mill Avenue to Northway

C357 Mill Hill to A26 Waringstown Road

Millennium Way to junction of Edward Street

Millennium Way to junction of Malcolm Road

Monbrief East Road, Monbrief Road, Tullygally Road, to Roundabout 2

Mourne Road and Malcolm Road to Millennium Way

Moygannon Road, B9 Drumlin Road and B9 New Forge Road

Moylinn East Road to Drumgor Road

Moyraverty Drive

Moyraverty Road West and Drumgask Road to Moyraverty Road

Moyraverty Road West to junction of Moyraverty Drive

B2 Mullahead Road to A27 Portadown Road

New Forge Road to A3 Lurgan Road

Northway (to Portadown), off slip Road to Brownstown Road

Northway to Roundabout at Marlborough House, Central Way to Central Way Roundabout

Northway to traffic lights at Corcrain Road

offslip Carn Roundabout to Carn Roundabout

Old Lurgan Road to Bluestone Road

Old Portadown Road to Tullygally East Road

On slip Road to Northway to West Street traffic lights

Onslip, M12 and M12 roundabout

Park Road and Obins Street to Charles Street

Portmore Street to Clonavon Avenue

Princess Way to Killycomain Road Roundabout

Russell Drive, Sloan Street to Edward Street

A27 Scarva Road and A27 Auglish Road to B3

Seagoe Link Road, Kernan Road, A27 Lurgan Road Roundabout & Mandeville Road to Highfield Roundabout

Silverwood Road, Francis Street to Edward Street

Southern M12 on slip to end

Southern offslip to Carn Roundabout

Station Road to B3

Steps Road

Steps Road, Magheralin Street and Portadown Road to Eastway Roundabout

Sugar Island Road to Bleary Road Junction

Tandragee Road, Mourne View Avenue and Pollock Drive to Gilford Road

Toberhewny Lane Lower to Pollock Drive

Tullygally East Road to Drumbeg Roundabout

Union Street to Mourne View Avenue

A26 Waringstown Road and A50 Banbridge Road to Whinny Road in Gilford

West Street and Jervis Street to Armagh Road

West Street, Market Street, Woodhouse Street, to Woodhouse Street loop

Whinny Road and Tandragee Road to Scarva Road

Windsor Ave, Castle Lane to Market Street

ROADS GRITTED WITHIN BANBRIDGE SECTION

Church Square, triangulated junction, Church Street, A26 Lurgan Road to A26 Tullyraine Road

Church Street, Maypole Hill, Gallows Street, Milebush Road to A1 Hillsborough Road, (including slip road)

C307 Glebe Road, C297 Upper Ballynahinch Road, B178 Comber Road to B177 Ballynahinch Road

A25 to and including the B8 Roundabout

A27 to B3 at Auglish Cottages

Market Square, Rathfriland

B3 to A1

B6 Ballynahinch Road, B6 Burren Road to B2 Dromore Road

B7 Ballyroney Road, B7 Tirkelly Hill, B7 Dromara Road

C328 Banbridge Road to C306 Hillsborough Road, Dromara

Banbridge Road (including slip road) to Lower Quilly Road

Banbridge Road to Church Street Roundabout

Banbridge Road, Lower Quilly Road to A1 Banbridge Road (including slip road)

Barban Hill and Rampart Street

B177 Belfast Road to C306 Dromara Road

Broken Bridge Road to A26 Lurgan Road

Carlisle Park, Hillfoot Crescent, Windmill Gardens, Windmill Lane to junction Harmony

A50 Castlewellan Road and A25 Castlewellan Roundabout

A50 Castlewellan Road, Bridge Street, Newry Street and Commercial Road

Downshire Place, Commercial Road to Newry Street

Downshire Road (turn right via monument) and Bridge Street

C306 Dromara Road, C307 Magheraconluce Road to Ballynahinch Road

C306 Dromara Road, C307 Magheraconluce Road, Glebe Road

B2 Dromore Road, B2 Ballynahinch Road (into Dromore)

Dromore Road to A1

Edenderry Road, Scarva Street, Anderson Street

Fort Street to end of development

Forthill Green, Forthill Avenue to Fort Street

From barriers at Newry Street to barriers at Bridge Street

Gall Bog Road to C132 Tullynisky Road

B10 Glenloughan Road and B10 Scarva Road to Peggy's Loanin

U119 Grove Road to B175 Spa Road

Hill Street to The Rowans

Hillsborough Road (including slip road to Mossvale Road

C307 Howe Road and Kinallen Road to C328 Banbridge Road

Huntly Road and Reilly Street to Victoria Street

Huntly Road, Peggy's Loanin and Iveagh Drive to Reilly Street

Kenlis Street to Roundabout

Kenlis Street, Rathfriland Street, over Cut, Scarva Street

B25 Knockgorm Road and C328 Waringsford Road to A1

B25 Knockgorm Road to Gall Bog Road

B3 Legananny Road to Loughbrickland centre

Linen Hall Street and Ballygowan Road to Harbeton Park

B177 Lisburn Road, B177 Ballynahinch Road to Main Street, Hillsborough

Lisburn Road to junction of Riverside Road

Market Square to Maypole Hill

Maypole Hill to A1 Banbridge Road (including slip road)

Mays Corner Road, B10 Banbridge Road into Rathfriland (U-Turn around Market Square)

Meeting Street, Pound Hill, Wallace Park

B7 Moneyslane Road, B7 Rathfriland Road and C306 Hillsborough Road to B7

Mossvale Road to Princess Street in Dromore

Mount Street to Princess Street

New Flyover at Dromore Road, Banbridge

New Underpass at Loughbrickland

Newry Road to Roundabout

Newry Street to A25 Newry Road

Newry Street, Bridge Street, Church Square, Dromore Street

Old Manse Road to A50 Castlewellan Road

Past Iveagh Bungalows and John Street to Church Square

Pound Hill, C310 Diamond Road to C328 Gall Bog Road

Princess Street, Market Square, Bridge Street, Meeting Street, roundabout, bridge over A1 to Outlet Centre (U-Turn)

B3 Rathfriland Road, Loughbrickland Road, Newry Street to Newry Road

B10 Rathfriland Road, B10 Glebe Road, B10 Monteith Road

B10 Rathfriland Road over A1 to slip road to A1 (towards Newry)

Riverside Road to junction of B2 Dromore Road

Scarva Road, Peggy's Loanin to Iveagh Drive

Scarva Street to Downshire Place

Scarva to B10 Glenloughan Road

Slip Road to A1

Slip Road to Hillsborough Road

Slip-road to A1

Slip-road to Rathfriland Road

Townsend Street to Kenlis Street

Tullynisky Road to Aughnaskeagh Road, Waringsford

Victoria Street and Reilly Street to Scarva Road

Wallace Park

Papers Referred to the Executive

Mr G Savage asked the Minister for Regional Development to list the subject matter of each of the 39 papers that his Department referred to the Executive between May 2007 and 7 December 2009; and to state whether the Executive agreed each paper.

