Friday 18 February 2011

Written Answers to Questions

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

OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER

Presbyterian Mutual Society Savers

Mr C Lyttle asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, given the number of older and infirm savers in the Presbyterian Mutual Society, what steps the Executive has taken to address the urgent and immediate needs of these savers; and when proposals will be forthcoming to solve this issue.

(AQW 2865/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister (Mr P Robinson and Mr M McGuinness): Since the PMS went into administration in the autumn of 2008, Ministers have worked tirelessly to seek to resolve this matter.

This has involved difficult and complex negotiations with a number of stakeholders. Considerable progress has now been made and it would appear that a satisfactory end is in sight.

Resources have been secured from the Treasury in the form of a £175 million loan and a £25 million contribution to a Mutual Access Fund. The Executive’s draft budget also includes provision for the Executive’s contribution to the Mutual Access Fund. The money will be available in financial year 2011/12.

The Executive has also now agreed a scheme which it is hoped will resolve the matter in a satisfactory manner.

A number of outstanding issues remain but it is hoped these can be resolved in the coming weeks which will allow for payments to be made early in the new financial year 2011/12.

As part of the solution it is hoped that PMS members with less than £20,000 will receive most, if not all, of their money back.

Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children and Young People

Ms D Purvis asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether they will consider making an examination of approaches to children’s budgeting a priority work area for the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children and Young People.

(AQW 3810/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: Since the delivery of services to children is a cross-cutting issue, it is intended to discuss children’s budgeting at the next meeting of the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children and Young People, with particular reference to the National Assembly of Wales’ Committee for Children and Young People paper on children’s budgeting. Ministers will discuss approaches to children’s budgeting at this time.

Maze / Long Kesh

Mrs D Kelly asked e First Minister and deputy First Minister, in light of the allocation of £21.38m to the Maze/Long Kesh site in their Department's Budget and Savings Plans 2011-15, whether any additional money would be required if the bid for EU funding for a Peace and Conflict Resolution Centre was successful; and if so, how much additional money would be needed.

(AQW 3853/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The £21.38m is a four year capital allocation for the Maze/Long Kesh site which will ensure the completion of the remediation work, and allow the work to start to provide internal and external transport infrastructure and utilities, vital to underpin investment.

Development of the Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Centre is at a very early stage therefore the costs are at present estimated. The total project cost is estimated at £20.7m made up of £18.2m (€20m) being sought from PEACE III Programme and an investment of £2.5m being sought from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

The Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Centre will be income generating primarily from rental of space, and from visitors and event fees. It is assessed that as demand grows by year 5 it would have the potential to operate at a surplus. Whilst this may be ambitious in terms of timescale, income to the Peace Building and Conflict Resolution Centre is expected to over time allow the Centre to be self-sustaining. Initially, over the first four years of operation (2014/15 - 2017/18) some £0.5m pa may be required from OFMDFM to supplement the income generated by the Centre to meet its anticipated operating costs, and for which funding exists in 2014/15 of this budgetary period.

Presbyterian Mutual Society

Mr D Kinahan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when they expect to have clarity on the EU's position on the Presbyterian Mutual Society financial package.

(AQW 3957/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The European Commission states that the time needed to arrive at a decision on State Aid depends on many factors, including the complexity of the case. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) is working closely with the UK Permanent Representatives Office in Brussels, the Department of Business Innovation and Skills and HM Treasury to ensure that the process is as short as possible. Precise timings will become clearer as DETI works through the State Aid process.

Presbyterian Mutual Society

Mr D Kinahan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when the Executive will make a final decision on funding for the Presbyterian Mutual Society.

(AQW 3958/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Executive’s Draft Budget, agreed on 15 December 2010, contains provision for the funding of the proposed solution to the Presbyterian Mutual Society.

Once all the necessary and detailed legal and regulatory work has been finalised, the scheme will require Assembly agreement. We are aiming to make payments under the Mutual Access Fund by late April or May 2011 at the earliest. The loan element of the package is also subject to EU State Aid approval.

Water Shortage Crisis

Mr D O'Loan asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister, in the light of the BBC news report regarding Philip Holder's previous application to become chair of NI Water, whether they will suspend the review into the Department for Regional Development's handling of the NI Water crisis and make new arrangements for its recommencement.

(AQW 3961/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: We refer the Member to the answer to AQW 3977/11 dated 11 February 2011.

Sustainable Development Implementation Plan

Mr P McGlone asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister how they intend to bring forward the Sustainable Development Implementation Plan after the funding provided for the Sustainable Development Commission ends in March 2011.

(AQW 4009/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The design, and the subsequent delivery, of the objectives included in the Sustainable Development Implementation Plan were never dependent upon the existence of the Sustainable Development Commission.

Since taking responsibility for sustainable development, we have sought to create an effective policy foundation upon which its sustainability plans can be built. In this respect the Sustainable Development Commission has provided v aluable assistance.

As our sustainability agenda progresses, it is necessary that we put in order arrangements that will facilitate the transition from ‘policy’ to ‘delivery’. Our Implementation Plan does this by placing responsibilities upon all Departments to act co-operatively and collaboratively in the delivery of the priorities and objectives which are clearly expressed in the Executive’s Sustainable Development Strategy. We will take the leading role in assuring the delivery of these objectives.

Maze / Long Kesh

Mrs D Kelly asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the (i) type; and (ii) level of contamination found on the Maze/Long Kesh site.

(AQW 4050/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The primary contaminants at the Maze/Long Kesh site are:

• hydrocarbons associated with the spillage and loss of heating and fuel oils;
• asbestos which was present in relatively small quantities within waste materials used to infill three former sand extraction ‘quarries’;
• lead

The levels of contamination across the site are extremely variable. Hydrocarbon contamination for example is present at relatively high levels close to historical sources such as fuel tanks associated with the site’s past use as an airfield, army base and prison, but reduce significantly within a short distance from the ‘source’. The majority of the site has not been affected by the contamination. Current remediation works are addressing these issues to bring the levels of contamination within acceptable levels in line with legislation and as agreed with the NIEA Regulator and Local Authority.

Development Corporation for the Maze/Long Kesh Site

Mrs D Kelly asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister how and when the Development Corporation for the Maze/Long Kesh site will be established.

(AQW 4052/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The selection of the Chair and members of the Development Corporation will be determined by a public appointment process. Development Corporation staff will be appointed by the Development Corporation Board by secondment and public advertisement where necessary. It is hoped that the Development Corporation will be operational by summer 2011 depending on the availability of the individuals selected.

Training Courses

Mr T Burns asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail (i) the number of training courses which members of staff from their Department have attended overseas in each of the last five years; (ii) the names of the course/purpose of the training; (iii) when the courses took place;

(iv) the duration of each course; (v) how many members of staff took part in each course; (vi) the grade and branch of each member of staff who took part; (vii) in which country the courses took place (excluding the UK and Republic of Ireland); (viii) the cost of fees for each course and each individual attendee; (ix) the travel expenses incurred by each attendee of each course; (x) the accommodation costs incurred by each attendee of each course; and (xi) the specific name and location of places where each attendee stayed during their travel and attendance on each course.

(AQW 4073/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The information requested is detailed in the table below.

Overseas Training Courses

Draft Childcare Strategy

Ms D Purvis asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when they will present the economic appraisal options for the draft Childcare Strategy to the Executive.

(AQW 4154/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: We hope to bring a paper, relating to the policy and economic appraisal report on Childcare, to the Executive before the end of March this year.

This paper will outline the report’s key findings and once a way forward is agreed the next phase of the work, on the development of a Childcare Strategy, will begin.

It is our intention that a lead department for this policy area would be identified shortly by the Executive and that the childcare strategy would be developed with lead from that department, in collaboration with the relevant Ministerial Sub-Committee and the Child Poverty sub-group.

Investigation into NI Water

Mr J Dallat asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the cost of (i) the Independent Review Team's report into NI Water; (ii) the Phil Holder and Heather Moorehead investigation, to date; (iii) the Information Commissioner's Office investigations into breaches of FOI and matters related to complaints made against the Chief Executive of NI Water; and (iv) Sir John Shortridge's report.

(AQW 4156/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: An Independent Review Team undertook a review of procurement governance issues within NI Water and reported in February 2010. The cost of the Independent Review Team’s report is a matter for the Minister for Regional Development.

Mr Philip Holder and Ms Heather Moorhead will be paid a fee for their work as part of the current investigation into NI Water’s handling of the recent major interruption to water supplies. This will be paid upon completion of the Review. No fees have been paid to date.

Costs incurred by the Information Commissioner’s Office are a matter for the Information Commissioner.

In terms of the costs incurred to date in relation to the Sir Jon Shortridge report, we refer the Member to the answer provided to AQW 3767/11.

Funding

Mr P Butler asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for a breakdown of the funding their Department has provided to the (i) Commisioner for Children and Young People; (ii) Human Rights Commission; and (iii) Equality Commission, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4226/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The breakdown of funding for the Commissioner for Children and Young People and the Equality Commission is as follows:

Commissioner for Children and Young People

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

OFMDFM does not fund the Human Rights Commission. It is funded by the Northern Ireland Office. Details of funding for the Human Rights Commission are available on the organisation’s website: http://www.nihrc.org .

Consultation Documents

Mr P J Bradley asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister to list the number and titles of all the consultation documents issued by their Department since May 2007.

(AQW 4250/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: Our Department has issued 17 consultation documents since May 2007. The titles of these consultations are provided in the table below.

Executive Working Group

Ms D Purvis asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister for an update on the progress of the Executive Working Group on issues outstanding from the St Andrews Agreement, including (i) which issues were identified by the Working Group as outstanding; (ii) what recommendations were made on progressing these issues; and (iii) what progress has been made on addressing each issue.

(AQW 4288/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: Work is ongoing to prepare a draft report for consideration and agreement by the St Andrews Agreement Working Group which will include draft recommendations on how progress could be made on those matters within the St Andrews Agreement which the Working Group has identified as not being faithfully implemented or actioned.

In line with the Hillsborough Castle Agreement, the Working Group will forward its report, when agreed, to us for consideration.

Draft Racial Equality Strategy

Ms D Purvis asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when the draft Racial Equality Strategy will be published.

(AQW 4289/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: Work has commenced to develop a new Strategy to replace “A Racial Equality Strategy for Northern Ireland 2005-2010”. The Racial Equality Panel considered the issue on 17 February 2011.

We consider that the six shared aims set out in the original Racial Equality Strategy are robust and comprehensive and that the section concerning the “Scale of the challenge” in the Strategy is as relevant now as ever before, although we remain open to suggestions as to how we might strengthen these six shared aims.

We are committed to developing the new Strategy through a partnership process with minority ethnic groups and the wider community, as was the case with the original Strategy. We would hope to publish a draft of the Strategy towards the end of 2011, with a view to the draft going to the Committee in March or April 2012 and to the Executive in April or May 2012 for final approval.

Older People's Advocate

Mr P Butler asked the First Minister and deputy First Minister when the budget for the Office of the Older People's Advocate is likely to be agreed.

(AQW 4345/11)

First Minister and deputy First Minister: The Older People’s Advocate was appointed as an independent adviser to us and has been in post from 3 December 2008. The budget for the Older People's Advocate is managed centrally by OFMDFM, and for the current financial year is likely to be in the region of £180k.

Department of Agriculture and Rural Development

Rural Development Programme

Mr P Frew asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development whether she will consider measures to provide training through the Rural Development Programme at an increased grant rate of 100 per cent, as opposed to the current grant rate of 50 per cent for individuals and businesses and 75 per cent for not-for-profit organisations.

(AQW 3848/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms M Gildernew): I am interpreting this question to refer to Axis 3 of the Rural Development Programme as farm family members can currently access vocational training under measure 1.1 at an aid intensity of up to 70%.

Under Axis 3, support for training observes the important principal set out in current Department of Finance and Personnel guidance that there must be at least £1 private sector investment for every £1 of government assistance and that w hatever the sector being assisted, public funding should generally represent the minimum assistance necessary.

Substantial easement is offered to voluntary sector organisations allowing an aid intensity of up to 75%.

Office Facilities

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (i) what assessment has been made of the availability of office facilities in relation to the decentralisation of her Department to the Mid-Ulster area; (ii) what plans there are to make best use of this accommodation; and (iii) what is the timescale for the implementation of these plans.

(AQW 3866/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: No decision has yet been taken as to the precise location of the proposed new DARD headquarters. The proposal has my personal commitment because I consider it time that Government was more proactive in decentralising its functions into rural areas, particularly West of the Bann.

A project team will consider location as part of its remit, including the availability of suitable facilities and how these might best be utilised to meet our accommodation needs. The project will be subject to the Executive’s usual requirements in respect of business cases and procurement. It is anticipated that the new headquarters building will not be completed until around 2015/16.

Children and Young People's Action Plan

Mr G Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, pursuant to AQW 3593/11, what engagement her Department has had with groups within the Limavady Borough Council area in relation to the Children and Young People's Action Plan.

(AQW 3931/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: Although there was no direct engagement with children and young people in the Limavady Council area, as stated in my previous answer, our draft action plan was issued to, amongst other organisations, Action for Children, Children in NI, the NI Youth Forum and Youth Action NI. These organisations work with children and young peoples’ groups throughout the whole of the north of Ireland in providing support and providing them with a voice to have their opinions heard.

DARD is the first Department to develop its own Children & Young People’s Action Plan and I would reiterate that this Plan is a ‘living document’. We are keen to engage with children and young people in all areas of the north throughout the lifetime of the Plan to ensure that we continue to meet their needs. This will involve further meetings with children and young people’s groups / representative organisations and we welcome the opportunity to meet with these groups in the future.

National Register of Trees of Special Interest

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what plans her Department has to create a statutory national register of trees of special interest.

(AQW 3965/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: My Department does not plan to create a statutory national register of trees of special interest. Forest Service remit is to deliver forest policy through implementation of our forestry strategy and to this extent Forest Service maintains an accurate inventory of the woodland it manages and has comprehensive records of woodland established under its grant schemes. The Agency is establishing baseline data of woodland cover and type in the north of Ireland using other available woodland information to provide more comprehensive data.

This work has commenced and, in accordance with the Forestry Act (NI) 2010, it is my intention that it will lead to the publication of a woodland register containing information in relation to the location, size of woodlands and types of trees contained within them. As envisaged in the Forestry Act, the register will be published at intervals not exceeding 10 years.

On-Farm Inspections

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how many on-farm inspections have taken place in each (i) parliamentary constituency; and (ii) county in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4024/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: (i) My Department does not hold the information requested by parliamentary constituency.

(ii) I am committed to improving the efficiency of the services delivered by my Department, and reducing any unnecessary regulatory burden. My Department has taken steps, on a pilot scale, to organise and synchronise farm visits and tests where it is legally and practically possible to do so.

However, my Department is required to complete a wide range of on-farm inspections in discharging its duty to apply legislative controls for land based EU schemes and Quality assurance compliance.

Tables 1 to 5 summarise the number of on-farm inspections for Single Farm Payment (SFP) Land Eligibility, Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances (LFACA) Scheme and Agri-environment Schemes which have taken place in each county over the last five years. Agri-environment scheme inspections include Environmentally Sensitive Areas Scheme, Countryside Management Scheme and Organic Farming Scheme.

My Department does not hold the number of on-farm Quality Assurance inspections broken down by county; therefore Table 6 shows the annual totals for these inspections for the last five years. Quality Assurance inspections include Plant health inspections; Egg Marketing inspections and registrations (including additional Primary Hygiene inspections); Primary Producer Hygiene including Cross-Compliance (Food and Feed) and Home Mixer inspections.

Table 1 On-farm inspections in 2006

Table 2 On-farm inspections in 2007

Table 3 On-farm inspections in 2008

Table 4 On-farm inspections in 2009

Table 5 On-farm inspections in 2010

Table 6 Total Quality Assurance Inspections 2006 – 2010

Cost of Farm Inspections

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for an estimate of or the actual total cost of farm inspections carried out in each (i) parliamentary constituency; and (ii) county in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4026/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: My Department is required to complete a wide range of on farm inspections in discharging its duty to apply legislative controls for land based EU schemes and quality assurance compliance. The staff in my Department who carry out inspections is a flexible workforce operating within the whole area of the north. Therefore Table 1 provides estimated costs for inspections for each of the past five years for the total area within which they work throughout the region, and is neither broken down by parliamentary constituency nor by county. The inspections included in these estimated totals are Single Farm Payment (SFP) Land Eligibility, Less Favoured Area Compensatory Allowances (LFACA), Agri-environment (AE), and Quality Assurance (QA). The estimated costs are based on ready reckoner full staff costs.

Table 1. Estimated cost of on farm inspections carried out by DARD in relation to legislative controls for Single Farm Payment Scheme (SFP), Less Favoured Areas Allowance Scheme (LFACA), Agri-environment Schemes (AE) and Quality Assurance compliance (QA)

Farm Businesses

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how many farm businesses there are in each (i) parliamentary constituency; and (ii) county.

(AQW 4027/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: Based on the data held by the Department, the breakdown of farm businesses by (i) parliamentary constituency and (ii) county is as follows:

(i) Parliamentary Constituency

(ii) County

These figures do not provide absolute precision. Parliamentary constituency data is not automatically held against each farm business record on the Grants and Subsidies computer system. This data is therefore derived from the postcode held against each farm business when matched against data taken from the Electoral Office for NI (EONI). If postcodes are missing, incomplete or inaccurate then this may cause some inaccuracy.

Ultravac Vaccine

Mr P Frew asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, given the threat posed by Botulism during the Spring months, when the Ultravac vaccine will be made available.

(AQW 4057/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: On 1 st February the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) issued a press release announcing the approval of two new vaccines, Ultravac Botulinum from Pfizer Animal Health ( Australia) and Botulism Vaccine from Onderstepoort Biological Products Ltd ( South Africa) .

These two vaccines are now approved for veterinarians to import them under the VMD’s Special Treatment Certification scheme. VMD has recognised that there has been a supply problem and to help address that has made it possible for a veterinarian to use these products once the necessary import certificate has been obtained.

Officials in the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) have been in regular contact with Pfizer and have now also made contact with Onderstepoort Biological Products Ltd. Pfizer are currently working to sort out supply issues and the logistics of importing. We understand that Onderstepoort are trying to appoint a distributer but in the meantime they are prepared to ship vaccine to individual veterinary surgeons. They do not appear to have a supply problem.

While I cannot say when the current distribution issues will be resolved, individual veterinary surgeons should now been able to order the vaccine directly from a manufacturer.

Training Courses

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (i) the number of training courses which members of staff from her Department have attended overseas in each of the last five years; (ii) the names of the course/purpose of the training; (iii) when the courses took place; (iv) the duration of each course; (v) how many members of staff took part in each course; (vi) the grade and branch of each member of staff who took part; (vii) in which country the courses took place (excluding the UK and Republic of Ireland); (viii) the cost of fees for each course and each individual attendee; (ix) the travel expenses incurred by each attendee of each course; (x) the accommodation costs incurred by each attendee of each course; and (xi) the specific name and location of places where each attendee stayed during their travel and attendance on each course.

(AQW 4074/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The details on overseas training courses for staff from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development are attached at Annex A.

Training has been provided to professional staff to allow them to maintain and enhance knowledge and experience in their specialist field.

Training has also been provided to staff in senior management posts to allow them to apply leadership skills and to work at a strategic level going forward.

The Leaders for Tomorrow programme, which a small number of staff attended each year, is no longer funded due to budget constraints.

Information has been provided at Directorate level as Branch level may identify individual members of staff.

APPENDIX A

Children and Young People's Action Plan

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what engagement her Department has had with groups from the North Down area in relation to the Children and Young People's Action Plan.

(AQW 4100/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: DARD takes its Section 75 responsibilities seriously and we are working hard to ensure that children and young people in rural communities throughout the north of Ireland have a voice in shaping those public policies that impact on their lives.  This Action Plan sets out our commitments.  

We developed the Action Plan in partnership with the Participation Network (PN).  This organisation, working alongside Children in Northern Ireland (CiNI) work closely with all government departments to help ensure that government has the support it needs to engage fully with those organisations representing children and young people in taking forward their Section 75 equality duties.