(AQW 4277/10)

Minister for Regional Development: It is not our practice to disclose details of Executive business. The content of Executive papers and all aspects of Executive business are confidential.

Water Supply in the Crotlieve District

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister for Regional Development for his assessment of the number of (i) burst mains water pipes; (ii) airlocks; and (iii) other problems with the water supply that have occurred in the Crotlieve District Electoral area during the last 6 months.

(AQW 4279/10)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) that in the past six months there have been 64 repairs undertaken on burst watermains and 262 other water supply related repairs in the Crotlieve District electoral area. NIW does not record details of airlocks in the water distribution system and is therefore unable to provide the information requested.

NI Water

Mr D Simpson asked the Minister for Regional Development (i) what human rights protections are in place within NI Water in relation to embedded contract personnel to ensure (a) proper management; (b) fair employment; and (c) appeals mechanisms; and (ii) how are these rights monitored and reported on.

(AQW 4348/10)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) that it does not recognise the term ‘embedded contract personnel’. However, for staff employed by contractors engaged by NIW, all issues relating to the proper management, fair employment and appeals mechanisms are the responsibility of the respective contractor. NIW does not monitor how contractors discharge these responsibilities in respect of their employees.

Easibus Service in Bangor

Mr A Easton asked the Minister for Regional Development what consideration his Department has given to new partnerships with outside bodies to help retain the Easibus Service in Bangor.

(AQW 4368/10)

Minister for Regional Development: The decision to withdraw Easibus services in Bangor was taken in consultation with Translink which informed the Department that these services are largely duplicated by the more frequent Bangor town services. It was also taken in the knowledge of the availability of door-to-door services which meet the needs of people who find it difficult or impossible to use conventional public transport. In these circumstances my Department has not considered developing new partnerships to retain Easibus services in Bangor.

Flooding at 21 Ballyblack Road, Newtownards

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister for Regional Development why, despite assurances from NI Water, work has not been carried out to alleviate the flooding at 21 Ballyblack Road, Newtownards; and for a definitive date when the work will be completed.

(AQW 4378/10)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) that the planned repair work on the culvert at 21 Ballyblack Road, Newtownards has unfortunately been delayed due to the wet and freezing weather conditions over recent months. A CCTV survey of the culvert is required prior to repair work commencing. This can only be undertaken during dry conditions and the culvert has been full of water during all recent inspections. It is planned to commence work as soon as the conditions allow.

Claims for Falls and Injuries

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the cost of claims for falls and injuries against his Department in (i) the Ards District; and (ii) the Strangford District in each of the last three years.

(AQW 4408/10)

Minister for Regional Development: The claim information sought in AQW 4408/10 is not maintained by my Department’s Central Claims Unit in the requested District format. It is maintained by Roads Service Section Office area. The Ards Section Office area includes the Ards District. The Down Section Office area includes the Strangford District. This District information could only be provided at disproportionate expense. The claims information for the whole of the Ards and Down Section Office areas is set out in the following table.

	Total Compensation
2008/09
Ards Section Office	£63,730.20
Down Section Office	£60,088.63
TOTAL	£123,818.83
2007/08
Ards Section Office	£77,510.04
Down Section Office	£22,596.50
TOTAL	£100,106.54
2006/07
Ards Section Office	£87,815.45
Down Section Office	£30,878.54
TOTAL	£118,693.99

Legal Fees Incurred in Dealing with Claims

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the cost of legal fees incurred in dealing with claims made against the Department in (i) the Ards District; and (ii) the Strangford District in each of the last three years.

(AQW 4409/10)

Minister for Regional Development: The cost of legal fees has been prepared on a Roads Service Section Office basis in the same format used to provide the related compensation expenditure in Question No. AQW 4408/10. The legal costs have been disaggregated into their three principal elements. These elements comprise claimants’ legal costs, my Department’s legal defence costs and "other costs". "Other costs" comprise the statutory repayments of social security and NHS tariff charges due to the Compensation Recovery Unit of the Department for Social Development.

	Total Claimants’ Legal Costs	Total DSO Costs	Total Other Costs
2008/09
Ards Section Office	£32,011.07	£10,194.78	£5,966.76
Down Section Office	£32,296.36	£21,121.36	£400.37
TOTAL	£64,307.43	£31,316.14	£6,367.13
2007/08
Ards Section Office	£47,616.19	£17,209.82	£2,548.10
Down Section Office	£14,161.33	£3,175.50	£152.76
TOTAL	£61,777.52	£20,385.32	£2,700.86
2006/07
Ards Section Office	£47,346.03	£19,534.03	£288.14
Down Section Office	£22,057.52	£11,023.94	£349.71
TOTAL	£69,403.55	£30,557.97	£637.85

Car Park at Ballarena Railway

Mr G Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development if he can give an assurance that the car park at Ballarena Railway halt will be resurfaced, to improve conditions for wheel chair users.

(AQW 4462/10)

Minister for Regional Development: Whilst Translink do not have any current plans to resurface the car park at Bellarena, they will review the position in order to identify reasonable adjustments that could be made for a wheelchair user within the car park.  This may include the possibility of surfacing a single wide bay near the entrance which would be suitable for wheelchair users.

DEPARTMENT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Village Area of South Belfast

Mr J Spratt asked the Minister for Social Development, in relation to the announcement in February 2009 on the new housing initiative in the Village area of south Belfast to allow homeowners to buy a new home without having to meet the five year qualifying period, does she intend to include rehabilitated houses as well as new houses in the scheme.

(AQW 3877/10)

Minister for Social Development (Ms M Ritchie): I plan to publish proposals in the coming weeks to support owner occupiers in redevelopment areas to remain in their community post regeneration.

These plans will include both new build and refurbished homes that may be available following the redevelopment of an area.

Vested Houses

Mr J Spratt asked the Minister for Social Development, in the event of a vested house being refurbished instead of demolished, can she confirm if the house will be offered back to the original owner.

(AQW 3878/10)

Minister for Social Development: I understand that this question refers to the Village area of Belfast.

Within the Village area the vast majority of houses which will be vested will be demolished to make way for new housing. The only exceptions are those dwellings in the Improvement Area which will be vested and improved for social housing - all are currently unoccupied and blocked up.

Warm Homes Scheme

Mr A Ross asked the Minister for Social Development if people who live on a ‘floating home,’ which is deemed as their permanent residence and receive an annual marine fee from the NIHE, are entitled to receive a grant from the Warm Homes Scheme.

(AQW 3907/10)

Minister for Social Development: Applicants to the Warm Homes Scheme must be in receipt of a qualifying benefit and their home must lack one or more of the measures capable of being provided under the scheme. People who live on a ‘floating home’ may be entitled to apply for help if they satisfy the eligibility requirements of the scheme. However, from a technical point of view, it is difficult to see how any of the measures allowed under the scheme (cavity wall insulation, loft insulation or a new central heating system connected to an oil or gas supply) could actually be provided within a ‘floating home’.

Community Workers in the Kilcooley Area of Bangor

Mr A Easton asked the Minister for Social Development for an update on community workers positions in the Kilcooley area of Bangor.

(AQW 3922/10)

Minister for Social Development: The Department currently funds the costs of a community development manager and part time administrator within the Kilcooley Community Forum. This funding is due to end on 31 March 2010. An application for further funding is currently being assessed. It is anticipated that the assessment will be completed and a decision made within the next few weeks.

Areas at Risk Programme

Mr A Easton asked the Minister for Social Development for an update on the Areas at Risk Programme in the Beechfield Estate, Donaghadee.

(AQW 3923/10)

Minister for Social Development: My officials in VCU have met with the Beechfield Residents Association to see if further assistance can be provided in the short term whilst the findings of the neighbourhood survey are digested, priorities agreed, an Area Action Plan developed, and a two year proposal under the Areas at Risk Programme proposed, appraised and implemented.

New Social Housing in The Glens Electoral Ward

Mr D McKay asked the Minister for Social Development what new social housing will be provided in The Glens electoral ward in the next 3 years.

(AQW 3929/10)

Minister for Social Development: The information is not available in the format requested. However, the table below lists the social housing schemes in the Social Housing Development Programme 2009/10 for the North Antrim parliamentary constituency. The Housing Executive is currently formulating the new 3 year draft Social Housing Development Programme for 2010/11 – 2012/13 which, subject to obtaining appropriate approvals, will be published on the Housing Executive’s website in early 2010.

Scheme name	Units
St Patrick’s Barracks, Ballymena (Surplus Site)	47
Garvaghy Avenue Phase 1, Portglenone (T)	13
Caherty Road, Broughshane	48
Churchfields, Rasharkin	4
Garryduff Gardens, Ballymena Road, Ballymoney	5

Disabled Facilities Grant: Building Work

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development if she has considered introducing a system to ensure that building work being carried out under a disabled facilities grant will be completed in the event that the contracted builder cannot continue the work.

(AQW 3937/10)

Minister for Social Development: There is a system in place to ensure work is completed. Where the approved cost of grant works exceeds £5000, the Housing Executive sets a condition that the applicant must use a builder who is a member of one of the following recognised Warranted Builders Schemes:-

- Building Guarantee Scheme (BGS)

- Contractors Insurance Guarantee Services (CIGS)

- Construction Insurance Direct (CID)

- Contractors Register Ltd (CRL)

- National Register of Warranted Builders (NRWB)

The purpose of these schemes is to protect applicants in the event of a dispute or the Contractor failing to complete the grant scheme. The warranty scheme will arrange for the work to be completed. In relation to cases where the cost of works is under £5000, these are generally plumbing works; do not involve major building works; and the average cost is £2900. Payment is usually only made when the Housing Executive and the Occupational Therapist confirms they are satisfied that the work has been completed. If the contracted builder cannot complete the work, as payment has not been made, the applicant may then seek another contractor to complete the work. Where there is a problem the Housing Executive Grants Office will assist to resolve any issues.

Scrabo Residents' Association Business Plan

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development to confirm if funding has been allocated for the consultation process for the Scrabo Residents' Association business plan for the new community centre in the Scrabo Estate, Newtownards.

(AQW 3939/10)

Minister for Social Development: My officials in VCU have been awaiting this proposal since October 2009. Following much prompting I can confirm that a proposal to the value of £1586 was received on 12^th January 2010 from Ards Development Bureau and Community Network.

I understand that the purpose of the project is to carry out a detailed site survey, consult with residents and other agreed stakeholders and prepare a sketch design, as well as provide a detailed breakdown of costs in preparation for a potential new community facility within the Scrabo estate.

Given the urgency, the appraisal of the proposal was made a top priority and I am pleased to inform you that it has been approved. A contract was issued to Ards Development Bureau and Community Network on 22 January 2010 allowing them to commission the work.

Social Housing Provision

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development if she would consider a more cost effective method of social housing provision, such as a leasing scheme from developers.

(AQW 3940/10)

Minister for Social Development: When I launched the New Housing Agenda I made it clear we would look to bring forward more innovative solutions that would help us deliver more houses for those in greatest need. We have already done that by bringing forward greater levels of private investment, attracting record funding from the European Investment Bank and introducing a new Procurement Strategy to maximise the use of our existing resources.

Other initiatives are currently being explored including the potential to lease homes as the member suggests directly from developers. My officials are already working closely with the Housing Executive, Housing Associations and Strategic Investment Board to examine a number of possible leasing models and if these can be brought forward to meet housing need and represent value for money, they will have my full support.

Halifax First Time Buyer Annual Review 2009

Mr B Leonard asked the Minister for Social Development, given the evidence of the Halifax First Time Buyer Annual Review 2009, what specific measures will be put in place to deal with the shortcomings of the present policy approaches on affordable housing.

(AQW 3946/10)

Minister for Social Development: Prior to the Credit Crunch, many potential homebuyers were priced out of the market. The Halifax First Time Buyer Annual Review suggests the principal factor now making homeownership difficult for first-time buyers is the tightened lending criteria. Investing more in social and affordable housing is a key element of the government’s strategy for tackling housing affordability and alleviating the impact of the economic downturn. My Department has introduced a number of initiatives to provide affordable homes for those in need of assistance. These include: (i) the amended House Sales Scheme, with an attractive bonus, which gives social tenants the opportunity to buy a share in their home; (ii) providing unprecedented levels of funding for Co-Ownership Housing which has enabled it to secure an additional private finance of £48m; (iii); allowing Co-Ownership participants to increase their share of homeownership in steps of 5%, rather than 12.5%; and (iv) encouraging developer-led equity schemes.

If there are shortcomings in relation to affordable housing they relate to resources rather than policy.

Privately Owned Houses in the Holyland Area of South Belfast

Mr J Craig asked the Minister for Social Development how many privately owned houses in the Holyland area of south Belfast have been purchased by her Department or assoociated agencies for social housing in each of the last five years.