We consulted on the draft Action Plan from November 2009 to the end of Feb 2010.  We issued a Press Release in December 2009 about the launch of the draft Action Plan and invited comments and offered to meet any organisation during the consultation period.  Through the Participation Network and the Children’s Commissioner’s contacts we were able to make sure that our draft Plan was made widely available to groups and organisations throughout the north and we were able to meet up with groups of rural young people to hear first hand about issues of concern to them and their views on our proposals.    

 In addition, two organisations kindly assisted us with providing photographs for the final publication.   We were delighted that 9 such meetings were requested and set up with us, right across the north.  We spoke at youth events, evening discussions, and Saturday workshops and also received useful and constructive comments from 12 leading children and young people’s organisations.  The full details of who we consulted with, who we met and organisations that provided comments are available from page 32 in the Action Plan.  While it would have been impossible for us to consult across every town in the north, we have engaged with every leading children and young people’s organisation.    

Most of the Actions in our Plan are not specifically targeted at any particular area of the north although hopefully the actions in the Plan will appeal to young people right across the north, including those living in the North Down area and other rural communities too.  Our Action Plan will deliver on outcomes for children and young people right across the north, and no specific borough, council or rural area has been specifically targeted, or excluded from our actions.  We hope, as a first step that it will encourage discussion and interest within organisations and groups in rural areas to hear more about the specific actions and how the young people that they represent can benefit from it.

As stated in our Plan we will continue to meet with children & young people and their representative organisations throughout the north to identify further useful actions that our business areas can take forward to better promote participation and involvement of children and young people in all areas of the north. 

Diversification Opportunities Within the Farming Sector

Mr G Campbell asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what proposals her Department has to promote diversification opportunities within the farming sector in 2011.

(AQW 4183/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The current Rural Development Programme recognises the contribution that farm diversification can make to the income of farm families. As an extra income stream, farm diversification can underpin the economy of a farm family and sustain the farm business.

In total £20m has been allocated to Axis 3, Measure 3.1 the farm diversification measure of the NIRDP 2007-2013. This measure is being delivered by seven Joint Council Committees under the leader bottom up methodology. Within this approach a principal function of the Joint Council Committee is not only to administer but to promote the Farm Diversification opportunities within it’s community.

In the east Derry area the rural development measures are being delivered on DARD’s behalf by Assisting Rural Communities (ARC) North West and North East Rural (NER).

Diversification Challenge and Awareness Events

The Rural Enterprise Advisers work with colleagues in CAFRE to deliver the Diversification Challenge (DC) programme. It consists of two courses Business Planning (DC1) and Business Start (DC2), with Rural Enterprise Advisers involved in the recruitment and mentoring aspects. There are 6 DCI programmes and 2 DC2 programmes planned for 2011 targeting a total of 120 farm diversifiers.

In addition, Diversification Awareness events complement the link to the Diversification Challenge programme. Awareness events are planned and organised by Rural Enterprise staff to inform and establish interest in farm diversification. This in turn facilitates recruitment onto Diversification programmes and promotes the support available from DARD and funding through the RDP. They take place on the premises of an established farm diversifier and involve staff from CAFRE and the local Council cluster or LAG. Those attending have the opportunity to hear from a diversifier about their experience of setting up their business, learn about the Diversification Challenge training programmes and find out more about the Rural Development Programme and the application process for diversification projects. There are 6 awareness events planned for 2011 to complement the Diversification Challenge programme.

Livestock and Meat Commission

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development for a breakdown of the funding her Department has provided to the Livestock and Meat Commission in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4229/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: My Department does not provide funding to the Livestock and Meat Commission (LMC). The Commission’s funding is derived from statutory producer/processor levy on livestock slaughtered in the north and other commercial activities.

Young Farmers' Clubs

Mr P Frew asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline the rationale for cutting departmental funding to Young Farmers' Clubs.

(AQW 4246/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: I published my proposed allocations and savings for the DARD draft budget for the period 2011-15 following the Executive’s agreement of a draft budget.

The scale of current expenditure savings required from DARD is £43 million over the next four years. I have to find these savings in order to live within my allocated budget and be able to fund all of DARD’s front line services.

I will not have the resources to do everything I would want to do and so have to make some hard decisions to balance the books going forward. The draft budget proposals incorporate savings from corporate services, from procurement, from administration, from transactions and lower priority programmes.

One of the proposals included in the draft budget is the cessation of provision of an annual grant of £75,000 to the YFCU.

Our contribution to the YFCU is focused on funding a range of training and personal development activities for members.

A key purpose of consulting on my draft proposals is to enable me to consider the views of others before I come to a final decision. I welcome feedback on the proposals in the budget document, and would again like to encourage anyone who has an interest to submit responses to my Department within the consultation period.

Hemp

Mr I McCrea asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (i) the legal and procedural requirements that must be met by a person wishing to grow hemp; (ii) the price of hemp seed; (iii) the tonnage per acre of (a) seed; and (b) straw from a hemp crop; and (iv) whether there is any outlet for surplus hemp seed that cannot be sold.

(AQW 4287/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: (i) Anyone wishing to grow hemp in the north of Ireland must obtain an annual licence from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, who will carry out a site visit to ensure the area to be planted is in an appropriate location away from homes, schools and out of view of the general public. They will also check if the applicant has any drug-related convictions. The licence should be approved before ordering seed.

Growers must also comply with the Oil & Fibre Plant Seeds (Amendment) Regulations (NI) 2004, and EU Regulation 796/2004, which is updated annually to provide a list of varieties approved for planting.

(ii) As with all crops the price of seed will vary greatly depending on the variety used and where it is sourced. Most seed at the moment is available within mainland Europe with costs ranging from around £5 to £9/kg.

(iii) In terms of yield, growing conditions and the agronomy used will also have a great effect on both seed and straw yields. Seed yields are typically between one and two tonnes per hectare with straw yields in the region of 1.5 tonnes per hectare from oil varieties and 7-8 tonnes per hectare from fibre varieties.

(iv) In the case of hemp, different varieties are used for fibre and oil production, so having a definitive market outlet before variety selection and planting is advisable. There is currently one processor of Hemp oil in the north of Ireland, and only limited fibre processing in the Britain and north of Ireland, so outlets for surplus seed and straw are restricted at this time.

Forest and Woodland

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the area of land currently covered by forest and woodland; and how this compares to 2007.

(AQW 4303/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The published figures indicate that for the year 2009/2010 the total woodland cover in the north of Ireland is 87,800 hectares.

This compares to a published figure of 87,200 hectares in 2006/2007.

You will wish to note that Forest Service is currently carrying out work to establish baseline data of woodland cover and type in the north of Ireland, using other available woodland information, to provide more comprehensive data.

New Headquarters

Mr G Campbell asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what criteria is being used to determine the location of her Department's new headquarters.

(AQW 4320/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The criteria to be used to determine the location of the proposed new DARD headquarters will be formulated as part of a relocation project, which has not yet commenced. As you are aware the proposal is to relocate to a rural area and I can assure you that the project will be subject to the Executive’s usual requirements in respect of business cases and procurement.

Rural Tourism in East Londonderry

Mr G Campbell asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what her Department is doing to promote rural tourism in East Londonderry.

(AQW 4321/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: I believe rural tourism to be of vital importance to the sustainability of rural communities, which is why the Rural Development Programme 2007-13 (RDP) contains the Encouragement of Tourism Activities measure with a budget of £12 million. Additionally, farm families wishing to diversify into self-catering and activity-based tourism can apply under RDP Measure 3.1, Farm diversification.

ARC NW (Omagh, Strabane, Derry and Limavady Councils) and NER (Ballymena, Ballymoney, Larne, Moyle and Coleraine Councils) Joint Council Committee’s (JCC’s) oversee RDP funding decisions in your constituency area and are two of seven JCC’s established to deliver funding under Axis 3 of the RDP. ARC NW and NER have been allocated £2.3m and £2.5m respectively of the £12m budget under the Encouragement of Tourism Activity Measure.

Axis 3 of the RDP is being delivered through the bottom-up Leader approach, which empowers local communities through Local Action Groups to promote local projects in line with priorities in their local development strategy. Both JCC’s strategies have strategic priorities regarding Tourism and b oth have plans to allocate their full budget by 31 March 2012 with all projects expected to be completed by June 2014.

In addition, Forest Service officials have been involved in discussions with the Tourist Board and other stakeholders regarding the possible contribution to be made from forests and how that can best be delivered. Forest Service has recently agreed with the Tourist Board to commission a study to assess the existing and potential tourism development opportunities available from forests in the north.

Forestry Investment Plans

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail, for the next three years, her forestry investment plans to enhance tourism, recreation and leisure.

(AQW 4365/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: The Recreation and Social Use Strategy which I published in 2009 included actions up to 2012/13 which the Department’s Forest Service would take to promote social use, recreation and tourism within our forests. The Strategy committed Forest Service to explore partnership opportunities with other organisations to maximise, as far as possible, the potential that exists.

The Strategy also recognised the importance of tourism in enabling economic development and the potential contribution forests could make.

A number of specific proposals are being developed, which involve investment and development in our forests. These include:

• Forest Service will be jointly funding, with NI Tourist Board, a research study to assess the tourism potential of our forests in the north. The proposed study is planned to commence in 2011/2012.

• Forest Service is proposing to develop new operating arrangements for camping and caravanning facilities in its forests in the north. Subject to business case considerations, it is hoped to proceed to market during 2011/12 for the development of caravanning and camping facilities. This development is being progressed jointly with the Strategic Investment Board.

• Forest Service is currently working with Down, and Newry and Mourne Councils, SportNI and NITB to facilitate the development of extensive mountain biking facilities at Castlewellan and Rostrevor Forests. Subject to planning permission and economic appraisal, it is hoped this project will commence in 2011/2012, providing a significant recreation and tourism product in the Mournes area.

• Forest Service has also worked closely with National Trust to facilitate a multi-purpose trail network at Castleward Forest, which will be developed during 2011/12.

• Joint work with Fermanagh District Council to develop a network of walks within the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, to be completed by 2012.

Whilst it is difficult to give precise timings about these various developments, it is hoped that significant progress will be made over the next three years.

In addition, we are exploring various other opportunities with partners, including a number of Councils. Our hope is that this work will result in the development of other tourism and recreation opportunities over the next three year period.

Farmers and Agri-Food Businesses

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline the progress that has been made in reducing the administrative burden on farmers and agri-food businesses.

(AQW 4370/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: In 2007 I, along with my Ministerial colleague at the time from the Department of Environment Arlene Foster, asked an independent panel to review the regulations that apply in the agri-food sector in the north of Ireland with a view to simplifying and reducing the administrative burden placed on farmers and the industry generally.

The NI Agri-Food Better Regulations and Simplification Review was published in April 2009 and both Departments took time to consider and respond to each of the 85 recommendations contained in the Review.

My Department issued its response to the Better Regulation Review on 18 May 2010. Since then the department has been actively taking forward an extensive programme of work to give effect to the 61 recommendations put forward by the Independent Panel which have been accepted or accepted in principle. Part of my Departments response was a commitment to develop an action plan to implement, monitor and review the accepted recommendations. Systems have been put in place which will measure these outcomes in due course. The action plan was published on 5 January 2011 following a detailed scrutiny by the ARD Committee.

The Department is constantly striving to improve its approach to policy development, simplify existing legislation and ensure that all new initiatives are of a high quality. For instance we have put in place an electronic identification system for sheep and goats which was supported and welcomed by the industry.

Moreover in July 2009, we secured a very important derogation from Brussels benefiting flock keepers with the introduction of the sheep electronic identification system (EID) which provides central points of recording reducing the administrative burden on flockkeepers, who will not need in general to purchase EID readers.

There has been an increased uptake of APHIS Online. By the end of March around 1,000 farmers will have been trained on the use of APHIS Online over the 6 month period since September 2010. This training and increased promotion of APHIS Online has seen cattle birth registrations via this channel rise from 34% in October 2009 to 45% in January 2011. This service allows 24 hour access and is in keeping with customers expectations. Computerisation of the application process for Agri-environment schemes has also contributed to reducing the administrative burden for farmers who participate in the new Countryside Management Scheme.

In addition the Department has eliminated herd size as a factor when synchronising annual Brucellosis surveillance herd tests with any due TB herd test. There is also evidence that farmers are reacting positively to new initiatives for example the new application process for Tranche 2 of the Farm Modernisation Programme which closed for receipt of applications on 26 November 2010. During the six week opening period around 87% of the almost 8,000 applications received were submitted on-line. This shows that farmers are keen to take advantage of alternative methods of communicating with the Department in ways which reduce the time and cost they are asked to spend on paperwork.

These are just some of the actions my department has taken to reduce the administrative burden on farmers. I can assure you that I and my department remain committed to reducing the level of red tape. Clear evidence of that, was the creation in early June 2010, of a dedicated Better Regulation Advisory Unit. The unit is providing a strong advisory and co-ordination function across all departmental business areas to support the work towards delivering on the Better Regulation PSA Target. This Unit has worked closely with Business Areas in developing the action plan and will continue to work closely with them as they implement the key actions in the plan and monitor the progress against the target.

My Department has committed to a PSA Target to reduce the administrative burden on the agri-food sector by 25% by 2013 – with an interim target of 15% by 2011. Progress against the interim target will be assessed at the end of 2011.

Kilkeel Harbour

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the current position in relation to the Kilkeel Harbour safety breakwater project.

(AQW 4372/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: An economic appraisal of options that would address the safety issues affecting access to Kilkeel Harbour in certain adverse weather and tidal conditions has been completed and is currently being considered.

Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline the rationale behind her decision to stop her Department's funding to the Young Farmers' Club.

(AQW 4385/11)

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development: I published my proposed allocations and savings for the DARD draft budget for the period 2011-15 following the Executive’s agreement of a draft budget.

The scale of current expenditure savings required from DARD is £43 million over the next four years. I have to find these savings in order to live within my allocated budget and be able to fund all of DARD’s business critical services.

I will not have the resources to do everything I would want to do and so have to make some hard decisions to balance the books going forward. The draft budget proposals incorporate savings from corporate services, from procurement, from administration, from transactions and lower priority programmes.

One of the proposals included in the draft budget is the cessation of provision of an annual grant of £75,000 to the YFCU.

Our contribution to the YFCU is focused on funding a range of training and personal development activities for members.

A key purpose of consulting on my draft proposals is to enable me to consider the views of others before I come to a final decision. I welcome feedback on the proposals in the budget document, and would again like to encourage anyone who has an interest to submit responses to my Department within the consultation period.

Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure

Libraries

Mr G Campbell asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure for an estimate of the total number of people who used libraries in (i) 2005; and (ii) 2010.

(AQW 4035/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr N McCausland): It is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of the total number of people who used libraries in 2004/05 and 2009/10, as the method of calculating active members five years ago differed across the five Education & Library Boards.

The following table shows the total number of visits, including repeat visits, to public libraries in the 2004/05 and 2009/10 financial years.

The figures are published by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Public Library Statistics.

Kells and Connor Library

Mr P Frew asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, in light of the consultation taking place on the closure of Kells and Connor library, what assurances he can give on alternative services to people who avail of the services provided by the library; and what service will replace the library should a decision be taken to close.

(AQW 4079/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: I recognise the valuable contribution that the public library service makes to our local communities and I remain fully committed to the provision of a comprehensive library service throughout Northern Ireland.

Library Services in communities such as Kells and Connor are being considered within Libraries NI’s ongoing Strategic Review of its library estate.

A full public consultation on the Review proposals commenced on 10 January 2011 and I wish to emphasise that nothing has been finalised by the Libraries NI Board at this stage. Decisions on the future of this library will not be made until all the information from the consultation has been collated and presented to the Board of Libraries NI.  

However, should any decision be taken by the Board of Libraries NI to close Kells and Connor public library, further discussion will be held with library users to discuss service options. These options include mobile library stops in locations agreed with the users, in addition to services to the housebound.

These reviews are operational matters for Libraries NI; the Board of which includes councillors from my own party, the SDLP, Sinn Fein and the UUP.

2013 World Police and Fire Games

Mr P Frew asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if he can give an assurance that the 2013 World Police and Fire Games will not be confined to Belfast and that he will consider facilities and venues in North Antrim.

(AQW 4096/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: Although no final decisions have been made in regard to the location of any sporting venue for the 2013 Games, an advertisement was placed in the Belfast Telegraph by Sport Northern Ireland on behalf of the Stakeholder Group on Friday 2 nd July 2010 seeking expressions of interest for venue owners wishing to host sporting events.

Sport Northern Ireland has completed Stage One of the Expression of Interest exercise to identify sporting venues that meet the standards required by the World Police and Fire Games Federation. Venues both within and outside of Belfast have met the standard and a process to select venues is currently underway. As yet no final decisions have been made.

The criteria being used for selection includes that priority will be given to venues that are nearest to the Games Village. However, in exceptional circumstances, where there is no suitable venue within Belfast for a particular sport, or there is an exceptional venue outside of Belfast other venues will be considered.

The Games Village will be located in close proximity to Belfast City Centre.

Sport Northern Ireland has received two expressions of interest from venues in North Antrim both of which are still under consideration.

Overseas Training Courses for Staff

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail (i) the number of training courses which members of staff from his Department have attended overseas in each of the last five years; (ii) the names of the course/purpose of the training; (iii) when the courses took place; (iv) the duration of each course; (v) how many members of staff took part in each course; (vi) the grade and branch of each member of staff who took part; (vii) in which country the courses took place (excluding the UK and Republic of Ireland); (viii) the cost of fees for each course and each individual attendee; (ix) the travel expenses incurred by each attendee of each course; (x) the accommodation costs incurred by each attendee of each course; and (xi) the specific name and location of places where each attendee stayed during their travel and attendance on each course.

(AQW 4120/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: Staff in DCAL are encouraged to avail of a wide range of learning and development opportunities in support of their work for the Department and their wider career within the NICS.

The Department has supported a total of 8 staff to attend overseas training courses over the last 5 years. Six staff attended Leaders for Tomorrow and 2 senior staff attended Leadership in a Changing World, both programmes took place at the Kennedy School of Government, Boston, USA.

The appendix to this provides a breakdown of attendance.

Appendix A

Capital and Resource Investment in the West Belfast Constituency

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure how much his Department spent on (i) capital investment; and (ii) resource investment in the West Belfast constituency, in each of the last two years.

(AQW 4132/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: The tables below illustrate how much my Department has spent on (i) capital investment and (ii) resource investment in the West Belfast constituency, in each of the last two years. I should emphasise that these tables refer to investment by the Department only. Investments by the Department’s sponsored bodies are excluded.

Capital Investment

Resource Investment

I hope you find this information helpful.

2013 World Police and Fire Games

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure which sports and events in the 2013 World Police and Fire Games are being considered for venues outside of Belfast.

(AQW 4206/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: Although no final decisions have been made in regard to the location of any sporting venue for the 2013 Games, an advertisement was placed in the Belfast Telegraph by Sport Northern Ireland on behalf of the Stakeholder Group on Friday 2 nd July 2010 seeking expressions of interest for venue owners wishing to host sporting events.

Sport Northern Ireland has completed Stage One of the Expression of Interest exercise to identify sporting venues that meet the standards required by the World Police and Fire Games Federation. Venues both within and outside of Belfast have met the standard and a process to select venues is currently underway. As yet no final decisions have been made.

The selection criteria include proximity to the Games Village. However, in exceptional circumstances, where there is no suitable venue within Belfast for a particular sport, or there is an exceptional venue outside of Belfast, other venues will be considered.

The Games Village will be located in close proximity to Belfast City Centre.

Sport Northern Ireland has received 19 expressions of interest from venues outside of Belfast all of which are still under consideration.

Consultation Documents

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to list the number and titles of all the consultation documents issued by his Department since May 2007.

(AQW 4247/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: Please see attached list at Annex A

Annex A

List of numbers and titles of the consultation documents issued by the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure since May 2007.

A total of 11 documents were issued by the Department.

Please see list below for further detail.