(AQW 3953/10)

Minister for Social Development: The Housing Executive’s records for social housing starts during the 5 year period (2004/2005 – 2008/2009) indicate that Housing Associations have not acquired any privately owned houses in the Holyland area of South Belfast for social housing.

St Patrick's Barracks Site, Ballymena

Mr D McKay asked the Minister for Social Development how many social housing units her Department plans to build on the St Patrick's barracks site in Ballymena, if it is acquired by an appointed Housing Association.

(AQW 3973/10)

Minister for Social Development: I can confirm that Fold Housing Association is currently in negotiations with Defence Estates to purchase 47 existing properties at St Patricks Barracks, Ballymena.

There is also a Master planning exercise being carried out by DSD for the wider St Patrick’s Barracks site which covers approximately 42 acres. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive had expressed an interest in acquiring approximately 10 acres of this site to provide up to 200 housing units, most likely on a mixed tenure basis. This interest will be subject however to the feasibility and planning issues that are being considered as part of the ongoing master planning work.

Cold Weather Payments

Mr A McQuillan asked the Minister for Social Development what steps she is taking to ensure that all future cold weather payments are made in time.

(AQW 3993/10)

Minister for Social Development: Once a cold weather period has been triggered, a computer scan of the benefit systems is run the following weekend by the Department for Work and Pensions to identify those customers in the geographical areas affected who satisfy the qualifying criteria and are entitled to receive an automatic payment. Once this has been done, payments are normally issued within a further three working days. Exceptionally, where a large number of weather stations throughout the United Kingdom trigger cold weather payment periods at the same time, this can increase the period when payments can be issued up to a week. There are no plans to change these arrangements.

Cold Weather Payment

Mr A McQuillan asked the Minister for Social Development in which post code areas people did not receive their cold weather payment in time.

(AQW 3995/10)

Minister for Social Development: I refer to my previous answer (AQW 3993). I am not aware of any significant delays in payments made to those customers entitled to receive a cold weather payment. Anyone who considers that they are eligible for a payment and have not yet received it should contact their normal benefit paying branch for further advice.

Co-ownership Housing Scheme

Mr A McQuillan asked the Minister for Social Development how many first time buyers applied, and were successful in their application for the Co-ownership housing scheme in the 2008/09 financial year.

(AQW 3996/10)

Minister for Social Development: A total of 381 applications were received by the Northern Ireland Co-Ownership Housing Association during the 2008/09 financial year. In the same period, 325 applicants received help to buy their first home.

Heating Replacement Schemes

Ms C Ní Chuilín asked the Minister for Social Development to detail heating replacement schemes that her Department currently provides broken down by parliamentary constituency.

(AQW 4018/10)

Minister for Social Development: The information is not available in the format requested. The tables below provide the information by Housing Executive administrative area.

Table 1: Heating Replacement Schemes currently included in the Housing Executive’s programme for 2009/10:-

Housing Executive Administrative Area	Schemes	Dwellings
Belfast	7	701
North East	7	542
South	7	475
South East	7	440
West	6	396

Table 2 - Heating Replacement Schemes currently included in the Housing Executive’s programme for 2010/11:-

Housing Executive Administrative Area	Schemes	Dwellings
Belfast	8	697
North East	2	262
South	6	486
South East	6	463
West	3	198

Review of Public Administration

Ms C Ní Chuilín asked the Minister for Social Development to provide clarification on the transfer of functions from her Department to Local Government before any resolution is achieved on the Review of Public Administration.

(AQW 4019/10)

Minister for Social Development: I fully support a vision of strong local government that has the needs of all citizens at its core and which is fully empowered through its responsibility for community planning.

My Department will be transferring substantial functions to the new local Councils including responsibility for the delivery of urban regeneration, support for the voluntary and community sector at local level, and a number of housing functions.

I am confident that these functions will complement the existing services and functions of local government; and we will work in partnership with our colleagues in local government to achieve a smooth transition to their delivery by the new local Councils in May 2011.

Benefit Uptake

Ms C Ní Chuilín asked the Minister for Social Development to provide examples of how her Department is promoting benefit uptake in the wider community.

(AQW 4021/10)

Minister for Social Development: My Department provides a range of services to make the wider community aware of benefit entitlement. This includes outreach services, local promotional activity, the production of specific publications, some in minority ethnic languages, DSD and NIHE websites, general assistance with advice and information through our network of local and centralised offices and an online Benefits Adviser Service. The Benefits Adviser Service provides information on potential eligibility for benefits and tax credits. It also includes a Calculation and Comparison Service which gives an estimate of potential entitlement to key benefits. The service is available to both working age and older people and can be used anonymously by individuals or advice organisations with internet access.

The Warm Homes Scheme includes advice on maximising household income and incorporates a benefit check ensuring vulnerable people are claiming all the benefits to which they are entitled.

Also all new public sector tenants are encouraged to apply for Housing Benefit and, where relevant, Rate Relief and Lone Pensioner Allowance. Applicants are taken through the application process as part of the social housing tenancy commencement exercise. 

Proposed New Builds in the Derry City Council Area

Mr R McCartney asked the Minister for Social Development how many of the proposed new builds in the Derry City Council area this year are bungalows.

(AQW 4028/10)

Minister for Social Development: The information requested is as follows:

- Fold Housing Association’s scheme at West Bank which is programmed to go on site in 2009/10 includes two bungalows.

- Two schemes which commenced in 2008/09 and are currently under construction include the following bungalow provision:-

- Habinteg Housing Association’s scheme at Lourdes Hall includes four bungalows

- North & West Housing Association’s scheme at Dove Gardens includes four bungalows.

Funding to the Housing Executive Grants Office

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development (i) how much additional funding has been allocated to the Housing Executive Grants Office in Dundonald; and (ii) if this additional funding will be available to address the outstanding renovation grants applications.

(AQW 4032/10)

Minister for Social Development: The Housing Executive’s Grants office in Dundonald has received additional funding of £735,000. The additional funding will allow the Housing Executive to consider applications (Category 1 cases) for the discretionary Renovation, Replacement and Home Repairs Assistance grants. These will be dealt with in date order according to the date of their previous application.

Disabled Facilities Grant Applications in the Strangford Area

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development how many Disabled Facilities Grant applications in the Strangford area have had to have top–up grants in each of the last 3 years.

(AQW 4033/10)

Minister for Social Development: The information requested is not available in the format requested. However, the table below details the information for the Ards, Castlereagh and Downpatrick council areas:-

Council Area	2007	2008	2009
Ards	12	21	23
Castlereagh	6	4	4
Downpatrick	4	2	12

Warm Homes Scheme

Mr A Easton asked the Minister for Social Development how many homes in the North Down area have benefited from the Warm Homes Scheme.

(AQW 4045/10)

Minister for Social Development: The Housing Executive has had responsibility for the administration of the new Warm Homes Scheme since 1 July 2009. From that date to 20 January 2010, 108 properties in the North Down area have had measures installed under the Warm Homes Scheme.

Prior to that, the scheme was delivered by EAGA plc on behalf of the Department for Social Development. The Housing Executive is unable to provide the information in the form requested for that period.

Co-ownership Applications

Mr J Craig asked the Minister for Social Development how many co-ownership applications have been made in this financial year to date; and how many have been successful.

(AQW 4052/10)

Minister for Social Development: A total of 1,152 applications were received by the Northern Ireland Co-Ownership Housing Association between 1 April and 31 December 2009. In the same period, 394 applicants received help to buy their first home. Co-Ownership Housing is expected to achieve its target of providing 500 homes in this financial year.

Houses of Multiple Occupancy

Mr J Craig asked the Minister for Social Development how many houses of multiple occupancy are registered in each council area.

(AQW 4053/10)

Minister for Social Development: The table below details the number of Houses in Multiple Occupation registered in Northern Ireland as at 31 December 2009 in each District Council area:-

District Council Area	HMOs Registered in Northern Ireland (at 31 December 2009)
Derry	363
Limavady	4
Coleraine	644
Ballymoney	2
Moyle	1
Larne	6
Ballymena	24
Magherafelt	9
Cookstown	26
Strabane	5
Omagh	10
Fermanagh	5
Dungannon	38
Craigavon	4
Armagh	4
Newry	7
Down	2
Lisburn	2
Antrim	5
Newtownabbey	54
Carrickfergus	5
North Down	15
Ards	1
Belfast	1177
Banbridge	0
Castlereagh	0
TOTAL	2413

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Mr P Butler asked the Minister for Social Development what percentage of children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are currently entitled to Disability Living Allowance, in each Health and Social Care Trust area.

(AQW 4069/10)

Minister for Social Development: The information requested is not held by my Department.

Housing Associations

Mr A Easton asked the Minister for Social Development what powers she has to ensure that housing associations maintain their housing stock to a suitable condition and standard for tenants.

(AQW 4075/10)

Minister for Social Development: The Northern Ireland Housing Order 1992, Article 4 (1) (c) gives the Department the power to "exercise supervision and control over registered housing associations". The Departments Housing Association Guide, Part 6 and the Regulatory Framework, Standard 3.3, outlines the Associations requirements for maintaining their housing stock. Compliance against these requirements is checked by the Departments Governance & Inspection Unit, through a rolling Programme of Inspections of all Housing Associations.

Disabled Facilities Grant Applications

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Social Development how many disabled facilities grant applications in North Down have had to have top-up grants in each of the last three years.

(AQW 4078/10)

Minister for Social Development: The table below details the information for the North Down council area:-

2007	2008	2009
14	10	18

Warm Homes Scheme

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Social Development how many applications have been made for the Warm Homes Scheme in North Down; and how many have been turned down, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 4080/10)

Minister for Social Development: The new Warm Homes Scheme commenced on 1 July 2009. Prior to that, the scheme was delivered by EAGA plc. When their contract for Warm Homes ended, EAGA handed over all the records they held relating to the scheme to the Department for Social Development. The Northern Ireland Housing Executive holds those records on behalf of the Department.

It is not possible to analyse those records in the manner requested. However, since the start of the new Warm Homes Scheme on 1 July 2009, approximately 861 applications have been received in the North Down area, of which approximately 614 have been unsuccessful because they did not meet the eligibility criteria.

Warm Homes Scheme

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Social Development the average time taken to process a Warm Homes Scheme application.

(AQW 4083/10)

Minister for Social Development: There are 3 stages in the application process. The Scheme Managers are required to process 90% of applications from initial enquiry to property survey within 6 weeks; they are required to process 90% of applications from property survey to works complete within 6 weeks. The target for installations works is completion within 3 days.

The Warm Homes Scheme is currently achieving the following performance against those standards:

1. 84% of surveys are currently being completed within 6 weeks from date of first contact to date of survey;
2. 85% of installations are currently being completed within 6 weeks from date of survey to date of installation;
3. All (100%) installation works are currently being completed within 3 days.

The Housing Executive as Scheme Administrator continues to work with Scheme Managers to achieve the target by the end of the year.

Disabled Facilties Grants

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development, in light of the backlog of Occupational Therapists' reports on disabled facilties grant applications, if she would consider paying 90% of the grant to applicants whilst they await the final report.

(AQW 4090/10)

Minister for Social Development: The Housing Executive currently pays up to 90% of the grant where there is a delay in receiving the Occupational Therapist’s report, providing the work is completed to their satisfaction.

Disabled Facilities Grants

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development what steps she is taking to ensure that Occupational Therapists attend final visits with disabled facilities grants applicants in good time, allowing a final decision on the application to be reached more quickly.

(AQW 4095/10)

Minister for Social Development: The Housing Executive meets with Occupational Therapists at local management level on a regular basis to discuss issues including delays in visits. Individual cases are also raised with Occupational Therapists where a delay is being experienced to expedite the processing of grant payments. The Housing Executive will raise the issue of expediting Occupational Therapy Service inspections with the Housing Liaison Officer to have this addressed at the Head Occupational Therapists Forum.

Disabled Facilities Grant Reports

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development if she would co-operate with the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to discuss the secondment of an Occupational Therapist to deal specifically with disabled facilities grants, as O.T. reports are essential to the completion of grant applications.

(AQW 4118/10)

Minister for Social Development: As part of the Joint Departmental Review, the Housing Executive considered options including the appointment of an Occupational Therapist to deal with housing issues. It was subsequently decided to appoint a Housing Adaptations Liaison Officer, funded jointly by the Housing Executive and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, to help improve the Housing Executive’s delivery of services to persons with a disability.

Renovation Grants

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development if applicants for renovation grants, whose applications were shelved in 2009 due to a lack of funding, will be able to re-apply now that extra funding has been announced in January 2010.

(AQW 4121/10)

Minister for Social Development: The recently announced additional funding means that the Housing Executive is now in a position to consider applications from approximately 640 of the discretionary Renovation, Replacement and Home Repairs Assistance grants Category 1 cases, which are now being dealt with in date order according to the date of their previous application.

Disabled Facilities Grants: Home Extensions

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development to explain why extensions carried out through disabled facilities grants in North Down and Ards homes are larger than the extensions carried out on homes in Belfast.

(AQW 4123/10)

Minister for Social Development: The Housing Executive is not aware that extensions carried out through disabled facilities grants in North Down and Ards homes are larger than the extensions carried out on homes in Belfast. However, it is the Occupational Therapist who makes a recommendation and specifies the size of the adaptations based on the needs of the person with a disability.