Date Title

June 2007 Proposals for an Ulster Scots Academy

October 2007 Draft Consultation October 2007: The Northern Ireland Strategy for Sport & Physical Recreation 2007 – 2017

December 2007 Salmon & Inland Fisheries Stakeholder Forum Consultation

January 2008 DCAL Budget Consultation 2008 – 2011

June 2008 DCAL Guide to Making Information Accessible

September 2008 Proposed Subordinate Legislation Consultation Paper, Public Use of the Records (Management & Fees) Rules Northern Ireland

January 2010 DCAL Budget Consultation 2010 -2011

June 2010 1. Museums Policy for Northern Ireland

2. DCAL Disability Action Plan 2010-2013

December 2010 DCAL Draft Budget Consultation

2011 - 2015

January 2011 Cultural Awareness Strategy

Fisheries Conservancy Board

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure for a breakdown of the funding his Department has given to the Fisheries Conservancy Board in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4274/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: Please see attached table showing the breakdown of funding that DCAL has provided to the Fisheries Conservancy Board in each of the last 5 years.

Please note that the Fisheries Conservancy Board was abolished in June 2009 and its functions transferred to the Department of Culture Arts and Leisure. Therefore no funding was provided in the financial years 09/10 and 10/11.

National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the level of funding his Department has allocated to the National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4279/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: Please see table set out below detailing Resource and Capital spend. These figures are taken at year end and incorporate any in year adjustments. Resource Non Cash covers the costs of Depreciation and Cost of Capital.

Level of funding allocated to National Museums Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

Bridle Paths

Dr S Farry asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline his Department's policy on bridle paths.

(AQW 4280/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: My Department has a remit to develop the navigational and recreational potential of Northen Ireland’s Inland Waterways. The Department has no policy or programme for the provision of bridleways for horse riding. We develop and maintain paths beside or in the vicinity of water recreation sites for walkers and cyclists but we do not encourage horse riders to share this space as separate provision in Northern Ireland for riders is made available by other government departments such as Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Forest Service. Riding routes have been developed by the Countryside Access and Activities network (CAAN).

Research and Development

Mr C Lyttle asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure how much his Department spent on research and development in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4281/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: The Department incurred no expenditure on research and development in the financial years 2005-06 to 2009-10. I should emphasise that my response refers to the Department only. Expenditure by the Department’s sponsored bodies has not been considered.

Cultural Awareness Strategy

Mr B McElduff asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to explain his Department's reason for reducing the statutory consultation period on the Cultural Awareness Strategy from twelve weeks to eight weeks; and for his assessment of whether this change will be advantageous to the Orange Order.

(AQW 4325/11)

Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure: During the pre-consultation phase of the policy development process DCAL officials engaged with the Community Relations Council, the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, the Sports Council, the Arts Council, the Grand Orange Lodge of Ireland and the Gaelic Athletic Association on proposals for a ‘Cultural Awareness Strategy’.

The current DCAL Equality Scheme recommends 8 weeks consultation. As such the consultation period on the ‘ Cultural Awareness Strategy’ is compliant with it.

If the new strategy is implemented applications for funding will be made through open competition and will be assessed against predefined and published criteria. This will ensure equality of opportunity to apply for the funding and transparency and fairness in the decision making process.

Boating Conditions on Lough Neagh

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (i) what action he is taking to improve boating conditions on Lough Neagh; (ii) whether he is aware that markers on the Lough have been damaged; and (iii) when these markers will be replaced or repaired.

(AQW 4329/11)

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

A recent business case considered the potential for the creation of a navigation authority on Lough Neagh. It recommended that Waterways Ireland’s remit should be extended to become the navigation authority for Lough Neagh. In the current financial climate this option was considered too expensive and will not be pursued during the 2011-15 budget period.

DCAL have contributed significantly to developing Lough Neagh by part-funding a number of projects including the Maid of Antrim passenger vessel refurbishment, Rams Island Ferry, Ballyronan Watersports Centre and the Enterprise Barge at Oxford Island.

The recent severe cold weather caused extensive ice damage to markers on Lough Neagh. Details of the damage to the 26 markers (out of 47) maintained by DCAL was reported to my Department. My officials are currently working with the Rivers Agency to progress a programme to repair/replace the damaged markers.

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

Department of Education

Capital and Resource Investment in West Belfast

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister of Education how much her Department spent on (i) capital investment; and (ii) resource investment in the West Belfast constituency, in each of the last two years.

(AQW 4092/11)

Minister of Education (Ms C Ruane ): In 2008/09 chaith mo Roinn £12.1 mhilliún ar infheistíocht chaipitiúil agus £9.4 milliún ar chaiteachas acmhainní i dtoghcheantar Bhéal Feirste Thiar.

In 2008/09 my Department spent £12.1 million on capital investment and £9.4 million on resource expenditure in the West Belfast constituency. In the 2009/10 year my Department spent £10.0 million on capital investment and £9.8 million on resource expenditure in the same constituency. The resource expenditure mainly comprises funding provided to Voluntary Grammar Schools, whilst the capital funding includes schools in the Voluntary and Maintained sectors.

Training Courses

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) the number of training courses which members of staff from her Department have attended overseas in each of the last five years; (ii) the names of the course/purpose of the training; (iii) when the courses took place; (iv) the duration of each course; (v) how many members of staff took part in each course; (vi) the grade and branch of each member of staff who took part; (vii) in which country the courses took place (excluding the UK and Republic of Ireland); (viii) the cost of fees for each course and each individual attendee; (ix) the travel expenses incurred by each attendee of each course; (x) the accommodation costs incurred by each attendee of each course; and (xi) the specific name and location of places where each attendee stayed during their travel and attendance on each course.

(AQW 4117/11)

Minister of Education: D’fhreastail 13 bhall foirne ar fad ón Roinn Oideachais ar 7 *gcúrsa thar lear le linn na 5 bliana féilire 2006 – 2010.

A total of 13 staff from the Department of Education attended 7 *courses overseas throughout the 5 calendar years 2006 – 2010. Detailed information as asked for at (ii) – (xi) of the question is provided in the table below.

* For the purpose of answering this question, attendance at courses has been interpreted to include study visits.

Professional Support Services

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of staff employed in (i) Curriculum Advisory and Support Services; and (ii) other professional support services, broken down by location.

(AQW 4147/11)

Minister of Education: Tá miondealú curtha ar fáil ag Príomhfheidhmeannaigh na mBord Oideachais agus Leabharlann de líon na bhfoirne atá fostaithe sna (i) Seirbhísí Comhairleacha don Churaclam; agus (ii) i seirbhísí tacaíochta proifisiúnta eile, miondealaithe de réir suímh agus tugtar breac-chuntas air seo thíos:

The Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards have provided a breakdown of the number of staff employed in (i) Curriculum Advisory and Support Services; and (ii) other professional support services, broken down by location and this is outlined below:

Belfast Education & Library Board

Western Education & Library Board

South Eastern Education & Library Board

Southern Education & Library Board

North Eastern Education & Library Board

School Buses

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Education how many incidents of school buses being stoned have been reported in each of the last three years.

(AQW 4179/11)

Minister of Education: Chomhairligh na Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlann agus Translink mé go bhfuil an líon teagmhas de chlocha a bheith á gcaitheamh le busanna scoile a tuairiscíodh i ngach ceann de na trí bliana seo chuaigh thart mar atá curtha ar fáil sna táblaí thíos.

I have been advised by the Education and Library Boards and Translink that the number of incidents of school buses being stoned that have been reported in each of the last three years are as provided in the tables below.

*information relates to Sept 2010 to Jan 2011.

The Translink figures provided below are based on calendar year and include both designated school buses and stage carriage vehicles which carry both pupils and the general public.

Gaelscoil an Chaistil, Ballycastle

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Education for an update on the work scheduled to complete pedestrian and vehicle access for Gaelscoil an Chaistil, Ballycastle.

(AQW 4232/11)

Minister of Education: Measfar an scéim le haghaidh maoinithe taobh le tionscadail eile ardtosaíochta faoi chlár mionoibreacha na Roinne don bhliain airgeadais 2011/12.

The scheme will be considered for funding alongside other high priority projects under the Department’s minor works programme for the 2011/12 financial year. The school had requested amendments to the scheme and a meeting has recently taken place with officials to discuss these amendments.

Gaelscoil an Chaistil, Ballycastle

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Education to detail the timescale for the system build project at Gaelscoil an Chaistil, Ballycastle.

(AQW 4233/11)

Minister of Education: Pléifear tógáil chórasach do Ghaelscoil an Chaistil mar chuid de chlár Mionoibreacha na Roinne ag dul ar aghaidh dúinn agus caithfear a mheas in éadan tosaíochtaí iomaíocha eile.

The scheme for a system build for Gaelscoil an Chaistil will be considered as part of the Department’s Minor Works programme going forward and will have to be evaluated against other competing priorities. Unfortunately due to constraints on the capital budget I am unable to say at this time when finance might be available to permit the scheme to proceed .

Research and Development

Mr C Lyttle asked the Minister of Education how much her Department spent on research and development in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4234/11)

Minister of Education: Tá an t-eolas a iarradh curtha ar fáil sa tábla thíos. Léiríonn sé seo an caiteachas ó bhuiséad taighde lárnach na Roinne.

The information requested is provided in the table below. This reflects expenditure from the Department’s central research budget.

Funding for the Northern Ireland Youth Forum

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Education to detail the level of funding her Department has allocated to the Youth Council for Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4277/11)

Minister of Education: Leagtar an Tuarascáil Bhliantúil agus Cuntais don Chomhairle Óige roimh an Tionól gach bliain agus tá siad ar fáil le hiniúchadh i Leabharlann an Tionóil.

The Annual Report and Accounts for the Youth Council are laid before the Assembly each year and are available for inspection in the Assembly Library. The level of funding received from the Department of Education for each of the past five years is given in the accounts as follows:

Consultation Documents

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Education to list the number and titles of all consultation documents issued by her Department since May 2007.

(AQW 4337/11)

Minister of Education: Ó mhí na Bealtaine 2007, tá 42 comhairliúchán déanta ag mo Roinn mar a shonraítear sa liosta thíos.

Since May 2007, my Department has carried out 42 consultations as detailed in the list below.

Department of Education consultations since May 2007

1. EQIA consultation on funding for Transfer interviews
2. DE Draft Budget 2011-2015
3. Draft Early Years (0-6) Strategy Consultation
4. Disability Action Plan 2010-2013
5. Community Relations, Equality & Diversity in Education Policy
6. Teacher Education in a Climate of Change – The Way Forward
7. Draft Government STEM Strategy
8. Consultation on draft Education (School Development Plans) Regulations (NI) 2010
9. Draft Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) on the Proposal to withdraw Funding from Preparatory Departments of Grammar schools
10. Common Funding Formula Consultation January 2010
11. Consultation on EMA policy and pupils with Asperger's Syndrome (Focussed consultation to a small number of organisations)
12. Guidance to schools on school uniform related policies (Focussed consultation)
13. DE Staff Transfer Scheme
14. Every School A Good School: The Way Forward for Special Educational Needs and Inclusion
15. Consultation on the Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) of the Teachers' (Compensation for Redundancy and Premature Retirement) Regulations (NI) 2010 and complementing amendments to the Teachers' Superannuation Regulations (NI) 1998
16. Consultation on the Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) Every School A Good School – School Improvement Policy
17. Education and Skills Authority Implementation Team Consultation on 'The Education Sector Staff Transfer Scheme'
18. Food in Schools Policy
19. School Circular – The Education of Children and Young People from the Traveller Community
20. School Admissions (Exceptional Circumstances) Regulations 2010
21. Consultation on the Review of Public Administration
22. Education and Skills Authority - Director structure consultation
23. RPA Policy Paper 19: Education Advisory Forum
24. Equality Impact Assessment of the Transfer 2010 Guidance
25. Transfer 2010 Guidance
26. Consultation on the draft teachers' (Compensation for Redundancy and Premature Retirement) Regulations (NI) 2009
27. The Recruitment, Redeployment and Voluntary Severance (RRVS) Strategy
28. Consultation on Draft Pupil Records and Reporting Regulations and Levels of Progression
29. RPA Policy Paper 20: Publicly owned schools - Ownership and Representation
30. Review of Irish-medium Education
31. Local Management of Schools - Common Funding Formula
32. The Teachers' Pensions (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations (NI) 2008
33. Review of Literacy and Numeracy Strategy
34. Local Management of Schools - Common Funding Formula
35. Every School A Good School – School Improvement Policy
36. Consultation on the Area-based Planning Policy
37. Public Consultation on Building a Better Future
38. RPA/Paper 5 Governance and Accountability
39. Careers Education Information Advice and Guidance Strategy
40. Consultation on Draft Regulations to Prohibit Discrimination by General Qualifications Bodies on the Grounds of Disability
41. Consultation on Draft Amendment Regulations to Prohibit Discrimination by General Qualifications Bodies on the Grounds of Disability
42. Policy on Supporting Ethnic-Minority Children and Young People who have English as an Additional Language

Education Sector: Financial Difficulties

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Education whether her Department and the Education and Library Boards have held discussions on the financial difficulties currently faced by the education sector; and what were the outcomes of these meetings.

(AQW 4428/11)

Minister of Education: Buaileann mo chuid oifigeach Rannach ar bhonn rialta leis an fhoireann sna Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlann (ELB).

My Departmental officials meet regularly with staff in the Education and Library Boards (ELB). These include quarterly Accountability Review meetings between my Department’s Permanent Secretary and the Chairs/Chief Executives of the ELBs. In addition, the Department’s Finance Director and ELB Chief Finance Officers meet on a regular basis. The financial position and related issues are discussed at these meetings.

In respect of outcome, the financial position of each ELB is monitored and the management of pressures considered on a collective basis. We have, over recent years, agreed to work together with ELBs to maximise the use of resources necessary to protect front line services whilst at the same time promoting equality.

St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon

Mrs M O'Neill asked the Minister of Education for an update on the new build for St Patrick's Academy, Dungannon.

(AQW 4468/11)

Minister of Education: Tá tionscadal na foirgníochta nua d’Acadamh Naomh Pádraig ar Phlean Infheistíochta Seachadta (IDP) na Roinne.

The new build project for St Patrick’s Academy is on the Department’s Investment Delivery Plan (IDP). Capital projects on the IDP progress through a series of stages of planning and design. The project for St Patrick’s Academy is currently at design Stage C, initial sketch stage.

Department for Employment and Learning

Essential Skills Programme

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister for Employment and Learning, for each of the last five years, to detail the number of people who enrolled in the Essential Skills Programme, broken down by the following ages; (i) 26 to 35; (ii) 36 to 45; (iii) 46 to 55; (iv) 56 to 65; and (v) 66 or older.

(AQW 3998/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning (Mr D Kennedy): The number of enrolments and people who enrolled in the Essential Skills Programme for the last five academic years for which data are available, broken down by the requested age bands are detailed in the tables overleaf.

Enrolments have been assigned to a specific academic year based on the start date of the enrolment.

Individuals have been assigned to a specific academic year based on the start date of their first enrolment.

• 26 to 35

• 35 to 45

• 46 to 55

• 56 to 65

• 66 or older

Source: Essential Skills enrolment return

Notes: Figures are correct as at 8 th October 2010.

Essential Skills Needs

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what action he intends to take to target the 150,000 people in the population who have essential skills needs, broken down by the following ages; (i) 26 to 35; (ii) 36 to 45; (iii) 46 to 55; (iv) 56 to 65; and (v) 66 or older.

(AQW 3999/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: My Department funds Further Education(FE) Colleges in Northern Ireland to provide free Essential Skills courses in Literacy, Numeracy and ICT to all adults, regardless of age. Those in need of essential skills tuition are encouraged to gain recognised qualifications.

Within this overall approach, there are a number of specific initiatives to target learner engagement:

All adults participating in the Department’s Training for Success, ApprenticeshipNI and Steps to Works Programmes are provided with the opportunity to enrol in Essential Skills courses that can be adapted to meet the professional and technical needs of the learner.

Under the (pilot) Learner Access and Engagement Programme, further education colleges contract with non statutory organisations, including voluntary and community groups, to support “hard to reach” adults who require Essential Skills as part of their preparation for employment. This initiative is aimed at those marginalised adults who are aged over 19, are unemployed and have few or no qualifications.

My Department works with employers through the Union Learning Fund and the Alliance of Sector Skills to engage low skilled adults in the workplace to enrol in Essential Skills courses. FE Colleges are working with a wide range of employers to provide Essential Skills courses that are flexible and delivered at a time and place that meet the needs of the learner as well as the employer.

The recent introduction of free entry level ICT classes has also enabled those adults irrespective of age who have experienced difficulties because of their lack of computer skills, to join classes at their local college.

In conjunction with the Department of Education’s Extended Schools Initiative, my Department promotes Essential Skills for parents and families. The Initiative includes a range of programmes to help parents support their children’s learning while at the same time improving their own learning and skills through recognised qualifications.

The Department has set individual colleges specific targets for the numbers enrolling Essential Skills learners within a particular age group. The targets require colleges to engage learners in the 16-19 age group and also those over the age of 19.

Essential Skills Programme

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister for Employment and Learning how the Essential Skills advertising campaign is evaluated and how this evaluation helped to identify hard-to-reach groups.

(AQW 4000/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The Essential Skills advertising campaign is evaluated annually by the Government Advertising Unit (GAU) against the campaign objectives, calls to action, campaign results and value for money.

At the outset of the new Get the Know How campaign in 2008, the following objectives were agreed with GAU:

• to stimulate interest among the campaign’s audience in opportunities to improve their Essential Skills;
• to develop and increase awareness of the benefits of improving Essential Skills;
• to improve audiences’ knowledge of how to find out more information;
• to stimulate the target audience to make contact; and
• to contribute to the numbers of people engaging in ES training.

The target audience for the advertising campaign is any adult over 16 who does not have a Level 2 qualification in English, Maths or ICT, particularly unemployed people, low skilled people in the workplace and those living in the most deprived wards in Northern Ireland.

In 2010 the media approach to engage the target audience concentrated on:

• TV to generate mass awareness during the main enrolment period;
• Radio to further build campaign awareness and frequency; and
• Google search to deliver visitors to the Essential Skills landing page.

This was supported by other communications activities including the web presence on NI Direct, press articles, Text messaging service, promotional material and the further education colleges’ own marketing efforts.

The 2010 campaign focused on stimulating the target audience to make contact to find out about taking an Essential Skills course. GAU confirmed that the campaign is meeting its objectives with good media coverage achieved, TV and radio exceeding their targets, a good level of text and web visit responses and an exceptionally high level of awareness of the advertisements, 70%, amongst the target audience.

Statistics show that 31% of all enrolments come from the most deprived parts of Northern Ireland which confirms that the advertising campaign is contributing to targeting those learners most in need.

Essential Skills Programme

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister for Employment and Learning how voluntary and community-based groups engage with hard-to-reach adults who have not benefited from the Essential Skills Programme.

(AQW 4001/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: My Department has put in place a number of arrangements to ensure community and voluntary groups can engage hard to reach adults who would benefit from the Essential Skills programme.

Under the (pilot) Learner Access and Engagement Programme, colleges contract with non statutory organisations, including voluntary and community groups, to support “hard to reach” adults who require Essential Skills as part of their preparation for employment. This initiative is aimed at those marginalised adults who are aged over 19, are unemployed and have few or no qualifications.

Many of the community and voluntary groups which receive funding under the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2007 -2013, are actively addressing individuals with Essential Skills issues. The strategic aim of the NIESF is to help reduce economic inactivity and increase workforce skills by supporting actions to extend employment opportunities to people at a disadvantage in the labour market. It is estimated that around 70% of the projects include signposting, learner support and/or delivery of Essential Skills Programmes within the overall range of provision offered. While a number of the voluntary community organisations have their own Essential Skills tutors; many work closely with the local further education colleges to deliver the Essential Skills programmes.

Over the duration of the entire programming period 2007 to 2013 the NIESF Programme aims to assist a target of 18,000 individual participants with Essential skills needs, and aims to achieve a target of 8,000 individuals acquiring Essential basic skills. By the end of the year 2009 the Programme had assisted 8,753 individuals with Essential skills needs, of which 4,822 were recorded as gaining Essential basic skills. The Programme is on track to achieve or exceed both targets.

In addition, my Department contracts with community and voluntary organisations within the Training for Success, Steps to Work and Local Employment Intermediary Service programmes to promote, support and deliver Essential Skills.