Mortgage Rescue Scheme

Mr S Hamilton asked the Minister for Social Development (i) to outline any pilot schemes her Department has engaged in regarding a possible mortgage rescue scheme; (ii) when the pilots concluded; and (iii) what the conclusions were.

(AQW 4134/10)

Minister for Social Development: There are currently no pilot Mortgage Rescue Schemes in operation.

Help for People Facing Home Repossession

Mr S Hamilton asked the Minister for Social Development what work her Department has carried out with the judiciary, financial institutions and other bodies to help people facing repossession of their homes.

(AQW 4135/10)

Minister for Social Development: Helping those who have difficulty making mortgage payments is a priority for me. Although my Department has had no dealings with the reserved matters of justice and the regulation of financial institutions and markets in this regard, I can confirm that with my officials I have met on a number of occasions with the Council of Mortgage Lenders both to encourage responsible lending to homebuyers and to press lenders to ensure that affordable mortgage products are made available which help first time buyers and which will, in turn, help the wider economy. Despite restricted resources I have been able to provide over £100,000 in the current year to the Housing Rights Service to enable it to pilot the Mortgage Debt Advice Service. This pilot service, which is due to run until May 2010, provides advice to people experiencing difficulty making mortgage payments and is part of wider government’s initiatives aimed at preventing people here from becoming homeless as a consequence of housing-related debt.

People Sleeping Rough

Mr S Hamilton asked the Minister for Social Development what percentage of people sleeping rough are foreign nationals.

(AQW 4137/10)

Minister for Social Development: Although there have been isolated incidents outside Belfast where foreign nationals have been identified as sleeping rough, it is only within Belfast that meaningful statistics can be supplied and from which a best estimate can be inferred. In December 2009 there were 118 engagements, by the appropriate services, with rough sleepers in Belfast of which 16 engagements or approximately 14% were with foreign nationals.

Mortgage Rescue Scheme

Mr S Hamilton asked the Minister for Social Development how many bids the Department for Social Development has made in in-year monitoring rounds for a mortgage rescue scheme in each of the last three years; and what was the quantum of each bid.

(AQW 4138/10)

Minister for Social Development: My Department made an initial bid for funding in respect of a Mortgage Rescue Scheme of £5 million in the June 2008 monitoring round. From that date my Department has submitted subsequent bids as follows:

Monitoring Round Amount

September 2008 £5 million

December 2008 £1 million

February 2009 Nil

June 2009 £5 million

September 2009 £5 million

December 2009 £5 million.

Unfortunately, none of the bids have been met. However, I have been able to provide funding to launch a Mortgage Debt and Advice Service to increase the level of advice for people experiencing difficulty making mortgage payments. This specialised service is preventing people here from becoming homeless as a consequence of housing-related debt.

Housing Executive Tenancy

Mr B McElduff asked the Minister for Social Development how the Housing Executive responds to requests to succeed tenancy when the applicant is able to provide persuasive evidence of residency for more than a year but is unable to provide bank statements or utility bills because of their particular circumstances.

(AQW 4167/10)

Minister for Social Development: In order for a succession request to be granted, the applicant has to satisfy the Housing Executive that he/she had been residing in the dwelling as his/her only or principal home throughout the period of twelve months ending with the tenant’s death. The Housing Executive has issued general guidelines to staff giving examples of evidence that may be produced to satisfy themselves that the person requesting the succession of tenancy has been residing in the dwelling for the relevant period of time. This includes a search of the Housing Executive’s computer systems and tenant files; a letter from an employer or payslips with address on them dating back 12 months; proof from Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety; Bank Statements; Electoral Registers; Utility Bills; Housing Benefit records; letters from a GP or other Health Professional, member of Clergy, Solicitor. This is not a definitive list and any evidence provided will be evaluated by the Housing Executive to be satisfied that the person applying for the succession was living at the dwelling as his/her only or principal home for 12 months.

Investing for Health Strategy

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister for Social Development, pursuant to AQW 3505/10, to outline the collaborative working her Department has been involved in around the Investing for Health Strategy.

(AQW 4171/10)

Minister for Social Development: : My Department works extensively with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) in the pursuance of common objectives. Significant interdependencies exist between the Investing for Health Strategy, with its aim of tackling the factors which adversely affect health and perpetuate health inequalities, and my Department’s goals in relation to addressing social and economic deprivation.

Collaborative work to address the wider determinants of poor health occurs at both strategic and operational levels. My Department contributes to the work of the Ministerial Group for Public Health and a DHSSPS official represents health interests on the Cross-Departmental Ministerial Group on Neighbourhood Renewal. At a local level health officials also sit on Neighbourhood Renewal Partnerships. My officials have, or continue to be, involved in the formulation and oversight of strategies in relation to suicide, mental health, obesity, drugs and alcohol and physical activity. The Department also plays an active role on the Investing for Health Fuel Poverty Steering Group. In addition officials are members of the Investing for Health and Health Action Zones partnerships and participate in events organised under their auspices.

Collaborative work has delivered action on the ground in relation to a wide range of health related matters. These include; home accident prevention, homelessness, fuel poverty/energy efficiency, mental health and well-being, health impact assessments, supported housing, older people services, workplace health promotion, home improvement grants and adaptations and a wide range of Neighbourhood Renewal health improvement initiatives. My officials continue to work in partnership with the DHSSPS, Health Trusts and Public Health Agency staff on developing and delivering a range of health projects.

'Open Door' Accommodation Project in Clooney Terrace, Derry

Ms M Anderson asked the Minister for Social Development if she can confirm that the Housing Executive intends to remove support, via the Supporting People initiative, for the 'Open Door' accommodation project in Clooney Terrace, Derry; and, if so, to outline the reasons for this decision.

(AQW 4189/10)

Minister for Social Development: The Northern Ireland Housing Executive, through the Supporting People Programme, fund Open Door for 3 supported accommodation schemes. One of these schemes provides supported accommodation for up to 6 vulnerable young people at Clooney Terrace in Derry City. This service receives £137,667 annual funding.

There have been a number of recent developments in policy and legislation regarding the accommodation of young people aged 16-17. As a result, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive is working in conjunction with the Regional Health & Social Care Board, the Western Health & Social Care Trust and Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority to review the suitability and future role of a number of existing supported accommodation projects for vulnerable young people.

As part of this process the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, Supporting People and the Western Trust are engaging in discussion with a number of providers on the future role and direction of services for this client group.

Discussions are ongoing and funding continues to be provided to the project.

Housing Executive Properties

Mr G Savage asked the Minister for Social Development how many Housing Executive properties are currently vacant in (i) the Upper Bann constituency as a whole; (ii) Banbridge and the outlying areas; (iii) Lurgan and the outlying areas; and (iv) Portadown and the outlying areas.

(AQW 4193/10)

Minister for Social Development: The information is not available in the format requested. However, the table below details the number of Housing Executive vacant dwellings in the Housing Executive’s District Office areas of Banbridge, Lurgan and Portadown, as at 31 December 2009.

Housing Executive District Office
Banbridge	54
Lurgan	109
Portadown	26

Note: These figures include dwellings which are undergoing major repairs or improvements, for decanting, awaiting relet, pending demolition and for sale.

Peace Garden at Townsend Street, Strabane

Mr A Bresland asked the Minister for Social Development how much has been spent to date on the creation of the Peace Garden at Townsend Street, Strabane.

(AQW 4224/10)

Minister for Social Development: The total spend to date in relation to the Peace Garden at Townsend Street, Strabane is £27,835 which includes capital costs and fees.

Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act

Ms C Ní Chuilín asked the Minister for Social Development how her Department is implementing Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act, given that she has removed the ring-fencing and implementation of equality protection in the Social Housing guidelines.

(AQW 4225/10)

Minister for Social Development: Under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 all public bodies are required to carry out their functions with due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity. 

My Department and the Housing Executive are both designated by the Equality Commission as Public Bodies in their own right and as such are obliged to set out in an Equality Scheme how the organisation proposes to fulfil its statutory duties. An Annual Progress Report is also submitted to the Equality Commission outlining the work undertaken each year to deliver on the commitments and obligations set out in those respective Equality Schemes.

The removal of ring fencing from the Strategic Guidelines for the formulation of the Social Housing Development Programme has already been considered by the Housing Executive within the context of a full Equality Impact Assessment. This did not determine the removal of ring fencing to be detrimental to any of the groupings identified within Section 75 in terms of equality of opportunity.

Strand Road Traders Association

Ms M Anderson asked the Minister for Social Development if she is aware of the concerns of the Strand Road Traders Association which were raised regarding the Public Realm Scheme in Derry with the North West Development Office; and whether she intends to consider the proposals put forward by the traders in relation to access and parking.

(AQW 4237/10)

Minister for Social Development: My Department’s North West Development Office received a letter from the Strand Road Traders Association on 20 January 2010. This is the first correspondence from this group on the Derry City centre public realm scheme.

The letter does not detail any specific concerns on the scheme. It does however ask for a number of changes to be made.

As some of the proposed changes would require the approval of both Planning Service and Roads Service my officials have sought their input.

My officials wrote to the Strand Road Traders Association on 22 January 2010 advising of this and seeking clarification from the group on a number of issues.

When my officials have all the relevant information a full reply will be issued to the Strand Road Traders Association.

Pensioners

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Social Development what percentage of pensioners are currently solely reliant on a state pension and other state benefits.

(AQW 4253/10)

Minister for Social Development: This information is not available in the format requested.

Benefit Enquiries

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Social Development what progress has been made in introducing a single contact phone number for all benefit enquiries.

(AQW 4256/10)

Minister for Social Development: There are no plans to introduce a single contact phone number for all benefit enquiries. The complex nature and qualifying criteria for each benefit means that specific benefit knowledge and expertise is required to deal with customer enquiries. It would not be possible to provide this via a single contact number without making the customer interaction extremely lengthy and complicated. However, the Agency provides customers with a single phone number contact for each of its centralised benefits and plans, through the Customer First pilot, to extend this provision to customers of the Northern local office network.

Funding for Cultural Groups

Mr J Craig asked the Minister for Social Development what cultural groups are in receipt of funding from her Department; and how much funding has been allocated to each group for the 2010/11 financial year.

(AQW 4287/10)

Minister for Social Development: My Department allocates funding to a range of Cultural Groups through programmes such as Neighbourhood Renewal, Community Volunteering Scheme Small Grants Programme and the Modernisation Programme. Details of funding allocated to each group for 2009/10 and 2010/11 are listed below in the table.

GROUP	2009/10	2010/11
An Droichead	45,599	46,764
Andersonstown Traditional & Contemporary Music School	40,630	41,670
Ardinariff Historical and Cultural Society	640
Armagh Bands Forum	1,000
Bangor Drama Club	1,100
Border Arts	1,100
Burnfoot Community Development Association	59,241
Cairncastle L.O.L. 692 Community & Cultural Group	1,100
Carlton Street Community Development Association	97,950
Chinese Art & Calligraphy Association	758
Chinese Language School	1,100
Docksider's Senior Men's Group	1,100
Enniskillen True Blues Co-ordinating committee	100,000
Glenelly Historical Society	1,000
Ionad Uibh Eachach	164,322	81,870
Kilrea & District Ulster Scots Society	800
Meet N Eat Friendship Club	604
Mount Vernon Community Development Forum	30,288	31,056
Mourne School of Highland Dancing	500
Naiscoil Na Fuiseoige	31,923	32,566
NI Pakistani Cultural Association	1,100
North West Tongues, Tones & Tappin	800
Pearse Og GAA	100,000
Pobal	79126	38842
Sailortown Cultural & Historical Society	1,100
Schomberg Fife & Drum	400
St Brigids Accordion Band	400
The Gasyard Development Trust	44,793	45,990
TRC Promotions Ltd (Willowstone Festival)	1,100
Tuesday Club	604
Voluntary Arts Ireland	27,017	15,064
West Belfast Athletic & Cultural Society	52,685	52,685
	£889,880
Total		£386507

Belfast City Centre Regeneration Directorate provides grants for cultural activities in the Laganside area via the Laganside Events Grants Programme. However this grants process has not yet been completed and the amount of individual grants has not been determined.

Community Care Grants

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development how many people in the Strangford constituency applied for Community Care grants; and how many of these applications were successful, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 4316/10)

Minister for Social Development: This information is not recorded in the format requested.

Efficiency Proposals

Mr A Easton asked the Minister for Social Development to outline her Department's efficiency proposals.

(AQW 4362/10)

Minister for Social Development: My Department's proposals within the Budget 2007 exercise covering 2008 - 2011 are detailed in its Efficiency Delivery Plan on the Department’s internet site. My Department is currently considering additional savings as part of the review of Spending Plans for 2010-11.  It is required to find additional savings in 2010-11 of £13.4m for current expenditure and £16.9m in respect of capital expenditure.