Overseas Training Courses for Staff

Mr T Burns asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail (i) the number of training courses which members of staff from her Department have attended overseas in each of the last three years; (ii) the names of the course/purpose of the training; (iii) when the courses took place; (iv) the duration of each course; (v) how many members of staff took part in each course; (vi) the grade and branch of each member of staff who took part; (vii) in which country the courses took place (excluding the UK and Republic of Ireland); (viii) the cost of fees for each course and each individual attendee; (ix) the travel expenses incurred by each attendee of each course; (x) the accommodation costs incurred by each attendee of each course; and (xi) the specific name and location of places where each attendee stayed during their travel and attendance on each course.

(AQW 4077/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: I have placed a table, providing details requested above, in the Assembly Library and the Department of Employment and Learning’s website (www.delni.gov.uk).

Education Maintenance Allowance

Mr A Ross asked the Minister for Employment and Learning how many people in the East Antrim area are in receipt of Education Maintenance Allowance.

(AQW 4086/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: I wish to refer the Member to my answer to AQW 3828/11.

Student Fees

Mr S Moutray asked the Minister for Employment and Learning whether he has had any discussions with colleagues in (i) the House of Commons; or (ii) the House of Lords. as part of the work carried out by the Department regarding student fees in relation to “costing and modelling various options and analysing the key proposals in each of the other UK administrations, as well as developments in the Republic of Ireland”

(AQW 4172/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: In the context of the continuing work on tuition fees and future student finance arrangements, I have had discussions with my Ministerial counterpart in England, David Willetts MP, on a range of related issues. I have also discussed issues relating to tuition fees and student support with the Budget Review Group, of which Sammy Wilson MP and Martin McGuinness MP are members, as well as discussing them with my party colleague and previous Minister for Employment and Learning, Lord Empey of Shandon MLA.

In addition, I have had similar discussions with Mike Russell, MSP, my counterpart in Scotland, and Leighton Andrews AM, my counterpart in Wales.

Finally, my officials have been in extensive contact with counterparts in England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland to discuss, model and cost any emerging proposals.

Capital and Resource Investment in West Belfast

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister for Employment and Learning how much his Department spent on (i) capital investment; and (ii) resource investment in the West Belfast constituency, in each of the last two years.

(AQW 4199/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The Department for Employment and Learning has funded capital projects in the West Belfast constituency, at Belfast Metropolitan College and St Mary’s College, with an actual spend of £2.79m in 2009/10 and an estimated spend of £5.75m in 2010/11.

The Department’s resource investment in the West Belfast constituency covers Higher Education (HE), Further Education (FE), Local Employment Intermediary Service (LEMIS) and Skills Delivery (SD). Actual spend for HE, LEMIS and SD was £6.05m in 2009/10 and the estimated spend is £6.03m in 2010/11.

In addition, there was an actual resource spend of £35.63m in 2009/2010 and an estimated spend of £34.61m in 2010/11 for FE at Belfast Metropolitan College, the Millfield and Whiterock campuses of which falls within the West Belfast constituency. It is not possible to detail the BMC West Belfast resource separately.

Higher Education Places

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the number of higher education places, per head of population; and how this figure compares to the UK as a whole, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 4204/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The table below shows both the number of full-time undergraduate enrolments and all enrolments in Northern Ireland Higher Education Institutions in each of the last three academic years and compares these to the UK total. The enrolments are stated per 1000 of the population.

Further Education Expenditure

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the (i) recurrent expenditure; and (ii) capital expenditure incurred by his Department in relation to the further education sector in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4255/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Recurrent block grant funding to Further Education Colleges is allocated on an academic year basis through the FE funding model and is determined through the College Development Plan (CDP) process. Capital funding is allocated through a process of economic appraisal and is administered on a financial year basis. The allocations for both recurrent and capital funding to the FE Colleges for each of the last five years are detailed in the following table.

Training for Success and Other Programmes

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the level of funding allocated for training under the Training for Success programme, and similar programmes, within the further education sector in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4257/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The figures below reflect the funding made available to the further education sector over the last 5 financial years in respect of the Training for Success (including Programme Led Apprenticeships), ApprenticeshipsNI and Jobskills programmes. The figures are inclusive of the Educational Maintenance Allowance (EMA) / Training Allowance which is paid to participants.

Financial Year 2006/07        £20,739,043.82

Financial Year 2007/08        £19,901,245.28

Financial Year 2008/09        £19,956,260.63

Financial Year 2009/10        £25,154,395.31

Financial Year 2010/11        £22,453,502.38

Essential Skills Programmes

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the level of funding allocated for Essential Skills programmes provided by the further education sector in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4258/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: From 2007/08 funding for Essential Skills provision was integrated into the Further Education funding formula and paid through the FE College’s recurrent block grant on an academic year basis. Prior to 2007/08, funding for Essential Skills provision was outside the block grant allocation and was allocated each financial year on the basis of in-year claims. The funding allocated for Essential Skills provision in the last five years is detailed in the table overleaf.

* Financial Year

Funding for the Fair Employment Tribunal and the Labour Relations Agency

Mr P Butler asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the funding his Department has allocated to (i) the Fair Employment Tribunal; and (ii) the Labour Relations Agency, in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4344/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The Assembly Business Office has confirmed that the answer to part (i) of Mr Butler’s question should read, (i) the Industrial Tribunals and the Fair Employment Tribunal.

The Department for Employment and Learning has provided funding to (i) the Industrial Tribunals and the Fair Employment Tribunal (OITFET) and (ii) the Labour Relations Agency (LRA) over the last 5 years as follows:

2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11

OITFET £3.308m £3.410m £3.323m £3.670m £3.199m

LRA £3.019m £3.200m £3.200m £3.695m £2.770m

The figures for the 2010/11 year are the actual outturn as at 31 January 2011.

Student Finance Support

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what discussions his Department has had, or intends to have, with the relevant authorities in the Republic of Ireland in relation to the impact any changes to student finance support would have on cross-border student mobility.

(AQW 4383/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Officials in my Department meet regularly with their counterparts in the Department of Education and Science to discuss developments in student support for higher education. More recently this has involved discussions on the proposed increase from €1,500 to €2,000 for the registration fee payable at higher education institutions in the Republic of Ireland.

Further engagement between officials will follow to discuss the outworking and implications for student flows, of any changes to student support that may emerge as a result of the proposed public consultation on tuition fees and student finance arrangements in Northern Ireland.

Apprenticeship Schemes

Mr P Ramsey asked the Minister for Employment and Learning how many people in each constituency have benefited from upskilling as a result of an apprenticeship scheme in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4445/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The data in the Table below lists the number of apprentices in each Parliamentary constituency who started an apprenticeship scheme funded by the Department for Employment and Learning over the last five years.

Table 1. Number of individuals who have commenced Apprenticeships,

2006-2010 by Parliamentary Constituency

* Missing figures include occurrences of BT99 9XX which represent cases outside of Northern Ireland (2006 = 4 occurrences, 2007 = 13 occurrences, 2008 = 20 occurrences, 2009 = 41 occurrences, 2010 = 62 occurrences).

Source: Department for Employment & Learning Client Management System

Apprenticeship Schemes

Mr P Ramsey asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the running costs of apprenticeship schemes in the (i) West Belfast constituency; and (ii) Foyle constituency in each of the last two years.

(AQW 4493/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Under ApprenticeshipsNI, my Department meets the full cost of the apprentice's directed training which is delivered by contracted training suppliers. The figures below represent the amount of funding, for the delivery of apprenticeship training, paid to training suppliers in the West Belfast and Foyle Parliamentary constituencies over the last two years .

There are currently 8 Training Suppliers delivering apprenticeship training in the West Belfast constituency and 7 delivering in Foyle constituency. At present our records indicate an occupancy level of 1740 and 811 respectively.

Premature Retirement Compensation Severance Payments for Lecturers

Mr P Butler asked the Minister for Employment and Learning for an update on the sector-wide proposals on the Premature Retirement Compensation severance payments for lecturers in the Further Education sector.

(AQW 4540/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The operation of the Teachers’ Premature Retirement Scheme is a matter for each employing authority (each Further Education College). However, my Department has encouraged the six College employers to adopt a common ‘sector wide’ approach for the purpose of implementing severance payments for lecturers. The College employers submitted a ‘sector wide’ proposal to the Department on 17th September 2010, and my Department provided clarification, as requested by them, on 14 th October 2010 that the proposal is within the parameters of the Teachers’ Premature Retirement Scheme.

College employers were advised at that time that any proposal remains subject to discussion with the recognised Trade Unions, using the established negotiating mechanisms.

I continue to encourage College Employers and the Trade Unions to engage in meaningful dialogue.

Northern Regional College: Ballymoney Campus

Mr M Storey asked the Minister for Employment and Learning for an update on the future of the Ballymoney campus of the Northern Regional College.

(AQO 1055/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The Northern Regional College has submitted a college improvement plan to my department which includes the rationalisation of the college estate. In that plan, the college proposed that the Coleraine and Ballymoney campuses would be replaced by a new college in Coleraine. The estimated cost of the investment required was £40.6m. A bid was made in Budget 2010 to commence this project, along with NRC’s other major project at Ballymena, but no funding has been allocated in the draft budget. However, as I indicated at my recent meeting with the Further Education sector, I am keen that planning should proceed, so that should resources become available in the course of this budget period the college will be ready to move ahead. In the meantime my department will consider providing capital support to the campus in respect of Health and Safety and Minor works to ensure that further educational provision continues in Ballymoney. I am due to meet the Member shortly on this issue and am happy to hear his representations.

Higher Education: Fees

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what discussions he has had, in the last 12 months, with his counterparts in other parts of the UK about higher education fees.

(AQO 1056/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Since the publication last October of the Browne and Stuart Reports on the respective reviews in England and Northern Ireland, I have had formal discussions on tuition fees, student support and related issues with my Ministerial counterparts in each of the other United Kingdom administrations.

I have spoken to David Willetts, Minister of State for Universities and Science in England, Mike Russell, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning in Scotland, and Leighton Andrews, Minister for

Education Maintenance Allowance

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Employment and Learning when he intends to bring forward proposals for the Education Maintenance Allowance.

(AQO 1057/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Both my Department and the Department of Education received the findings of the jointly commissioned Review of the Education Maintenance Allowance scheme in Northern Ireland in December 2010. Officials from both Departments are currently assessing the findings of the report therefore no decisions have yet been made on the future of the scheme.

I can further advise that the Review Report has been shared with the Employment and Learning Committee. The Committee has recently written to me with a series of proposals relating to this important issue. One of those proposals concerns the need for further pre-consultation engagement and I will wish to give this serious consideration. My Department will also wish to engage fully with the Committee as policy options are developed. Clearly we will want to carefully consider any potential impact on students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, whom I am committed to supporting.

Any proposals to amend the current provision of the EMA scheme in Northern Ireland will be subject to a public consultation and appropriate equality considerations, and also taking account of the very difficult budgetary position currently facing my Department.

Any changes to the existing scheme would be implemented from academic year 2012/13 at the earliest.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Ms M Anderson asked e Minister for Employment and Learning whether the review of the Education Maintenance Allowance concluded that these payments are a major factor in assisting young people from lower-income families to remain in full-time education and if a decision has been made on whether to continue the payments.

(AQO 1058/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Both my Department and the Department of Education received the findings of the jointly commissioned Review of the Education Maintenance Allowance scheme in Northern Ireland in December 2010. Officials from both Departments are currently assessing the findings of the report therefore no decisions have yet been made on the future of the scheme.

I would agree, however, that Education Maintenance Allowance is more important for low-income families and that it assists them to stay in full-time education. For this reason, I have no intention of withdrawing Education Maintenance Allowance from low-income families. That said, while there is some evidence in the Review that Education Maintenance Allowance impacts positively on the decisions of young people from lower-income families to remain in full-time education, there is also evidence that the majority of young people would have stayed on in full-time education regardless of the Education Maintenance Allowance payments.

I can further advise that the Review Report has been shared with the Employment and Learning Committee. The Committee itself has already recommended in its NEETs’ report that EMA should be better targeted in the future. My Department will engage fully with the Committee as policy options are developed, which will clearly consider any potential impact on students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, whom I am committed to supporting.

Any proposals to amend the current provision of the EMA scheme in Northern Ireland will be subject to a public consultation and appropriate equality considerations. They will also take account of the very difficult budgetary position currently facing my Department.

Young People not in Education, Employment or Training

Miss M McIlveen asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what additional resources he intends to allocate to the forthcoming Not in Education, Employment or Training Strategy.

(AQO 1059/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: My officials and those from other departments are currently working to bring forward a draft cross-Departmental strategy addressing the barriers facing young people outside Education Employment or Training and I intend to issue the draft document, subject to Executive agreement, for public consultation as soon as possible.

Whilst my Department has a role to play in offering support to those who have been failed by the education system, others too, not least the Department of Education which has responsibility for early intervention, have a significant contribution to make.

While the strategy has not yet been agreed nor been through public consultation, it is not possible to attribute resources to it exactly. I do know, however, as I indicated in response to question number 2, that a substantial amount of funding is already allocated to relevant programmes and services across departments.

Bearing in mind the current difficult financial context we will be looking to develop and enhance our focus on addressing the issues facing these young people through our cross-departmental strategic approach. As part of the developing strategy work we also intend to look at best use of these existing resources.

As the strategy develops its focus on addressing the barriers to young people’s engagement in Education, Employment and Training, I will also look at the possibility of seeking additional resources to help us better reach these young people. Options here will include the proposed Executive Social Investment Fund, when the criteria become clearer.

Assured Skills

Mr D McNarry asked the Minister for Employment and Learning for his assessment of the significance of the Assured Skills initiative.

(AQO 1060/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The Assured Skills pilot programme represents a significant enhancement of Northern Ireland’s ability to attract inward investment. By investing in the skills of our people, we ensure the maximum amount of benefit for the local economy, and can demonstrate to client companies that Northern Ireland is a place where the skills they need to make their business successful can be found. I expect it to have a significant role to play in growing and rebalancing the local economy in years to come.

Students: Funding

Mr B Wilson asked the Minister for Employment and Learning if he would consider introducing a scheme, similar to that adopted by the National Assembly for Wales, to subsidise students attending any UK university and domiciled in Northern Ireland.

(AQO 1061/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Shortly after the announcement by the Welsh Assembly Government, I indicated that I would be looking carefully at its approach to consider its potential applicability here. I have had discussions with my Welsh counterpart, Leighton Andrews, Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning in Wales about the proposed approach in Wales and my officials have also been liaising with Welsh colleagues regarding the detail of the proposed arrangements.

It is important to remember that, in the context of the Welsh proposals, we in Northern Ireland have a very different pattern of student flows.

Wales is a net importer of students. In academic year 2008/09 almost 8,800 first year full-time undergraduate students entered higher education in Wales from other parts of the United Kingdom, whilst Wales exported only 5,500 similar students. Under the Welsh proposals, these 8,800 students could be charged up to £9,000 per year.

Northern Ireland is a net exporter of students, with fewer than 200 enrolments in the same period from other parts of the United Kingdom while approximately 4,000 Northern Ireland domiciled students enrolled in institutions in Great Britain.

Unfortunately, this essential fact and its impact on the financing of the Welsh proposals mean that it is not really a feasible option for Northern Ireland.

Clearly, the decision by the Welsh Assembly Government to invest very significant sums of public money in meeting any additional fee costs above the current levels for Welsh students, could only be replicated in Northern Ireland at a very significant cost.

University of Ulster: Magee Campus

Mr P Ramsey asked the Minister for Employment and Learning for an update on the plans to increase student numbers at the Magee campus of the University of Ulster.

(AQO 1062/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: The university has provided a Strategic Outline Case to support its request for additional undergraduate places at the Magee campus. This is subject to ongoing discussions between my Department, the Department of Finance and Personnel and the university. My Department submitted a bid to support the increase in the recent Comprehensive Spending Review.

I would welcome your support and that of your party for ensuring that sufficient resources are available in my Department’s final budget to meet the bid. This is ultimately a matter for the Assembly.

Education Maintenance Allowance

Mr W Clarke asked the Minister for Employment and Learning for an estimate of the potential annual savings if proposed cuts to the Education and Maintenance Allowance are imposed.

(AQO 1063/11)

Minister for Employment and Learning: Both my Department and the Department of Education received the findings of the jointly commissioned Review of the Education Maintenance Allowance scheme in Northern Ireland in December 2010. Officials from both Departments are currently assessing the findings of the report which presents a range of possible options. No decisions, however, have yet been made on the future of the scheme.

I can further advise that the Review Report has been shared with the Employment and Learning Committee. The Committee has recently written to me with a series of proposals relating to this important issue. One of those proposals concerns the need for further pre-consultation engagement and I will wish to give this serious consideration. My Department will also wish to engage fully with the Committee as policy options are developed. Clearly we will want to consider any potential impact on students from the most disadvantaged backgrounds, whom I am committed to supporting.

Any proposals to amend the current provision of the EMA scheme in Northern Ireland will be subject to a public consultation and appropriate equality considerations, as well as taking account of the very difficult budgetary position currently facing my Department.

Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Capital and Resource Investment in the West Belfast Constituency

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment how much her Department spent on (i) capital investment; and (ii) resource investment in the West Belfast constituency, in each of the last two years.

(AQW 4093/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Mrs A Foster): The table below sets out the information sought in respect of financial assistance provided by Invest NI within the West Belfast constituency. It should be noted that Invest NI does not allocate budgets by geographic areas such as Parliamentary Constituency Areas.

Assistance patterns are demand-led by those businesses which have come forward with projects suitable for Invest NI assistance.

In addition financial assistance provided by NITB within the West Belfast constituency in the last 2 years is listed in the table below:

Invest NI

Mr T Elliott asked e Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (i) the companies with which Invest NI negotiations in relation to job creation are at (a) an advanced stage; or (b) a completed stage of negotiations which have yet to be publicly announced; and (ii) whether she plans to make any such announcements in the near future.

(AQW 4094/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: As Invest NI’s negotiations with companies are commercial in confidence, no details can be released until negotiations are fully concluded and there is a signed Letter of Offer in place. Any premature discussion of companies with which Invest NI may be in discussion could potentially damage the prospects of projects being secured and may also have an adverse effect on a company’s commercial interests. Once a project has been successfully secured, Invest NI works closely with the company to publicly announce at the appropriate time.

However, I can assure you that Invest NI continues to work closely with a wide spectrum of locally and externally owned businesses to encourage them to grow and develop, thereby providing increased employment opportunities for the benefit of the whole community.

This has been another very successful year for Invest NI, particularly in their efforts to secure foreign–owned investment projects with high quality jobs, where the results show that the projects delivered have now exceeded the three-year Programme for Government targets. In recent months we have seen significant investment announcements by companies such as Fidessa, Citi, Rigney Dolphin, Allen and Overy, Linden Foods and Market Resource Partners, and I would hope to be able to make a number of further significant announcements prior to the dissolution of the current Assembly later this year.

Training Courses

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (i) the number of training courses which members of staff from her Department have attended overseas in each of the last five years; (ii) the names of the course/purpose of the training; (iii) when the courses took place; (iv) the duration of each course; (v) how many members of staff took part in each course; (vi) the grade and branch of each member of staff who took part; (vii) in which country the courses took place (excluding the UK and Republic of Ireland); (viii) the cost of fees for each course and each individual attendee; (ix) the travel expenses incurred by each attendee of each course; (x) the accommodation costs incurred by each attendee of each course; and (xi) the specific name and location of places where each attendee stayed during their travel and attendance on each course.

(AQW 4118/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: The response to part (i) of the question is provided in the table below.

The responses to parts (ii) to (xi) of the question are contained in the table below.

Lough Neagh

Mr S Moutray asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for an update on the Department’s work to promote Lough Neagh as a tourist destination.

(AQW 4173/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: NITB implements a series of seasonal marketing campaigns in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to grow both visitor numbers and spend to Northern Ireland. Lough Neagh has been featured extensively and most recently has appeared in the campaigns for Spring 2009, 2010 and 2011; Gateway/Summer 2009 and 2010; and Autumn 2009 and 2010.

The Draft Tourism Strategy for Northern Ireland to 2020 has identified Lough Neagh as a potential “key tourism area”. To successfully develop and promote product within relevant “key tourism areas” the Strategy recommends that it is the primary responsibility of the Local Authorities to develop and implement Tourism Area Plans in partnership with local tourism providers in the public and private sector.