My officials are currently examining all business areas and all expenditure lines to find ways to live within our reduced budget while providing the best service we can. Final decisions on where the reductions will fall will be made over the next few weeks. At a high level, the areas for savings in current expenditure are: £0.3m in the Core Department; £6.1m in Housing Division; £4.9m in the Social Security Agency; £0.5m in the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Division; and finally £1.6m in the Urban Regeneration and Community Development Group.

Decisions on where the capital savings will be made have yet to be agreed.

NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY COMMISSION

Assembly Questions Emailed

Mr D McKay asked the Assembly Commission how many Members have opted to have answers to their Assembly questions emailed, rather than receive hard copies.

(AQW 4213/10)

The Representative of the Assembly Commission (Mr S Neeson): There has been one formal request from a Member to have answers to their Assembly questions asked to the Assembly Commission emailed rather than receive hard copies.

Paper Used in the Assembly

Mr D McKay asked the Assembly Commission what plans it has to reduce the amount of paper used in the Assembly and to increase the amount of correspondence sent by email.

(AQW 4215/10)

The Representative of the Assembly Commission (Mr S Neeson): The amount of paper used within the Assembly has been identified as one of the key areas to be addressed by the Sustainable Development Office, to assist in the reduction of the Assembly’s environmental impact.

The main initiatives planned both in the short and longer term are summarised as follows;

• Increasing Members and Staff awareness of the environmental impact of paper use and suggesting steps they can take to reduce the amount of paper used e.g. encouraging double sided printing and photocopying, sending copies of documents electronically via e mail where possible, electronic rather than hard copy filing of documents
• Replacement of existing photocopiers with those with enhanced performance to encourage reduction in paper use e.g. copiers with double sided copying as a default setting, networked copiers to allow documents to be emailed directly for copying, password release functions on copiers to reduce unnecessary copying
• The Information Systems office is investigating the advancements in electronic reader technologies with a view to potentially introducing these for Members. Their introduction would significantly reduce the amount of paper used for committee packs etc.

REVISED WRITTEN ANSWERS

Friday 5 February 2010

(AQW 4094/10)

The Libraries NI proposal to stop using the former SEELB Library HQ at Ballynahinch as a Regional Administrative Centre is a separate exercise from the identification of a future location for Libraries NI’s corporate (headquarters) functions.

An Economic Appraisal which considers the options for locating Libraries NI’s corporate functions is being prepared and this should be presented to the Libraries NI Board in February or March 2010. As such the process of identifying and short-listing potential locations is ongoing.

Ballynahinch former library HQ is being considered as a location for Libraries NI’s corporate services functions in this Appraisal, along with other underutilised library accommodation and other options (such as renting or buying a new headquarters). Ballynahinch will not be closed until a decision regarding the location for Libraries NI’s corporate functions has been agreed.

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

(AQW 3852/10)

Léiríonn na táblaí iata (i) líon na ndaltaí atá ag freastal ar bhunscoil i ngach ceantar Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlainne a bhain na gráid C1, C2 nó D amach; (ii) líon na n-iarratas a fuair scoileanna gramadaí i ngach ceantar Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlainne ó dhaltaí a bhain na gráid C1, C2 nó D amach; agus (iii) líon na n-iarratasóirí a bhain na gráid C1, C2 nó D amach ar glacadh leo i scoileanna gramadaí i ngach ceantar boird oideachais agus leabharlainne, i ngach bliain de na trí bliana acadúla a chuaigh thart.

The tables, attached, show (i) the number of pupils attending primary school in each Education and Library Board area who received grades C1, C2 and D; (ii) the number of applications received by grammar schools in each Education and Library Board area from pupils who received grades C1, C2 and D; and (iii) the number of applicants who received grades C1, C2 and D who were admitted to grammar schools in each Education and Library Board area, in each of the last three academic years.

Please note:

• the information available does not distinguish between pupils who received an upgrade due to special circumstances and who were admitted to a grammar school and those who did not receive an upgrade due to special circumstances and who were admitted to a grammar school;
• applicants who attended primary school in one Board area may apply to a post-primary school in another Board area, therefore, it is not possible to provide the percentages requested.

Admission to Post Primary School in 2007/08
Board Area	(i)1 Total Number of Actual Grades Received by Pupils Attending Primary School in each Board Area			(ii)2 Total Number of Applications Received by Grammar Schools in each Board Area			(iii)2 Total Number of Applicants Admitted to Grammar Schools in each Board Area
	C1	C2	D	C1	C2	D	C1	C2	D
Belfast	160	179	782	321	262	324	216	118	95
Western	232	264	877	164	121	100	110	60	17
North-Eastern	291	306	1,154	222	205	236	149	116	66
South-Eastern	296	263	1,008	157	110	68	50	11	7
Southern	183	165	570	111	87	101	86	62	42
Totals	1162	1177	4391	975	785	829	611	367	227
Admission to Post Primary School in 2008/09
Board Area	(i)1 Total Number of Actual Grades Received by Pupils Attending Primary School in each Board Area			(ii)2 Total Number of Applications Received by Grammar Schools in each Board Area			(iii)2 Total Number of Applicants Admitted to Grammar Schools in each Board Area
	C1	C2	D	C1	C2	D	C1	C2	D
Belfast	211	198	771	524	362	432	164	71	49
Western	257	257	700	165	108	81	102	34	16
North-Eastern	362	346	1,055	301	252	218	158	54	46
South-Eastern	296	277	908	188	101	74	21	5	6
Southern	216	205	496	177	134	140	59	41	27
Totals	1342	1283	3930	1355	957	945	504	205	144
Admission to Post Primary School in 2009/10
Board Area	(i)1 Total Number of Actual Grades Received by Pupils Attending Primary School in each Board Area			(ii)2 Total Number of Applications Received by Grammar Schools in each Board Area			(iii)2 Total Number of Applicants Admitted to Grammar Schools in each Board Area
	C1	C2	D	C1	C2	D	C1	C2	D
Belfast	163	158	750	343	269	350	206	91	114
Western	286	262	833	215	143	131	138	62	46
North-Eastern	283	281	1,107	222	188	236	149	77	95
South-Eastern	287	276	971	141	77	65	43	8	4
Southern	188	187	545	129	96	141	69	45	56
Totals	1207	1164	4206	1050	773	923	605	283	315

Source: ¹Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment

²Education and Library Boards

(AQW 3543/10)

For the financial year ending in March 2009 the operating cost to Translink of providing Easibus was £136,858.00, to which DRD contributed £38,360.69.

(AQW 3544/10)

In the 2008/09 financial year, the four Easibus services in Bangor provided 42,800 passenger journeys.

(AQW 3829/10)

The table below sets out the number of passenger trips made on Bangor Easibus services in each of the last three financial years.

Period	Number of Passenger Trips
2006/07	52,284
2007/08	51,914
2008/09	42,800