NITB will support local areas by providing research, intelligence and advice in developing plans, aligning marketing and promotional activity and developing and implementing technology solutions to transform the provision and distribution of visitor information.

Tourism Ireland features Lough Neagh as part of its extensive global destination marketing programme. The aim is to raise awareness of Lough Neagh, and the areas surrounding it, as a tourism destination.

Fixed Line Broadband Services in Rural Areas

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment for her assessment of the availability of fixed line broadband services in rural areas, particularly in areas that have not benefited from the BT Next Generation Broadband project.

(AQW 4230/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Broadband services in Northern Ireland are delivered using a range of technologies. These include fixed line (over existing telephone lines), fixed wireless and satellite. Over 99% of premises are capable of having broadband services delivered using fixed line technology. There is no obligation on the telecommunications industry to ensure that every customer has access to a fixed line service.

When complete in May of this year, some £13m of government funds will have been spent improving services in rural areas under the Next Generation Broadband Project and at least 85% of businesses across Northern Ireland will be able to benefit from access to faster broadband services. I recognise that there will be some areas that will not have benefited from this particular project but we have supported a number of other schemes to improve services to rural areas. These have been targeted at areas that have proved particularly difficult to deliver broadband services via fixed lines. I will of course be continuing to work to improve the quality of broadband across all of Northern Ireland.

Research and Development

Mr C Lyttle asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment how much her Department spent on research and development in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4236/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: The Agency’s expenditure on support for R&D activity for each of the last 5 financial years is as follows:

Invest NI's 2008 - 2011 Corporate Plan contains a commitment to target more expenditure on R&D and innovation programmes. As a result, the focus on R&D and innovation has indeed intensified over the past 3 years. This is reflected in the year-on-year rise in R&D expenditure.

Consultation Documents

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to list the number and titles of all consultation documents issued by her Department since May 2007.

(AQW 4251/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has issued 41 consultation documents in the period May 2007 – 31 January 2011, as detailed in the table below.

Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the level of funding her Department has allocated to the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4276/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: The following table provides information on funding allocated to the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland for the last five financial years:

£000’s

Board of the Presbyterian Mutual Society

Mr A Maginness asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (i) how many of the former directors of the Board of the Presbyterian Mutual Society are being proceeded against by way of disqualification proceedings in the High Court; (ii) what criteria was used to determine the disqualification cases to be initiated by her Department; (iii) whether any representations written, or otherwise, were made to her Department in relation to these proceedings; and (iv) what consideration was given to any representations made.

(AQW 4307/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: (i) Disqualification proceedings have been issued against six persons.

(ii) The criteria used in all cases is whether it appears to the Department that it is expedient in

the public interest that a disqualification order should be made against any person.

(iii) The Department sent notice of its intention to commence disqualification proceedings to all

six respondents and representations in writing were received before proceedings were issued.

(iv) The Department gave due consideration to the representations made.

Invest NI

Lord Empey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the limits imposed on the level of selective financial assistance offered to new investors by Invest NI and when these limits apply.

(AQW 4341/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: Under the European Commission’s state aid regulations, Selective Financial Assistance (SFA) is classified as Regional Aid. As such, the SFA that Invest NI can offer to new investors is based on either the value of a project’s eligible capital investment or the wages associated with the creation of new jobs.

The limits on SFA available to new investors in Northern Ireland depend on the investor’s size and the location of the project in Northern Ireland. For the period 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013, the maximum contribution levels of SFA towards a project’s eligible costs are detailed in the table below.

The rates above reflect a reduction compared to the rates that were applicable in Northern Ireland over the period 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2010, as detailed below.

Company size is determined by the European Commission’s definition of Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) which, subject to ownership or group structure, defines SMEs as follows:

Each offer of SFA made by Invest NI is the product of robust negotiation process. Given the imperative to secure investment at the minimum cost to the public purse, in many cases offers are considerably below the maximum available. Indeed the average ratio of SFA support to total project investment over the period 2007/08 to 2009/10 was 12%. In addition to SFA, new investors can access a range of support measures from Invest NI, including Research & Development support and assistance with training costs.

Electricity Generated from Indigenous Renewable Sources

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what percentage of electricity is generated from indigenous renewable sources.

(AQW 4378/11)

Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment: In the year ended 31 December 2010, the annual average percentage of electricity generated from indigenous renewable sources was 8.37%. Across the 12 month period, this ranged from 4.73% in February to 12.48% in October. While this is lower than the figure for 2009, with the number of renewable energy planning applications and the increase in generation from non- wind technologies that is emerging, there should be sufficient capacity to meet the 2012 target of 12%.

Department of the Environment

Overseas Training Courses for Staff

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of the Environment to detail (i) the number of training courses which members of staff from his Department have attended overseas in each of the last three years; (ii) the names of the course/purpose of the training; (iii) when the courses took place; (iv) the duration of each course; (v) how many members of staff took part in each course; (vi) the grade and branch of each member of staff who took part; (vii) in which country the courses took place (excluding the UK and Republic of Ireland); (viii) the cost of fees for each course and each individual attendee; (ix) the travel expenses incurred by each attendee of each course; (x) the accommodation costs incurred by each attendee of each course; and (xi) the specific name and location of places where each attendee stayed during their travel and attendance on each course.

(AQW 4075/11)

Minister of the Environment (Mr E Poots): The Department’s records indicate that the number of staff in the Department who attended training courses at overseas locations in the last 5 years is as follows:

2006 - 3

2007 - 2

2008 - 7

2009 - 2

2010 - 1

2011 - None to date

Where available the additional information requested in relation to these courses held at overseas locations is listed in the tables below.

Year: 2006

Purpose of Courses:

Leadership in a Changing World

A north/south and UK/Ireland leadership development programme for newly appointed Senior Civil Servants.

Senior Professional Administrative Training Scheme (SPATS)

Equips professionals with the wider, knowledge, skills and experience needed for senior management.

Year: 2007

Purpose of Courses:

Leaders for Tomorrow

A north/south public/private leadership development programme for middle management level.

Year: 2008

Purpose of Courses:

European Study Visit

To enhance and consolidate learning in relation to working with the European Institutions.

Leaders for Tomorrow

A north/south public/private leadership development programme for middle management level.

Leadership in a Changing World

A north/south and UK/Ireland leadership development programme for newly appointed Senior Civil Servants.

Year: 2009

Purpose of Courses:

Leaders for Tomorrow

A north/south public/private leadership development programme for middle management level.

Year: 2010

Purpose of Courses:

Leaders for Tomorrow

A north/south public/private leadership development programme for middle management level.

Pass and Fail Rates for Driving Tests

Mr R McCartney asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the pass and fail rates for driving tests in each of the last three years, broken down by test centre.

(AQW 4109/11)

Minister of the Environment: The information requested has been included in the following table. It details the pass and fail rates for all driving tests in each of the last three financial years, including the period from 1 April to 30 December 2010, broken down by test centre.

Investment in the West Belfast Constituency

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister of the Environment how much his Department spent on (i) capital investment; and (ii) resource investment in the West Belfast constituency, in each of the last two years.

(AQW 4198/11)

Minister of the Environment: In the West Belfast constituency, in each of the last two years (2008/09 and 2009/10), my department provided no capital investment. However resource investment of £255,970 (2008/09) and £298,144 (2009/10) was provided in the form of grants to various Non Government Organisations (NGOs).

Research and Development Spending

Mr C Lyttle asked the Minister of the Environment how much his Department spent on research and development in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4237/11)

Minister of the Environment: The table below provides the costs incurred by my Department in relation research and development in each of the last five years.

Six Mile Water River

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of the Environment to list all sites that have permission to discharge into the Six Mile Water river.

(AQW 4268/11)

Minister of the Environment: Under the Water ( Northern Ireland) Order 1999, it is an offence to discharge any trade or sewage effluent, including site drainage liable to contamination, to any waterway, or any water contained in underground strata, from any commercial, industrial or domestic premises, without the consent of the Department of the Environment.

The Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) administers a system of discharge consents which lay down conditions relating to the quality and quantity of effluent that may be discharged.  

The table below lists the sites which currently have permission to discharge into the Six Mile Water River. In summary, there are 89 Industrial discharges and 12 Northern Ireland Water Asset discharges that have permission to discharge into the Six Mile Water River.

The Department have also consented a number of Single Domestic Dwellings which discharge into the Six Mile Water River, however, the domestic consent database is not configured to identify specific discharge points.

All Sites that have Permission to Discharge into the Six Mile Water.

Six Mile Water River

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of the Environment when he intends to publish the results from the Water Framework Directive in relation to the Six MIle Water river.

(AQW 4271/11)

Minister of the Environment: The first water quality status classification results for the Six Mile Water were published in 2009 as part of the River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs) for Northern Ireland. The classifications will be updated annually and it is planned to publish the next set of results by April 2011.

District Council Areas and Staffing

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the current (i) population served by each District Council area; and (ii) number of whole-time equivalent posts in each District Council.

(AQW 4317/11)

Minister of the Environment: Information relating to the population served by each District Council area is not held centrally by my Department. However, the table below, which includes the requested details of whole time equivalent posts in District Councils, shows the population distribution according to 2009 mid-year estimates published by the Northern Ireland Statistics Research Agency (NISRA).

Managing Waste

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of the Environment for an update on the three waste companies' plans for managing waste, including when final decisions will be made on the purchasing of sites.

(AQW 4342/11)

Minister of the Environment: The current Waste Management Plans of all three Waste Management Groups were formally adopted by the Department on 15 December 2006. The Waste Management Groups have recently submitted for consideration by the Department, draft Annual Reports documenting their progress in implementation of their respective Waste Management Plans in the period 2009 to 2010.

Each of the Waste Management Groups reports significant progress against targets, including a reduction in the amount of waste collected, a reduction in the percentage of waste landfilled, and an increase in the percentage of waste sent for recycling and composting. They have also taken forward a number of waste education and awareness initiatives, and promoted waste prevention.

The Waste Management Groups continue to advance the public procurement processes through which they have each invited bidders to apply for the contract to provide the facilities and services required. They are all currently in competitive dialogue and are therefore bound by the regulatory requirements governing the conduct of negotiations with bidders. The sites which bidders propose to use are commercially sensitive elements of their overall bid and as such information relating to them cannot enter the public domain at this stage. There are a number of factors which will determine when that can take place, including the selection by a Waste Management Group of a preferred bidder and/or the submission of a planning application. At the appropriate time, more detailed information, including the specific sites involved and plans for site acquisition, will become public knowledge.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of the Environment how greenhouse gas emissions now compare with 1990 levels.

(AQW 4379/11)

Minister of the Environment: In 2008, the latest available figures, greenhouse gas emissions in Northern Ireland reduced by 11.2% compared with 1990 levels.

Source: Greenhouse Gas Inventories for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland: 1990-2008

PPS 21

Mr P Givan asked the Minister of the Environment how many planning applications have been approved since the introduction of the draft PPS 21 and the finalised version of PPS 21 in each District Council area.

(AQW 4396/11)

Minister of the Environment: The information requested has been extracted from my Department’s annual and quarterly management reports. The most recently published information is up to the period September 2010. The next quarterly report is due to be published in March 2011. Details on PPS 21 approvals are set out in the following table.

Please note that all data in the quarterly statistical bulletins and all data derived from the quarterly datasets are provisional. Final figures for 2010/11 will be published in the 2010/11 annual report.

Investigation into Illegal Dumping at Ballyhornan Road, Downpatrick

Mr B Wilson asked the Minister of the Environment for an update on the investigation into illegal dumping at Ballyhornan Road, Downpatrick and whether a file has been submitted to the Public Prosecution Service.

(AQW 4467/11)

Minister of the Environment: A full criminal investigation into an incident of illegal dumping at Ballyhornan Road, Downpatrick has been conducted by the NIEA Environmental Crime Unit. The file has not yet been submitted to PPS, however the pre-submission review has been completed and NIEA is currently finalising the file for submission to PPS this month.

Department of Finance and Personnel

Rates Evaluations

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what action he is taking to ensure that the rates evaluations carried out by Land and Property Services are not challenged in court for being inaccurate.

(AQW 3824/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr S Wilson): In law, ratepayers in Northern Ireland have a statutory right to challenge their rating valuation assessment at any point in time during the lifetime of a Valuation List. The process consists of three stages:

Stage 1 - Application to the District Valuer for the District Council area within which the property is situated.

Stage 2 - If dissatisfied with the District Valuer’s decision, the ratepayer can appeal to the Commissioner of Valuation for Northern Ireland.

Stage 3 - If dissatisfied with the Commissioner’s decision, domestic ratepayers can appeal to the Northern Ireland Valuation Tribunal, and non-domestic ratepayers can appeal to the Lands Tribunal for Northern Ireland.

Since 2007, there have been only 61 domestic appeals decided by the Northern Ireland Valuation Tribunal. This is an extremely low number in comparison to the 766,000 domestic properties in Northern Ireland. In the same period there has been only one appeal by a non-domestic ratepayer actually heard by the Lands Tribunal for Northern Ireland.

I am satisfied that proper processes are in place to ensure that valuations are reviewed before reference to tribunals.

NI Water: Costs

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the contribution made towards the costs of NI Water by (i) domestic rate payers; and (ii) non-domestic ratepayers in the 2009/10 financial year.

(AQW 4112/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: It is not possible to detail the contribution made by either domestic or non-domestic ratepayers towards specific areas of funding, given that rates are an unhypothecated tax. While a contribution is made by domestic and non-domestic ratepayers towards supporting regional public services, including water and sewerage services, there is no specific proportion of any rates bill that can be linked to the funding of NI Water.

Separate water charges, however, are levied on non domestic customers and metering is the normal method of working out the charge. Those that are not yet metered pay a variable charge depending on the net annual value of the property in question. This policy is the responsibility of the Department for Regional Development with billing and collection the responsibility of NI Water. It does not comprise part of a rates bill.

Investment in the West Belfast Constituency

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel how much his Department spent on (i) capital investment; and (ii) resource investment in the West Belfast constituency, in each of the last two years.

(AQW 4133/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: My Department’s resource and capital expenditure in the West Belfast constituency in each of the last two financial years is set out in the table below.

End Year Flexibility

Mr D Bradley asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel (i) how the scheme to replace the End Year Flexibility money lost to schools will operate; (ii) when it will begin; and (iii) how it will be resourced.

(AQW 4208/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: I have shared from the outset the concerns expressed by schools and many elected representatives about the Treasury’s decision to end the End Year Flexibility (EYF) arrangements and thereby withdraw access by schools to savings they have accumulated through sound financial management.

As far as schools are concerned there will be no difference, or break in continuity, to the arrangements. The EYF scheme has tended to be self-financing in any given year with the aggregated savings accumulated by schools offset against any deficits scored by other schools. In a situation where the overall draw down of savings is greater than the inflow the net amount will be sought by the Department of Education through the in-year monitoring process to ensure that no school loses out.

Solicitors and Barristers Suspended from Practising

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Finance and Personnelhow many (i) solicitors; and (ii) barristers are currently suspended from practising.

(AQW 4254/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The Department of Finance and Personnel does not hold statistics on how many solicitors or barristers are currently suspended from practising. That information is held by the relevant professional body which is the Law Society for solicitors and, in the case of barristers, the Bar Council.

Research and Development

Mr C Lyttle asked e Minister of Finance and Personnel how much his Department spent on research and development in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4283/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Expenditure on research and development in each of the last five years by the Department of Finance and Personnel is provided in the table below.

Solicitors and Barristers Struck off or Barred from Practising

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Finance and Personnelhow many (i) solicitors; and (ii) barristers have been struck off or barred from practising in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4300/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The Department of Finance and Personnel does not hold statistics on how many solicitors or barristers have been struck off or barred from practising within each of the last 5 years. That information is held by the relevant professional body which is the Law Society for solicitors and, in the case of barristers, the Bar Council.

Consultation Documents

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to list the number and titles of all the consultation documents issued by his Department since May 2007.

(AQW 4319/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The total number of consultation documents issued by the Department of Finance and Personnel since May 2007 is 29. The titles of the consultations can be found below:

PEACE III and INTERREG IVA Funding

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what projects, in full or in part, in the Derry City Council area have been approved for (i) PEACE III; and (ii) INTERREG IVA funding in the last twelve months; and how much funding has been allocated to each project.

(AQW 4346/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The tables attached set out the allocations made to projects in the Derry City Council area that have been funded under the PEACE III and INTERREG IVA Programmes in the last twelve months.

Project address has been used to locate projects. However, due to the strategic nature of the PEACE III Programme, it is important to note that the scope or impacts of any project may extend beyond its geographical location.

The INTERREG IVA Programme promotes integrated regional development and, as a result, all approved projects are cross-border in nature. While funding for a particular project may be focused on one or the other side of the Border, the impact must be cross border. Consequently, the scope or impacts of projects will extend beyond the geographical location of the project itself.

An exchange rate of £1=€1.10 has been used where applicable.

Sammy Wilson MP MLA

PEACE III Programme

1 This project is a sub-project of the North West Cluster Peace and Reconciliation Action Plan INTERREG IVA Projects

1 This project is a sub-project of The Innovation Factory project

2 This project is a sub-project of the SailWest project

INTERREG

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what projects with a Northern Ireland focus have been approved for funding under the transnational and interregional strands of INTERREG; and how much funding has been allocated to each project.

(AQW 4347/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: 42 projects with Northern Ireland partners have been approved for funding under the Transnational and Interregional strands of INTERREG. These are listed in the attached table together with the relevant EU funding.

Note that, for four of these approved projects, the Northern Ireland partners have subsequently withdrawn due to a number of factors including: personnel changes within the participating organisations, changes to project lead partners, and financial constraints in the Northern Ireland organisation or in one of its partners abroad.

The remaining 38 projects will bring an approximately £7.015m (€7.716m) in additional European funding to Northern Ireland.

The allocations in these programmes are made in € and we have used the exchange rate of £1-€1.10 to provide a notional £ value.

EU Transnational Projects with NI Partners including EU Allocation

The allocations for these programmes are indictive and are subject to agreement with programme secretariat in the Letter of Offer

Consultancy Fees

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the value of the consultancy fees for which each Department had budgeted in the period 2008-11.

(AQW 4389/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Departments do not, as a matter of course, establish budgets at the level of individual items of expenditure. Instead, budgets are generally established at business area level, with relevant managers making decisions about individual components of spend in the light of emerging circumstances.

Actual expenditure on external consultants is published, on the DFP website, in the Annual Compliance Report on the Use of External Consultants across the NICS.

Vacant Buildings

Mr P Frew asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to outline the criteria under which a vacant building is exempt from being rated.

(AQW 4411/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Vacant non-domestic properties, which have been unoccupied for a period not exceeding 3 months, are rateable at 50% of the amount that would be payable if the property was occupied. 50% relief is applied locally unlike the position in England where 100% rates are charged.

There are some exclusions from non-domestic vacant rating, which closely mirror those in place in the rest of the UK, namely where LPS is satisfied that:-

• the property has a rateable net annual value of £2,000;
• the property is an industrial hereditament;
• occupation is prohibited by law;
• occupation is prohibited by the crown, public authority, dock authority or district council;
• the property is a listed building or is the subject of a building preservation notice;
• the property is a historic monument;
• the property is the responsibility of the personal representative of a deceased person;
• the person entitled to possession is subject to a bankruptcy order;
• the person entitled to possession is a trustee under deed of arrangement;
• the person entitled to possession is a company which is subject to a winding-up order;
• the person entitled to possession is entitled to possession of the hereditament in their capacity as liquidator;
• the person entitled to possession is a Company Limited by Guarantee, is funded in respect of its costs, in whole or part, by a public body and provides accommodation and support services for a trade or business;
• the property is a hereditament, other than a fishery, where the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission under the North/South Cooperation (Implementation Bodies) Order 1999 is entitled to possession.

A vacant or unoccupied domestic property will not be rated at all under legislation currently in force. The one exception to this is where the property is a rental property which is the subject of a payment agreement between the owner and the Department, in which case rates are payable whether the property is occupied or not. The general position will change once the rating of empty homes is introduced on 1 October 2011. From that date a number of the exclusions that apply to vacant non-domestic property will also be extended to the domestic sector, along with some new exclusions from vacant rates for domestic property.

Mortality Rate from Bowel Cancer

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what is current mortality rate from bowel cancer; and how this compares to 2007.

(AQW 4442/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The table below shows the number of deaths due to bowel cancer 1 along with crude death rates and age standardised death rates 2 for 2007 to 2009 in Northern Ireland.

1 International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes C18-C21

2 Rates per 100,000 population and standardised to the European standard population

Stroke Mortality Rate

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what is the current stroke mortality rate; and how this compares to 2007.

(AQW 4443/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The table below shows the number of deaths due to stroke 1 along with crude death rates and age standardised death rates 2 for 2007 and 2009 in Northern Ireland.

1 International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes I60-I69

2 Rates per 100,000 population and standardised to the European standard population

End Year Flexibility

Mr D McNarry asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel how the Executive will meet its guarantees of end-year-flexibility for schools; and what funds they have identified to date to meet this guarantee.

(AQW 4475/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: I would refer the hon Member to the reply I gave the hon Member for Newry and Armagh on 14 February 2011 (AQW 4208/11)

Northern Ireland Audit Office: Budget

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for his assessment of whether the procedure used by his Department to determine the budget allocation for the Northern Ireland Audit Office was an arrogation of the legal authority of the Audit Committee.

(AQO 1027/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: It is not a matter for the Department of Finance and Personnel to determine budget allocations. It is the role of the Audit Committee, having taken the advice of the Public Accounts Committee and the Department of Finance and Personnel, to lay the Audit Office’s Estimate before the Assembly. Budget allocations are determined by the Assembly.

Economy: Rising Prices

Ms C Ní Chuilín asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for his assessment of whether rising prices for food, fuel and other essential items is putting additional pressure on efforts to grow the economy.

(AQO 1028/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: I would agree that the general increase in prices does create extra pressure on both businesses and consumers alike, which in turn puts pressure on economic growth.

However, according to the latest Bank of England inflation report the rate of inflation, as measured by the consumer price index, is expected to return to within the two per cent target in the medium term.

Land and Property Service

Mr A Maginness asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel for his assessment of the errors made by Land and Property Services in the estimation of rates income for district councils and whether he has confidence in its ability to carry out its functions.

(AQO 1026/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: The Member will appreciate that the estimation of rate income for each district council is not a simple process. The rate base changes daily as new properties are built, others are demolished or become vacant, occupiers change, and exclusions or reliefs are granted or cease. The difficult economic situation has exacerbated these changes, and we see evidence of this on our streets every day. Any estimates provided are just that – estimates – and are subject to change as the rate base changes.

That said, I am aware that the notification of unexpected or late changes in a council’s rate revenue have very real consequences for local government, for the delivery of local services and for citizens, and that timely information from LPS is therefore vital for Councils.

My officials work very closely with officials in district councils in preparing the initial estimates and providing the quarterly in-year projections.  I mprovements in rate income estimating have been made by LPS and councils over the last two years, but further improvements can be made, as can improvements in communication. LPS, in partnership with councils, is already reviewing existing procedures and implementing changes to improve the estimating and monitoring process.  They are considering how external expertise can assist in this review. They will also ensure that any significant changes in estimates are communicated as soon as possible, so that councils can take these into account in their financial planning and so that the recent difficulties caused by late communication are avoided in future.

We must not forget that LPS is on target to collect more than £1 billion in rate income this year; income which is vital to the NI Executive and to councils.  I am confident that LPS, working with councils where appropriate, can continue to discharge its important and vital functions. 

DARD Headquarters

Mr S Moutray asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what discussions he has had in the last month with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the proposed relocation of DARD Headquarters.

(AQO 1029/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: In the last month I have had no discussions with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the proposed relocation of DARD Headquarters.

It is for individual Ministers to bring forward the detailed spending and saving plans in their Departments, within the budget envelope allocated by the Executive. The proposed relocation of DARD Headquarters is a DARD programme.

Assembly: Budget

Mr D Bradley asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel, given the acrimony surrounding the proposed cuts to the Assembly's budget, whether he will introduce a new mechanism to address future funding for the Assembly.

(AQO 1030/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Currently the Assembly Commission secures its funding through the Estimates process and is subject to in-year monitoring by DFP. Accounts are produced by the Assembly Commission to show outturn and to compare audited outturn against the limits voted by the Assembly in the Estimates.

The Assembly Commission, like all other departments funded by the Northern Ireland Block, has been engaged in the consultative process on the Draft Budget 2011-2015. Decisions on the final Budget outcome rest with this Assembly which will shortly have the opportunity to debate the Executive’s final proposed allocations.

If the Assembly wishes to move away from the current process and introduce a new mechanism it has the freedom to bring forward its proposals for debate.

Budget 2011-15

Mr T Gallagher asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel why there was such a large variation in the reduction of budget allocations across Departments.

(AQO 1031/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: There are a number of factors which explain the variation in departmental budget allocations. The most important factor was the Executive’s decision to provide real terms growth of 0.2 per cent over inflation to the health sector’s resource budget over the four year period. As health accounts for such a significant share of the Block then this automatically impacts on the quantum of resources then available for other departments.

Other factors that influenced departmental allocations included the need to cover inescapable pressures that some departments have which extend into the new budgeting period. These inescapable pressures were mainly statutory or contractual in nature.

The Executive was also determined to protect jobs and economic growth as much as possible which was a further factor which influenced the budget allocation process.

Budget 2011-15

Mr P Ramsey asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel, given that there is no Programme for Government for the next four years, what was the basis for the draft Budget 2011-15.

(AQO 1032/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: When the ministerial Budget Review Group and the wider Executive deliberated on how to allocate resources within the construction of the draft Budget position there was a clear consensus on a number of key points which determined how resources were allocated.

There was an acknowledgement of the need to provide some degree of protection for the provision of health services within Northern Ireland - hence the real terms increase in the resource DEL allocation to health services.

Given that health accounts for almost half of all current resources available to the Executive this then meant that very difficult decisions had to be taken on the remaining available public expenditure resources. Ministers agreed that growing the economy and investing in education remained key policy objectives and this shaped the allocation of remaining resources.

This allocation process by the Executive had, of course, to be conducted within an environment of a very constrained funding envelope and a number of legacy inescapable pressures that have to be rolled forward into the new budget period.

The allocations in these programmes are made in € and we have used the exchange rate of £1-€1.10 to provide a notional £ value.

Rates: Empty Properties

Mr G Campbell asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to outline the steps being taken by Land and Property Services to ascertain the ownership details of empty properties in advance of 1 October 2011 when rates will be payable on empty homes.

(AQO 1033/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: Land & Property Services has already commenced work to prepare for the implementation of the Rating of Empty Homes, and continues to work closely with Rating Policy Division staff in my Department on the detail of the scheme.

A key task for LPS is to gather the ownership details for all empty homes, to enable billing in October 2011. There are a number of pieces of work underway:

• The Agency has commenced a systematic exercise to gather ownership information on currently vacant homes. A letter was sent to all empty homes in the rating database earlier this month, to alert the owners of those properties to the forthcoming policy change, and request them to contact LPS to update its records as necessary. The letter has already stimulated contact from a significant number of owners.

• The policy will be highlighted in the leaflet issued with all rate bills in April.

• Many homes, of course, will become occupied, or become vacant, between now and October. LPS is therefore gathering ownership information on all homes, including those that are occupied, as and when it has contact with ratepayers.

• LPS is working with a number of other data sources for ownership information, including the Land Register, and is considering the use of other tracing services.

• LPS also has powers to require information to be provided in respect of empty homes. This power can be used to require the supply of information by estate agents, district councils, communications providers, and home owners. Failure to comply with a request for information is an offence and can be the subject of a fine of up to £1,000.

Budget 2011-15

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel, given his recent reference to the draft Budget 2011-15 as being a 'living document' what opportunities does he envisage for amending the budget during its four year period.

(AQO 1034/11)

Minister of Finance and Personnel: All budgets are effectively ‘living documents’ since the financial allocations to individual departments change regularly within each financial year through the reallocation process known as monitoring rounds.

This flexibility and discretion is enormously helpful to the Executive in that it enables it to move resources from spending areas where there are

easements into high priority expenditure areas which are under resourcing pressure.

Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety

Progressive Supranuclear, Palsy Corticobasal Degeneration and Multiple System Atrophy

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the treatment and support services available to people with (i) Progressive Supranuclear Palsy; (ii) Corticobasal Degeneration; and (iii) Multiple System Atrophy, in each Health and Social Care Trust area.

(AQW 3947/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Mr M McGimpsey): It is for clinicians to manage treatment of these conditions based on the needs of individual patients. As there is no cure for these conditions, treatment focuses on relieving symptoms while trying to ensure that a patient has the best possible quality of life.

I am pleased to say that work has recently begun on the development of the Northern Ireland Neurological Conditions Network. This will bring together relevant stakeholders including health and social care staff, the community and voluntary sectors and people with neurological conditions. It will help define a model of care to enable those with long term neurological conditions to benefit from the range of services that can be secured to manage their condition, support their independence and maximise their health and wellbeing.

Waterways Rescue and Recovery Training

Mr J O'Dowd asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 3268 /11, how many front-line operational firefighters based in the Craigavon Borough Council area have (i) been offered training which would allow them to conduct water based search and rescue; and (ii) successfully completed this training.

(AQW 3948/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: No firefighters based within Craigavon Borough Council area have completed water based search and rescue training. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service maintains a Specialist Rescue Team to conduct water-based search and rescue operations.

Annual Staff Turnover

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what was the annual staff turnover through natural wastage in (i) each Health and Social Care Trust; and (ii) the Regional Health and Social Care Board, in each of the last three financial years.

(AQW 3980/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The leaving rate of permanent staff (excluding those leaving due to voluntary redundancy) is given in the table below:

Leaving Rate 1, 2 of Permanent Staffby organisation 2007/08 – 2009/10 (excluding those leaving due to voluntary redundancy)

Source: NI HSC Trusts & Board

Notes:

1. The leaving rate is based on the headcount of permanent staff leaving as a percentage of average permanent staff in post in the given period. Base figures exclude Bank staff, temporary staff, staff on career breaks, rotational doctors in training and staff with a whole-time equivalent of 0.03 or less.
2. Rates exclude staff leaving due to voluntary redundancy, but will include staff taking voluntary early retirement (some of which may be on the grounds of redundancy).
3. Figures for NI HSC Board for 2007/08 and 2008/09 are not available as the NI HSC Board was only formed in April 2009.
4. Figures for 2007/08 will be further inflated by staff moving between legacy Trusts as HR systems were not consolidated to the 5 new HSC Trusts until 2008/09.

Recruitment of Accident and Emergency Consultants

Mr G Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline his Department's strategy for the recruitment of accident and emergency consultants.

(AQW 3981/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: It is the Trusts' responsibility for recruitment of staff.

I am aware however that the HSC is committed over time to move towards an A&E service led and substantially delivered by consultants, in parallel with changes to improve quality and consistency of A&E provision across the region.

Referral of Patients

Mr P Frew asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the procedure that is followed when a GP makes an urgent referral of a patient to a hospital or consultant: and whether consultants can change this referral from urgent to routine.

(AQW 4003/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Integrated Elective Access Protocol, developed to encompass the elective pathway within a hospital environment, sets out the procedures to be followed by Trusts on receipt of a referral from a GP. The Protocol requires Trusts to register all referrals from GPs. This includes the recording of the GP priority status.

It is, however, for consultants, on receipt of referrals to identify the clinical priority for each referral.

Children and Young People in Care

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many children and young people are in care.

(AQW 4005/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The latest official figures for children in care in Northern Ireland are detailed within the statistical bulletin, ‘Children Order Statistical Tables for Northern Ireland (2008/09)’. This bulletin is available from the DHSSPS website at:

http://www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/index/stats_research/stats-cib-/statistics_and_research-cib-pub/children_statistics/stats-cib-children_order.htm

Foster Care

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many children and young people are waiting to be placed in foster care.

(AQW 4006/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The figure requested is not available centrally, and could only be provided at disproportionate costs.

Foster Care Places

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the number of foster care places available for children and young people compared to the demand for these places.

(AQW 4007/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Figures are not available in the format requested.

Foster Care Places

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if his Department would consider an approach by the Foster Care Co-operative to address shortage of foster care places.

(AQW 4008/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The commissioning role for Foster Care in Northern Ireland rests with the Health and Social Care Board and the statutory fostering service is provided by the HSC Trusts. The Foster Care Co-operative may contact the HSC Board directly on the official Government website for Northern Ireland, www.nidirect.gov.uk

Pharmacy Services at Musgrave Park Hospital

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for an update on the pharmacy department at Musgrave Park Hospital; and whether there are any plans to close this facility.

(AQW 4011/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Belfast Health and Social Care Trust is currently undertaking an overall Trust strategic site review which includes the dispensing and distribution of pharmaceutical products at Musgrave Park Hospital. The Trust has confirmed that it will be upon completion of this exercise and after careful evaluation and consultation on the possible outcomes that a way forward will be agreed.

Sexual Assault Referral Centre

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (i) whether funding is available for a Sexual Assault Referral Centre; (ii) whether there are any plans to open such a centre; and (iii) if so, what will be the resource allocation for the centre.

(AQW 4012/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: On 9 February 2010, I publicly announced commencement of the building of a new regional SARC facility in the grounds of Antrim Area Hospital. The new SARC, a partnership between DHSSPS and the PSNI will cost approximately £2m to build. Revenue costs will be met by DHSSPS and PSNI on a joint basis.

The SARC facility will take approximately 12 months to build and will open its doors in mid 2012.

Childcare Provision

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what provision is made in the draft budget for a commitment to childcare provision.

(AQW 4019/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: My Department remains committed to childcare provision and delivering solutions to protect and support children and their families throughout Northern Ireland. In that regard, my Department included a substantial bid for demographic change as part of its request for funding over the Draft Budget period.

However, whilst the demand for social care services continues to grow, the Draft Budget proposals leave my Department with an estimated funding shortfall of £800 million by 2014/15. My officials are working through the implications of how this deficit will impact on services.

A large proportion of government provision in support of childcare is channelled through the tax and benefits system and as such, is outside the control of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Mobile Phones

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW3401/11, will he consider implementing the Northern Health and Social Care Trust policy of not permitting staff to use supplied mobile phones for personal calls, across all Health and Social Care Trusts.

(AQW 4033/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I have no plans to change existing policies in relation to the use of supplied mobile phones in Health and Social Care Trusts.

Home Start

Mr A Easton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline his plans for funding in the next four years for Home Start NI.

(AQW 4045/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: My Department provides core funding to the Home-Start regional office for central administration costs (amounting to £50,420 in 2010/11) and there are no current plans to withdraw this funding.

My Department has also provided £179,063 in support of specific Home-Start projects that were previously supported by the Children’s Fund. This funding is time-limited and is due to cease in March 2011.

The role of commissioning services falls to the Health and Social Care Board and/or Trusts based on assessed needs and priorities of the population. My Department provide £2.4m per annum recurrently for the commissioning of family support services through the HSC Board and Trusts.

Causeway Hospital

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline his plans for maintaining all the existing services at the Causeway Hospital in Coleraine.

(AQW 4047/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: While the delivery of services at the Causeway Hospital is a matter for the Northern Health and Social Care Trust as the service provider, I can advise that no services have been withdrawn from the hospital since it opened and the Trust continues to deliver a comprehensive range of acute services to its local population.

In recent months, due to difficulties with the recruitment of medical staff the Trust has found it necessary to employ a significant number of locum staff to work in Causeway Hospital Accident and Emergency services and in surgical services in order to sustain services on a 24 hour, 7 day week basis. However, this is being kept under review and the Chief Executive has recently met with a number of public representatives to assure them that the future of Causeway Hospital is secure.

Child Care Case Referrals

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, in light of the Baby P case, for his assessment of the number of referrals of child care cases in each Health and Social Care Trust, including the implications this number has on staffing, finances and case allocation waiting times.

(AQW 4055/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: During 2008/09 the number of children referred to social services within each Health and Social Care Trust (HSC) in Northern Ireland was:

Belfast Trust 4,944

South Eastern Trust 3,960

Northern Trust 5,112

Southern Trust 4,569

Western Trust 3,947

This is an overall increase of nearly one third on the same figure for 2004. Trusts continue to report that the overall increase in referrals and pressures is continuing.

It will be for the HSC Board as commissioner of services to work in conjunction with HSC Trusts to determine what services are delivered against the resources available. In the current climate of financial restraint the level of funding that can be sustained in support of these services will largely depend on the outcome of very difficult budgetry negotiations.

As at 31 December 2010, HSC Trusts reported the following unallocated cases, none were of a child protection nature:

Belfast Trust 84

South Eastern Trust 203

Northern Trust 215

Southern Trust 254

Western Trust 87

This represents an increase of 52 (7%) compared to July 2010.

Missed Hospital Appointments

Mrs M O'Neill asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail any pilot schemes that have been carried out to reduce the non-attendance rates for hospital appointments.

(AQW 4061/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I refer the Member to the answer given to AQW 3934/11.

Agency Staff

Mrs M O'Neill asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether there are any alternatives in place to reduce the use of agency staff within the Health Service.

(AQW 4062/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Due to the current financial constraints I have asked the HSC Trusts to examine their reliance on agency staff.

There will always be a need to fill short term absence, but the focus remains on ways of further reducing reliance upon agency staff, such as the careful management of vacancies, absence controls and use of bank staff.

NHS Professionals Scheme

Mrs M O'Neill asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether the 'NHS Professionals' scheme operates in the Health Service.

(AQW 4065/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: NHS Professionals, launched in 2000 with substantial funding from the Department of Health in England (DH), operates in England only. It is now a limited company wholly owned by DH which provides managed flexible staffing services to the NHS with a national bank of approximately 50,000 workers. Having experienced mixed success geographically DH announced, last August, its intention to explore options with the private sector for potential investment in NHS Professionals Ltd.

The Health Service in Northern Ireland does not have an equivalent organisation. Based on the size of the service here and local knowledge of the healthcare labour market each Trust operates its own bank arrangements. While Trusts also have contracts with a number of commercial agencies their use is only authorised as a last resort when Bank or internal ward arrangements are unable to meet the requirements of the wards or departments. This ensures staffing costs are managed effectively.

Health Service IVF Provision

Mr J Spratt asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether he has any plans to bring Health Service IVF provision in line with the rest of the UK.

(AQW 4081/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: IVF Provision in Northern Ireland is in line with the rest of the UK. There are local variations across the UK in particular, in relation to the number of cycles of treatment that is offered. In Northern Ireland the service aspires to provide three cycles of fertility treatment as recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence; 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. In addition, in Northern Ireland, access criteria are wider and allow more people to access the service than in many other regions.

It is hoped that it will be possible to introduce a cycle of frozen embryo transfer; however, this and further expansion of the service will be dependent on future funding availability.

Local Commissioning Groups

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline the functions of the Local Commissioning Groups.

(AQW 4084/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Local Commissioning Groups (LCGs) are committees of the Health and Social Care Board and are primarily responsible for the commissioning of health and social care for their local population. They have the responsibility for assessing their local populations’ health and social care needs, planning health and social care to meet these needs and for securing the delivery of health and social care within their Trust area.

Within Northern Ireland, there are five Local Commissioning Groups (LCGs) within Northern Ireland - Belfast; Northern, South Eastern, Southern and Western, each being co-terminus with their respective Health and Social Care Trust area.

Local Commissioning Groups

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the cost of Local Commissioning Group meetings in each of the past three years, broken down by group.

(AQW 4085/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Five Local Commissioning Groups (LCGs) were established in April 2009. LCGs meet on a monthly basis and utilise community facilities to ensure costs are kept to a minimum. Meeting costs amount to £1,512 for 2009/10 and £3,021 for the nine months ended 31 December 2010 and are analysed by group as follows:

Note 1: It is not possible to split the costs for Belfast and South Eastern LCGs in 2009/10 due to limitations of legacy systems,

Critical Care Complex at the Ulster Hospital

Mr S Hamilton asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (i) the number of occasions on which the new critical care complex at the Ulster Hospital has been closed since its opening; (ii) the reasons for the closures; (iii) the duration of the closures; and (iv) the interim measures that were put in place.

(AQW 4104/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust has advised that the critical care complex at the Ulster Hospital has not been closed since its opening.

Testing of Household Products on Animals

Mr C Lyttle asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether his Department will follow the decision of the Home Office in banning the testing of household products on animals and the use of primates in any experimentation.

(AQW 4105/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: My Department will follow any decision by the Home Office to ban the testing of household products on animals and will also comply with any decision in relation to primates. At present there is no testing of household products on animals or primates used in any experimentation in Northern Ireland.

Animal Experiments

Mr C Lyttle asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, in order to reduce repetition of animal experiments, whether his Department is rejecting applications for experiments on animals where the results of previous such experiments are already in the public domain.

(AQW 4106/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: An Inspector assesses all applications for new licences or amendments to existing licences in detail and advises the Department on how to ensure that only properly justified work is licensed.

Applications for experiments on animals would not be allowed where the work had already been carried out and the results known.

Capital and Resource Investment in the West Belfast Constituency

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how much his Department spent on (i) capital investment; and (ii) resource investment in the West Belfast constituency, in each of the last two years.

(AQW 4134/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: (i) In relation to Capital Investment almost £31m was spent in 2008/09 and almost £39m in 2009/10 in the West Belfast constituency. Some of this investment relates to key regional facilities on the Royal Hospital site which will benefit the whole of the population across Northern Ireland.

(ii) Revenue expenditure information is not collected at the constituency level of West Belfast and is therefore unavailable.

Domiciliary Care Hours

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of domiciliary care hours provided in each quarter of the last two years.

(AQW 4137/11)

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

Emergency Admissions of Older People to Hospital

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for an estimate of the number of emergency admissions of older people to hospital in each of the last two years; and the resultant costs.

(AQW 4138/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: During 2008/09 there were 62,933 emergency admissions for people aged 65 and over with an estimated resultant cost of £215m. In 2009/10 there were 62,581 emergency admissions for older people; the cost of which is not currently available.

Cost to the Health Service of Patient Care

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the average annual cost to the Health Service of a patient in a care home place compared to the cost of a patient being cared for in their home.

(AQW 4139/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: It is not possible to compare accurately the average cost of a residential or nursing home place with an average domiciliary care package. An average residential or nursing home place, with care available 24 hours a day 7 days a week, is much more intensive than an average domiciliary care package of 10.1 hours per week.

While it is often the case that supporting people at home is more cost effective, and we are providing more domiciliary care than in previous years, there is a point at which a person’s needs can be so great that domiciliary care can be more expensive than residential or nursing home care. In fulfilling its duty to ensure good quality care that represents best value, the HSC will take cost along with a number of additional factors such as the safety of the service user and the care worker, and the pressure on the service user’s family, into account in determining with the service user where assessed needs can best be met.

Foetal Alcohol Syndrome

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the prevalance, consequences and costs of Foetal Alcohol Syndrome and whether he will make a statement on this issue.

(AQW 4141/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Foetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) is an umbrella term describing the range of effects that can occur in an individual whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy. All pregnant women are informed of the Chief Medical Officer’s advice that they should avoid drinking alcohol. If they do choose to drink, they should not drink more than 1 to 2 units of alcohol once or twice a week and should not get drunk.

One of the most severe effects of drinking during pregnancy is Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Only a small minority of pregnant women with alcohol problems have babies with FAS. FAS is a difficult condition to diagnose because of the wide range of symptoms with which it can present. People with FAS may have problems with learning, memory, attention span, communication, vision, hearing, or a combination of these. FAS is a permanent condition, affecting every aspect of an individual’s life and the lives of their family. Individuals suffering from this disorder may require access to a range of services. While there are no dedicated services for people with FAS, their management will be tailored to their individual needs and circumstances, the severity of their condition and their responsiveness to interventions.

There is no current estimate of its prevalence in Northern Ireland; this makes it impossible to identify related costs.

Domiciliary Care

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the average cost per hour of domiciliary care in each Health and Social Care Trust.

(AQW 4145/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The average cost per hour of domiciliary care in each Health and Social Care Trust for the financial year 2009/10 was as follows:

Men’s Advisory Project

Ms D Purvis asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 2866/11, whether he will guarantee funding beyond March 2011 for the Men’s Advisory Project, which he has indicated provides key services for male victims of domestic violence.

(AQW 4155/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Domestic violence is a cross-departmental issue which DHSSPS and DOJ jointly lead on. My Department provided one off funding for the Men’s Advisory Project for a three year period ceasing in March this year. Funding was agreed as the work of the Organisation was complimentary to the aims of objectives of the “Tackling Violence at Home Strategy” in helping address the needs of male victims. It is however not within the remit of my Department to directly fund local health and social care services, rather it is the role of the Health and Social Care Board to commission services across the five Health and Social Care Trust Areas. I understand that the Men’s Advisory Project have made representations to the Regional Health and Social Care Board and informed the Trusts of its position. In the interim my Department is providing funding to end of June 2011 to allow future commissioning arrangements to be put in place.

Fire and Rescue Service

Mr S Moutray asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety on how many occasions between 1 December 2010 and 31 January 2011 authorisation was given for Fire and Rescue Service personnel and vehicles to attend a domestic property to fill a header tank.

(AQW 4171/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service attended one domestic property to augment water supplies between 1 December 2010 and 31 January 2011.

Swine Flu

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many people were admitted to hospital with swine flu in each week since 29 November 2010.

(AQW 4177/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Information on the number of people that were admitted to hospital with swine flu in each week since 29 November 2010 is not available.

Downe Hospital

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, in light of the statement by Medical Practitioners on their readiness to apply for middle-grade doctor posts in the Downe Hospital and the recruitment difficulties experienced by the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, whether he will suspend his decision of 5 February 2011 regarding GP out-of-hours cover of the Downe Hospital's accident and emergency services.

(AQW 4291/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I am not aware of medical practitioners having issued a statement to this effect; a single doctor made a claim in a radio interview that he and his colleagues were not aware of vacancies at the Downe.

In June 2010 and again in October 2010 the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust advertised widely to recruit middle grade doctors for the Downe Hospital emergency department. The Trust advertised in the Belfast Telegraph, The Irish News, The British Medical Journal and the Sunday Independent. The Trust has also previously used the services of medical recruitment agencies in order to identify suitable candidates. The response to these efforts was poor. It is difficult to see what other reasonable steps the Trust could have taken to fill these vacancies. I am content therefore that the Trust continues to take forward the changes, which are intended to deliver a sustainable service at the Downe Hospital.

Royal Victoria Hospital's School of Dentistry

Mr W Clarke asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, in relation to the recent oral medicine incident at the Royal Victoria Hospital's School of Dentistry (i) how many consultants or dentists reviewed the 3000 cases in question throughout 2010; (ii) how long did it take the consultants or dentists to review these cases; (iii) how much was spent on paying for the consultants or dentists to review the cases; and (iv) who took the decision to undertake this review.

(AQW 4353/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety:

• Two senior consultants.
• The review began in January 2010 and was completed on 4 November 2010 (10 months).
• Between 4 December 2009 and 19 February 2010 there were 2.5 PAs (programmed activity) per week in total. From 22 February 2010 the total was 8.5 PAs per week. The average payment a senior consultant would receive for a PA for one week is between £218 and £261. The difference relates to the allowances they would receive with the £218 per week being the minimum payable (i.e. no allowances) and the £261 per week being the maximum payable (i.e. maximum allowances).
• The Medical Director of Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.

Hospital Admissions

Mr S Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what progress has been made in relation to the reduction of unplanned hospital admissions for individuals with chronic illnesses.

(AQO 1040/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: In recent years much has been done to improve care and support for people with long term conditions in the community and thereby reduce unplanned hospital admissions including:

• the development of pro-active case management for people with complex chronic conditions;
  • the use of self management programmes to support people in managing their own conditions;
• the deployment of more specialist nurses and multi-disciplinary teams within the primary care sector;
• a number of pilot programmes to develop the use of assistive technology and remote monitoring of vital signs;
• the development of care pathways;
• better medicines management services ; and
• domiciliary care packages enabling people to live independently.

To support all of this, later this month I intend to launch, for public consultation, a Policy Framework to support people living with long term conditions in Northern Ireland.

Belfast Health and Social Care Trust: Regional Services

Mr F Molloy asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety why regional services located within the Belfast Trust, such as the provision of Cystic Fibrosis care, are subject to alteration without prior Ministerial approval.

(AQO 1041/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The refurbishment of Allen Ward in the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children was not a change to the provision of service, but was an upgrade of the facilities.

Due to the timescale involved, the Belfast Trust drew up plans for the refurbishment of the ward and informed stakeholders of the plans; however, as a result of public interest in the refurbishment, the Trust has now agreed that in the future, stakeholders will be more fully involved in the development of plans for refurbishments.

It would not be practical for me to approve every plan for refurbishment in the Belfast Trust or any other Trust. Where there are major or controversial changes being made to services then of course the Trusts will seek my approval of those changes but this was not the case in the refurbishment of Allen Ward.

Muscular Dystrophy

Lord Browne asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for an update on the position in relation to the provision of care and advice for patients suffering from Muscular Dystrophy.

(AQO 1042/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Health and Social Care Board and the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust have been working closely together to provide appropriate continued support for specialist neurology services in 2011–12 and beyond. In addition, work is underway to develop the Northern Ireland Neurological Conditions Network, to help ensure the best possible outcomes for people with long-term neurological conditions. Also, I am pleased to confirm that the necessary recurrent funding has been secured to ensure the Muscular Dystrophy Regional Care Advisor post is consolidated within the Belfast Trust staffing compliment.

Muscular Dystrophy: Care Adviser

Mr T Lunn asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline his long-term funding plans for the Muscular Dystrophy Care Advisor post.

(AQO 1043/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Health and Social Care Board and the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust have been working closely together to provide appropriate continued support for specialist neurology services in 2011–12 and beyond. In addition, work is underway to develop the Northern Ireland Neurological Conditions Network, to help ensure the best possible outcomes for people with long-term neurological conditions. Also, I am pleased to confirm that the necessary recurrent funding has been secured to ensure the Muscular Dystrophy Regional Care Advisor post is consolidated within the Belfast Trust staffing compliment.

Health: North/South Feasibility Study

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety why the recommendations of the North South Feasibility Study on health and social services have not been implemented.

(AQO 1044/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I was not persuaded to progress the feasibility study further because I do not believe, in light of the resource constraints upon my Department and the health service, that this is the time to commit new or additional resources or to create new bureaucratic structures to support north south working.

Minister Harney, the then Minister for Health and Children, and I agreed that the report should not be progressed further at this time but that our departments should continue to work together, as they have done over the period since devolution, on practical and deliverable projects which have clear, defined benefits for people in each jurisdiction.

Areas of ongoing collaboration include – radiotherapy services, paediatric cardiac surgery services, child protection and suicide prevention.

Public Health Agency

Mr S Gardiner asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for his assessment of the role that the community and voluntary sector plays in helping the Public Health Agency to meet its objectives.

(AQO 1045/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The community and voluntary sectors are of critical importance to the PHA in terms of improving health and well-being and delivering support on the ground. Community engagement is a central element of how the PHA conducts its business and it has therefore invested significantly in supporting communities and building capacity at a local level to ensure active participation and engagement in promoting positive health and wellbeing and tackling health inequalities.

The PHA currently funds over 600 projects being taken forward by community and voluntary organisations.

Budget 2011-15: Job Losses

Mr P Frew asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for an update on the 4000 jobs that could be lost as a result of the draft Budget 2011-15 and whether the losses would be achieved through natural wastage or redundancies.

(AQO 1046/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: Health Trusts are already operating stringent vacancy controls. This year alone, 1,500 posts are being held empty. They are being held empty because in 2010/11 the Executive chose to cut my budget by £113.5m and then another £16.6m as a result of swine flu.

And t here have already been redundancies. I have been running a voluntary severance programme for RPA and CSR.

If nothing changes in the budget, those 1,500 posts will disappear completely. The 4,000 figure is a conservative estimate of a redundancies figure over and above that.

The equation is simple – if you want to staff the health service properly you need to be prepared to pay for that.

Causeway Hospital: Accident and Emergency

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline how he proposes to secure the future of the accident and emergency facility at the Causeway Hospital, Coleraine.

(AQO 1047/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: I am aware there has been a lot of public concern about the provision of acute services at the Causeway Hospital. Having visited the hospital recently, I again, would like to take this opportunity to reassure the community that there are no plans to change Accident and Emergency services at the Causeway Hospital, indeed steps have been taken to sustain services on a 24 hour, 7 day week basis.

For the Northern Trust area, that means acute services, including Accident and Emergency, will be provided at Antrim Area Hospital and Causeway Hospital with two smaller hospital, the Mid Ulster and Whiteabbey acting as local hospitals with Minor Injuries Units.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Mr A Maskey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety whether his Department is conducting any research to advance the drug treatments available to those suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.

(AQO 1048/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: My Department is not conducting any such research. However clinicians in the health and social care sector in Northern Ireland are involved in studies on other aspects of improving care and support for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

Drugs for Alzheimer’s disease are available for those who are assessed as needing them. Unlike England, I have not restricted access to these drugs.

Northern Health and Social care Trust: Home Care

Mr G Campbell asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what level of funding was allocated to Home Care Services in the Northern Health and Social Care Trust in each of the last three financial years.

(AQO 1049/11)

Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety: The Northern Health and Social Care Trust spend on home care services over the last 3 financial years are as follows;

The total spent on all aspects of domiciliary care for 09/10, across the HSC, (latest figures available) would be approximately £200million pounds. However waiting lists still persist for home care services. If sufficient investment is not made in our health and social care system, I will not be able to meet the need for services. This is why current draft budget proposals cannot stay as they are.

Department of Justice

Attacks Against Fixed Speed Cameras

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Justice to detail (i) the number of (a) recorded offences; and (b) convictions for attacks against fixed speed cameras in each of the last five years; and (ii) the cost of repairing or replacing these cameras, broken down by policing district.

(AQW 3991/11)

Minister of Justice (Mr D Ford): There was one arson attack in 2008 and a number of other minor vandalism attacks on the Saintfield Road camera. There have been no direct costs incurred as a result of this vandalism, and any minor remedies required have been carried out under the ongoing contracted maintenance programme of works.

The information on convictions is not available. Court conviction data do not contain background information in relation to offences committed and, it is therefore not possible to separate out the number of convictions for damage of a fixed speed camera from other criminal damage offences.

Drug Testing Equipment

Mr P Givan asked the Minister of Justice for his assessment of the value for money and effectiveness of the new drug testing equipment for the Prison Service.

(AQW 4028/11)

Minister of Justice : Mandatory Drug Testing was introduced on 4 October 2010. As part of this, oral swab testing was introduced as an alternative to urine testing. The scheme was piloted over a three month period which ended in January 2011. The results of this pilot are still being collated and assessed, and a report on the scheme’s effectiveness in assisting in the decision of drugs and alcohol misuse is due to be discussed by senior operational managers later this month.

Materials for Education, Recreation and Leisure in Prisons

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister of Justice to detail the cost of equipment and materials purchased by the Prison Service for (i) education; and (ii) recreation and leisure in each of the last three years.

(AQW 4063/11)

Minister of Justice : Table A below sets out the cost of equipment and materials purchased by the Prison Service for education in each of the last three years.

(i) Table A

Table B below sets out the cost of equipment and materials purchased by the Prison Service for recreation and leisure in each of the last three years

(ii) Table B

Dogs in Prisons

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister of Justice to detail the number of dogs in each prison and the cost of the upkeep of these animals in each of the last three years.

(AQW 4064/11)

Minister of Justice : Table A below sets out the number of dogs in each prison in each of the last three years.

(i) Table A

Table B below sets out the cost of the upkeep of these animals in each of the last three years.

Table B

The majority of costs for the upkeep of prison dogs are for the purchase of the dogs, dog training, vet bills, food, dog training products and replacement kennels.

Cost of Prisoners Obtaining Qualifications

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister of Justice to detail the cost of (i) tutors; (ii) examination fees; and (iii) other associated costs incurred for prisoners obtaining qualifications in each prison, in each of the last three years.

(AQW 4066/11)

• Minister of Justice : Table A below sets out the total salary costs of tutors involved in education delivery in each prison, in each of the last three years.

Table A

• Table B below sets out the examination fees paid in each prison, in each of the last three years.

Table B

• Table C below sets out associated costs incurred for equipment and materials required by education departments.

Table C

PSNI and Prison Service Staff: Drug Offences

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Justice how many (i) PSNI; and (ii) Prison Service staff have been (a) suspended; and (b) sacked for drug offences in each of the last five years.

(AQW 4088/11)

Minister of Justice : (i) With regards to Part (i) of your question, the conduct and discipline of police officers is a matter for the Chief Constable, who is accountable to the Northern Ireland Policing Board. I am committed to respecting the operational independence of the Chief Constable and the role of the Policing Board. You may therefore wish to direct your question to the PSNI.

(ii) In the last five years one member of Prison Service staff has been suspended for drugs offences. On 18 May 2009 the officer was suspended from duty on suspicion of handling and suspicion to supply drugs. He subsequently resigned from the Prison Service.

On 13 January 2010 he was sentenced to nine months imprisonment with a further nine months on licence for the offences of misfeasance in a public office and possession of a class A drug.

Prisoners who have been in Care

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister of Justice how many current (i) sentenced; and (ii) remand prisoners have been in care.

(AQW 4091/11)

Minister of Justice : The Northern Ireland Prison Service is unable to provide a response to the above question. The Service does not collate statistics or details with regards to prisoners who have previously been in care.

Oral Swab Testing

Mr P Givan asked the Minister of Justice for his assessment of the effectiveness of the new oral swab testing saliva kits for detecting drugs, particularly cannabis, compared to the previous method of taking a urine sample from prisoners.

(AQW 4241/11)

Minister of Justice : Oral swab testing as an alternative to urine testing, was introduced into all NIPS establishments as part of Mandatory Drug Testing in October 2010. The scheme was piloted and subject to a three month assessment which ended in January 2011. Results are still in the process of being collated and assessed. It is known that urine testing does allow a longer timeline for detection of cannabis (which can be up to a period of 28 days) in comparison to swab testing (which can be 24 – 36 Hours). The main benefit of the oral swabbing method is that a test can be carried out to give an immediate indication at “point of contact” and if showing positive can be followed up by a urine test in appropriate conditions.

A comprehensive assessment of effectiveness is due to be discussed later this month by the senior operational Managers.

Civil Partnership Ceremonies in Prison

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Justice (i) how many civil partnership ceremonies have taken place in each prison in each of the last three years; and (ii) how many of these were for spouses who were both in custody.

(AQW 4253/11)

Minister of Justice : No civil partnership ceremonies have taken place in any prison in Northern Ireland in the last three years.

Legal Aid Bill

Mr G Campbell asked the Minister of Justice to detail the legal aid bill in each of the last three years.

(AQW 4260/11)

Minister of Justice : Legal Aid Expenditure from 2007/08 – 2009/10

The Grant in Aid figures provided account for the administrative costs of running the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission.

Detecting Drugs in Prisoners

Mr P Givan asked the Minister of Justice to detail (i) the cost incurred by the Prison Service in developing the new system for detecting drugs in prisoners through oral swab testing kits; and (ii) what contractual commitments have been made in relation to this issue.

(AQW 4298/11)

Minister of Justice : ( i) There was no cost in developing the new system for detecting drugs in prisoners through oral swab testing as NIPS did not develop a bespoke system but has purchased an existing ‘system’ by way of normal procurement procedures.

(ii) The contract commenced on 1September 2009 and is to run for two years with extensions for a further two years. The contract is in two parts

(a) Oral swab testing (b) Urine testing. Urine testing is used in all establishments for detecting drugs in prisoners however in October 2010 oral swab testing was introduced as a pilot project to be evaluated over three months. The pilot project concluded last month and results are being considered.

Slaughtering Instruments

Lord Browne asked the Minister of Justice (i) to list examples of firearms, adapted or otherwise, that may be considered slaughtering instruments under the Firearms (NI) Order 2004; and (ii) to provide a definition, in practice, of a slaughtering instrument.

(AQW 4315/11)

Minister of Justice : (i) The Department does not maintain a list of items that meet the definition of “slaughtering instrument” contained in the Firearms ( Northern Ireland) Order 2004. Each application for a firearm certificate in respect of a “slaughtering instrument” is dealt with on an individual basis by the Chief Constable within the firearms licensing regulations.

(ii) The Firearms ( Northern Ireland) Order 2004 defines a slaughtering instrument “…as a firearm which is specially designed or adapted for the instantaneous slaughter of animals or the instantaneous stunning of animals with a view to slaughtering them”. There is no “in practice” definition.

UK-wide Operation Ore

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Justice how many people have been convicted in Northern Ireland as a result of the UK-wide Operation Ore.

(AQW 4316/11)

Minister of Justice : The information requested is not available. Court conviction data do not contain background information in relation to offences committed, and it is therefore not possible to give the number convicted as a result of a specific operation. If the Member would want any further information on the police operations he may wish to contact the Chief Constable.

Operation Mazurka

Lord Morrow asked the Minister of Justice how many people have been convicted as a result of Operation Mazurka.

(AQW 4332/11)

Minister of Justice : The information requested is not available. Court conviction data do not contain background information in relation to offences committed, and it is therefore not possible to give the number convicted as a result of a specific operation. If the Member would want any further information on the police operations he may wish to contact the Chief Constable.

Drugs Detection Policy in Prisons

Mr P Givan asked the Minister of Justice what consideration was given to the views of those with operational responsibility for implementing the drugs detection policy in prisons before the new oral swab system was introduced.

(AQW 4373/11)

Minister of Justice : Regular planning and information meetings were held over a two year period prior to the introduction of mandatory drug testing, and new point of contact test kits for urine and saliva. Operational staff were involved in regular meetings in all of the establishments and at Headquarters. All views expressed were fully considered and a two month internal consultation period was held before the new policy was introduced.

Indecent Chanting at Football Matches

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Justice, given that indecent chanting in not currently an offence, why he listed it as one of the offences which occurred at football matches in his answers to AQW 2703/11, AQW 2704/11 and AQW 2707/11.

(AQW 4425/11)

Minister of Justice : In answering these earlier Assembly Questions, I tried to be as helpful as possible in presenting the relevant information. The purpose of this was to show the frequency and breadth of incidents of misbehaviour that had occurred at sports matches in recent years. When I referred to ‘type of offence’ in the table I provided, I intended to include not only current offences, but also the main sport-related offences set out in the Justice Bill.

Department for Regional Development

Non-Executive Directors from the Board of NI Water

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister for Regional Development on what date (i) he decided to remove the Non-Executive Directors from the Board of NI Water; (ii) the Permanent Secretary sought permission to commence the recruitment process for new Non-Executive Directors; and (iii) he gave consent to begin this recruitment process.

(AQW 3899/11)

Minister for Regional Development (Mr C Murphy): (i) I decided to remove four of the Non-Executive Directors from the Board of Northern Ireland Water on 11 March 2010. (ii) & (iii) My Department provided me with a submission on 12 March 2010, including a draft Oral Statement which referred to the fact that the “Department [would be taking] action to appoint a number of new non-executive directors to the Board of NIW on an interim basis, pending the outcome of a full public appointments process.” I approved the submission the same day - thereby conveying my consent for officials to take whatever actions were necessary to begin the recruitment process.

Insurance for Reservoirs

Mr P Weir asked e Minister for Regional Development to detail (i) the total annual cost to his Department of providing insurance for (i) all the reservoirs under its control; (ii) the Lower Ballysallagh reservoir; and (iii) the Upper Ballysalagh reservoir.

(AQW 3920/11)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water that it considers the annual cost of insurance for reservoirs to be commercially sensitive information, the release of which may prejudice its ability to ensure best value for the public when renewing insurance cover.

Budget Plans for Translink

Mr A Easton asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline his budget plans for Translink in each of the next four years.

(AQW 3943/11)

Minister for Regional Development: The current draft revenue and capital budgets for Translink in each of the next four years are set out in the table below:

These figures are subject to change depending on the outcome of the public consultation on the draft budget.

Translink have started to formulate its own budgets and Corporate Plans for the next four years but clearly until final budgets are agreed this cannot be finalised.

These figures include the impact of the Budget 2010 Savings Delivery Plan, as detailed in ‘Draft Budget 2011-15: Spending and Saving Proposals within Department for Regional Development’ and available on the departments website.

Blue Badges for People with a Disability

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail any age restrictions which apply to the entitlement for blue badges for people with a disability.

(AQW 3962/11)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that c hildren under two years of age do not normally qualify for a badge on the basis that they may be carried or conveyed in a pushchair.

However, with effect from 1 April 2009, children under two may be issued with Blue Badges, if they have a disability due to a medical condition and need to travel with bulky equipment, or be close to a vehicle for emergency medical treatment.

Blue Badges issued under this amendment expire on the day after the child's 2nd birthday. The child then becomes eligible for a badge under the normal criteria.

A1 Dual Carriage-Way in the Dromore to Banbridge Areas

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail any reviews that have been carried out of the 60 mph limit on the stretch of the A1 dual carriage-way in the Dromore to Banbridge areas.

(AQW 3983/11)

Minister for Regional Development: The Member will be aware of the significant improvements carried out by my Department’s Roads Service to the A1 dual carriageway in the Banbridge and Dromore areas in recent years. Whilst this work has seen the introduction of four grade separated junctions on this route, informal reviews of the speed limits, carried out by the PSNI and officials from my Department, have concluded that, in the interests of road safety, the 60mph limit should at this time remain in place for those stretches to which it currently applies. This situation will be reviewed periodically as work progresses on the proposed A1 Junctions Phase 2 scheme.

Compensation

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to AQW 3243/11, in relation to his Department's position on offering compensation to households which were without water during the recent water shortage crisis, for his assessment of the fact that no amelioration or mitigation measures were provided to these households.

(AQW 3984/11)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water that an operation was mounted to provide supplies of water by alternative means. This included the distribution of over half a million litres of bottled water from distribution centres throughout the North, the deployment of 157 static tanks and bowsers from which water could be collected and the use of tankers. These mitigation measures were made possible by the support provided by many public sector and voluntary bodies. Furthermore, the Executive review of the response to the recent emergency, which will report at the end of February, will cover the issues you have raised.

Severity of Weather Conditions

Ms M Ritchie asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to AQW 3251/11, whether he intends to consider the impact of climate change and the advice from the Meteorological Office in relation to the severity of weather conditions during future winters.

(AQW 3985/11)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service will, as with all such significant weather events, examine the operational effectiveness of its response to this season’s snow and low temperatures and take on board any lessons learnt. I can confirm that this examination will include, amongst other considerations, the potential impact of climate change and the advice from the Meteorological Office in relation to the severity of weather conditions during future winters.

Ballymagorry Waste Water Treatment Works

Mr A Bresland asked the Minister for Regional Development what capacity is left at Ballymagorry Waste Water Treatment Works.

(AQW 3997/11)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) that Ballymagorry Wastewater Treatment Works is currently operating at full capacity and there is no scope for additional connections to the sewerage system in the area served by the Works.

Although the Works is approximately 50 years old, some investment a number of years ago has enabled NIW to maintain its compliance with the existing discharge consent set by the NI Environment Agency.

Procurement Breaches at Roads Service

Mr P McGlone asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail (i) how many procurement breaches were found at Roads Service by his Department's Internal Audit in (a) 2005/06; (b) 2006/07; (c) 2007/08; (d) 2008/09; (e) 2009/10; and (f) 2010/11 to date; (ii) when each of these breaches was confirmed; (iii) when and what action was taken in each instance; and (iv) to whom did internal audit report its findings.

(AQW 4014/11)

Minister for Regional Development: Please refer to my answer in respect of AQW 3897/11. The information provided regarding “the Department” also took account of its Executive Agency, Roads Service and so a response to AQW 4014/11 has previously been provided.

NI Water Capital Programmes

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development, for each of the last four years, to detail (i) his Department's calculation of the weighted average cost of capital and the associated depreciation for the parts of NI Water capital programmes that are financed by borrowing; (ii) the cost of borrowing to his Department on behalf of NI Water; and (iii) the amount which his Department expects to receive from NI Water in interest payments and capital payments.

(AQW 4048/11)

• Minister for Regional Development: During the Strategic Business Period (2007-08 to 2009/10) NI Water used a weighted average cost of capital (WACC) of 5.15% (an average for the 3 year period). The Utility Regulator, as part of its Price Control 2010 Final Determination, has recommended a WACC of 4.78% over the PC10 period (2010-11 to 2012-13). The figures for the associated depreciation for the parts of NI Water’s capital programmes that are financed by borrowing are not available as loans are issued on the basis of the value of capitalised works completed at the date of the Subscription Notice and are not related to individual assets.
• There is no cost of borrowing to my Department on behalf of NI Water.
• In the last 3 years (since the establishment of NI Water) the Department has received £9.7m, £17.9m and £26.9m in interest payments from NI Water. It expects to receive about £35m in total in this financial year. No capital repayments have yet been made by NI Water to the Department, as under the Instrument constituting £1,280,200,000 Fixed Coupon unsecured Loan Notes 2027 the Loan Notes will be redeemed on 31 March 2027.

NI Water: Jobs

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail (i) the current number of jobs within NI Water, and contractors engaged with NI Water, involved in carrying out capital works; and (ii) how many of these jobs will be lost as a result of reduced funding.

(AQW 4053/11)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) that (i) the number of employees directly involved in carrying out capital work is 119, and there are approximately a further 26 employees with some indirect involvement. The number of contractors working for NIW carrying out capital work in 2010/11 is 43.

(ii) The funding provision for NIW has still to be agreed with my Department and NIW is therefore not in a position, at this time, to be certain of the capital projects likely to be affected and any consequential affect on job losses.

Goldline Passengers

Mr Pól Callaghan asked the Minister for Regional Development, for the last 12 months, to detail the percentage of Goldline passengers that travelled on each of the following services (i) 218/219; (ii) 238/238A; (iii) 250/251; (iv) 212; and (v) 256.

(AQW 4095/11)

Minister for Regional Development: The attached table provides the information requested as provided by Translink.

Winter Gritting Policy

Mr P Weir asked the Minister for Regional Development whether his Department intends to review the winter gritting policy; and the reasons why this policy has not been updated since 2001.

(AQW 4101/11)

Minister for Regional Development: The current winter season has seen the longest uninterrupted sub-zero spell in the North since 1881 and this extreme weather pre sented a challenging test for Roads Service’s winter gritting policy. It is worth noting that the North was one of the few areas in these isles, and further afield, where the strategic road network was kept open at all times during the prolonged period of adverse weather, thus avoiding the economic damage experienced by other areas. This was achieved due to the effective management of the gritting operations carried out by Roads Service and application of its current policy of targeting the limited resources available for this service on the busier main through routes.

After all significant weather events, Roads Service examines the operational effectiveness of its response and takes on board any lessons learnt from here and other Road Authorities, to ensure our preparedness for winter weather. I can inform you that, following previous such exercises, Roads Service has updated its policy on a number of occasions since 2001, most recently in September 2010.

I can confirm that the current winter service policy operated by Roads Service has met its objectives during the recent adverse weather. In light of this outcome, coupled with the significant resources already deployed by Roads Service and the budget constraints that my Department is facing during the next four years, I currently have no plans to review the winter gritting policy .

Water Meters

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development whether he plans to instruct NI Water to stop installing water meters or if he intends to allow NI Water to continue, in order to keep open the option of water charging.

(AQW 4110/11)

Minister for Regional Development: Northern Ireland Water (NIW), under article 81 of the Water and Sewerage Services Order 2006, is required to make the fitting of a water meter a condition of its complying with a notice to connect a domestic property to the public water supply. The requirement relates to new and existing domestic properties obtaining first-time water services.

I advised the Assembly, in my statement of on 13 September 2010, that I intend to bring long term proposals concerning NIW’s status to the Executive in 2011.

Payments by NI Water to the Exchequer

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development to provide a table detailing the total payments made by NI Water to the Exchequer in each year since 2007, in the form of (i) tax; (ii) dividends: (iii) interest payments; (iv) repayment of loans; and (v) rates.

(AQW 4111/11)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) that it has interpreted the question as any payments to government departments in each year since 2007 as follows:

All amounts are exclusive of VAT.

Note 1 - NIW has paid no corporation tax since 2007 because the company is in a tax loss position due to substantial capital allowances on its fixed assets. NIW acts as a collector of PAYE, national insurance and construction industry scheme payments on behalf of HMRC. NIW is in a net repayment position in respect of VAT (it receives a refund of VAT in respect of the difference between its input VAT and output VAT).

Note 2 – Payments to the Department for Regional Development.

Note 3 – Payments to the Department of Finance and Personnel.

NI Water: Efficiency Gap Between the Water Industry in Scotland

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development for an estimate of (i) the efficiency gap between NI Water and the publicly-owned water industry in Scotland in 2009/10; and (ii) the cost of this gap to public expenditure.

(AQW 4113/11)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) that the Utility Regulator (UR) is required to set efficiency targets for NIW. To do this the UR has developed a relative efficiency methodology which is based on that used by OFWAT, and benchmarks NIW against comparator companies in England and Wales (E&W). The methodology uses econometric analysis of both financial and non financial data submitted by the companies each year. This econometric analysis allows the UR and NIW to measure the gap between NIW and the ‘frontier’ company in E&W. The datasets necessary to allow this analysis to be carried out for 2009/10 have not yet been released by OFWAT, however, the analysis has been completed by UR and NIW for the years up to and including 2008/09.

In their Cost and Performance Report 2007-10 the UR calculated the operating cost efficiency gap as follows:

NIW is projecting that the gap to the E&W frontier company might close over the remainder of the PC10 period, to approx 25% by the end of 2012-13.

As Scottish Water (SW) does not form part of the group of comparator companies used by UR. NIW is unable to use this analysis to assess the gap between NIW and SW. However, the Water Industry Commissioner for Scotland (WICS) – the SW regulator, uses similar analysis to assess the efficiency gap between SW and E&W comparators. The most recent published data available from WICS indicates that there was a 10% operating cost efficiency gap between SW and the upper quartile of the most efficient E&W comparator companies in 2007/08. NIW estimates that SW was approximately 12% less efficient than the frontier benchmark in 2007/08.

(ii) the cost of this gap to public expenditure

NIW estimate that SW was approximately 12% less efficient than the frontier E&W company in 2007/08. The UR calculated that NIW was 43% less efficient than the frontier company in 2008/09. Using the URs 2008/09 analysis (the most recent year in which a complete dataset for analysis was available) and assuming the SW gap to the E&W frontier remains at 12%, NIW estimate that in order to reduce its efficiency gap to 12% it would have to reduce its modelled operating costs by £48.3m. It is worth noting that the PC10 Final Determination requires NIW to reduce its operating costs by £40.6m (in 2008/09 prices) between 2008/09 and 2012/13.

NIW has advised that in delivery of its capital programme for the 3 year Strategic Business Plan from 2007/08 to 2009/10, it delivered the required outputs within the budget allocated. NIW therefore achieved the target capital efficiencies that were applied to the budget. These varied from year to year in the Strategic Business Plan but aggregated to approximately 10% (£70M) for the full 3 year period.

NI Water: Discussions with the Treasury

Lord Empey asked the Minister for Regional Development what discussions he has had with the Treasury in relation to the future of NI water in the last 12 months; (ii) the outcome of any such discussions; and (iii) whether any provision has been made in the Budget 2011-2015 for liability arising from demands from the Treasury for VAT or capital depreciation.

(AQW 4127/11)

Minister for Regional Development: (i) & (ii) In line with agreed conventions I have had no discussions with the Treasury in relation to the future of Northern Ireland Water in the last 12 months. (iii) While capital depreciation is included in the Budget 2011-2015, no provision has been made for liability arising from demands from the Treasury for VAT.

A8 Road

Mr D Kinahan asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the number of cars which travelled on the A8 through Ballynure in each month of 2010.

(AQW 4128/11)

Minister for Regional Development: My Department’s Roads Service has advised that it collects data from approximately 300 automatic traffic census sites located throughout the North’s road network. For the A8 at Ballynure, data is collected at the traffic census point at Craiginorne.

Roads Service classifies vehicles using the DoENI5 system of classification, in which cars, cars towing trailers and light vans are classified as Class 1. The average daily traffic flows for Class 1 vehicles, for each month of 2010, are detailed in the table below:

Chair of NI Water

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail (i) when exactly he became aware of Philip Holder having applied for the position of the Chair of NI Water; and (ii) whether he informed the First Minister or deputy First Minister of a potential risk of conflict of interest.

(AQW 4130/11)

Minister for Regional Development: (i) I became aware of Philip Holder having applied for the position of the Chair of NIW on 21 May 2010. (ii) Yes, I recently wrote to the First Minister and deputy First Minister to advise them accordingly.

Cost and Performance Report 2007-10 – An assessment of NI Water’s cost and performance (Dec 2010) Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation

NI Water and Water Service

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the capital investment, with an estimated life of five years or more, and the amount borrowed each year, by (i) NI Water; and (ii) Water Service in each financial year since 2004/05.

(AQW 4143/11)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) that the following table provides the information requested.

The borrowings by Water Service were in respect of loans inherited on its formation from local councils in 1973. They were fully repaid in 2005/06. Funding Water Service’s capital investment programme was mainly provided through Vote income.

All amounts are expressed exclusive of VAT.

The borrowings by NIW at each year end include £150 million initial loan from my Department on the formation of the company on 1 April 2007. All borrowings in NIW relate to the £1,280,200,000.00 fixed coupon unsecured loan note instrument 2027 in accordance with which NIW issues loan notes to my Department.

Bottled Water from Scotland

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister for Regional Development how many bottles of water were received from Scotland during the water crisis; and how many bottles from this consignment are now in storage.

(AQW 4158/11)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water that the number of bottles of water received from Scotland during the freeze/thaw incident and the number now in storage, is as detailed in the table below.

Document Production

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail (i) the cost of leaflets and other glossy "public facing" documentation produced by his Department in each of the last three years; (ii) the total value of the contracts for this documentation which was procured through tender; and (iii) the value of the contracts which were awarded to a Scottish firm withoutconsidering local firms through existing DRD frameworks.

(AQW 4159/11)

Minister for Regional Development: The following table sets out the expenditure by my Department in each of the last three years on leaflets and other glossy “public facing” documentation and how the work was commissioned. The major proportion of the expenditure was incurred on contracts procured through tenders or quotations conducted in accordance with public procurement policy. The remainder related to work commissioned in-house through the Department of Finance and Personnel’s Central Print Unit.

No contracts were awarded to a Scottish firm.

Employees of Water Service and NI Water

Mr J Dallat asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the wage and salary cost of (i) full-time employees; and (ii) part-time employees, including agency workers, temporary staff, consultants and fixed term appointments, in (a) the Water Service; and (b) NI Water in each year from 2005 to 2009.

(AQW 4160/11)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) that the following table provides the information requested.

The formation of NIW required the creation of a new pension scheme, which has to be fully funded by NIW, contributed to the increase in salaries and wages from 2007/08 onwards.

Water Consumption

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development to state what the reduction in water consumption would be if every toilet was replaced by a dual flush toilet.

(AQW 4162/11)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) that it is not possible to accurately calculate total potential water savings given the variables of the different sizes of cisterns commonly in use at different periods of time, the makeup of the housing stock and the flushing habits of users.

Toilet flushing accounts for about 30% of the total water used in a household. An old style single flush toilet, ie pre-2001, can use between 9 - 13 litres of water in one flush (although volumes vary depending on age and manufacturer) whereas the new, more water efficient dual-flush toilets installed since 2001, use only six litres for a full flush and three litres with a reduced flush. It is estimated that on average a household toilet flushes 5,000 times per year, so dual flush toilets would save a minimum of 15,000 litres per toilet. Cistern displacement bags (hippo bags) which are available on request from NIW save approximately 3 litres per flush. These are suitable for cisterns of 9 litres and above. NIW actively promotes water conservation and during its 2010 Water Efficiency and Education Programme it distributed over 2,000 hippo bags.   

NI Water

Mr C McDevitt asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the total amount which NI Water has paid in tax in each year since 2007; and how much it's predecessor paid in tax in the three years before his tenure as Regional Development Minister.

(AQW 4164/11)

Minister for Regional Development: I have been advised by Northern Ireland Water (NIW) that it has paid no corporation tax since 2007 because the company is in a tax loss position due to substantial capital allowances on its fixed assets.