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Monday 31 January 2000 Wildlife Habitats Mr Dallat asked the Minister of the Environment if he has plans to offer added legal protection to the natural habitats of wildlife, including bogs, wetlands and woods. (AQW 187/99) The Minister of the Environment (Mr Foster): My Department is currently finalising the list of candidate special areas of conservation under the EC Habitats directive and recently designated 11 special protection areas under the EC birds directive. Officials are also considering the need for other measures in the context of developments elsewhere in the United Kingdom and in the European Union. When I see the outcome of this work I may wish to seek the views of interested parties in deciding the way forward. Local Government Review Mr A Doherty asked the Minister of the Environment to state his intentions regarding a review of local government organisation and structures. (AQW 189/99) Mr Foster: A review of local government would need to be part of a wider review of the future of the whole public sector in Northern Ireland. This will be a matter for further consideration by the ministerial Executive and the Assembly in due course. Incineration of Waste Ms Lewsley asked the Minister of the Environment what criteria are to be applied when considering any application for a proposed incinerator for the disposal of meat-and-bone meal and tallow at Glenavy. (AQW 190/99) Mr Foster: Anyone wishing to operate an incinerator of this nature will require a pollution control authorisation issued by the chief industrial pollution inspector of the Environment and Heritage Service, as well as planning permission. The operator will need to demonstrate that the most appropriate techniques for pollution control are being applied and that the environmental impact of the proposal is acceptable. National guidance has been produced for combustion of meat-and-bone meal covering both emissions from the process and requirements for ash testing to demonstrate complete destruction of material. This guidance will be used in Northern Ireland. A European directive on the incineration of waste is now in its final stages of development. The chief inspector will take the proposed requirements of the directive into account in considering any new application. Finally, as part of the determination process, the chief inspector will consult a range of other bodies, including the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and the relevant district council. The consultation responses will be considered in reaching a decision on the final set of requirements to be placed on any authorisation. Road Safety Mr Dallat asked the Minister of the Environment whether he intends to put forward recommendations on the future role of the Road Safety Council and other bodies connected with road safety. (AQW 193/99) Mr Foster: I have no plans to do so. Organisations which are sponsored by Government Departments are subject to regular review. The activities of the Road Safety Council of Northern Ireland, its affiliated committees and the road safety work of the Belfast office of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents were reviewed in 1996 by the British Institute of Traffic Education Research. The Department has implemented a number of the institute’s recommendations aimed at improving the efficiency and effectiveness of these organisations. Grants to Local Authorities Mr Shannon asked the Minister of the Environment whether, as a result of the difficulties caused by the distribution of grants to local authorities, he will make a statement. (AQW 220/99) Mr Foster: The problem with the distribution of the general exchequer grant was due to an error in the methodology for determining the penny product figures which are provided by the Rate Collection Agency. This information is incorporated in the statutory formula for allocating the grant. District councils have now been informed of the revised provisional grant factors for next year. Planning Applications Mr Shannon asked the Minister of the Environment to review the current backlog of planning applications currently lying with the Planning Service, what proposals he might have to address the problem, and if he will make a statement. (AQW 221/99) Mr Foster: Planning Service staff are working outside normal hours in an attempt to reduce the current backlog. In addition, a new computer system supporting the development control process is at an advanced stage of implementation and is expected to improve efficiency as the year progresses. Additional resources were made available to the Planning Service in late 1999 and are being used to centralise the processing of major applications that represent significant investment in the local economy. This should also benefit the processing of more routine applications at divisional planning office level. However, I do not anticipate that these efforts will be enough to eliminate the backlog and cope with the rising number of planning applications. I will therefore be seeking additional resources for the Planning Service in 2000-01. Regional Rate Mr McCarthy asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel if he will agree that an above-inflation increase in the regional rate is a form of progressive taxation. (AQO 118/99) The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr Durkan): Above-inflation increases ensure that the rate burden keeps pace with or even exceeds increases in household income and wealth and therefore reinforces the existing incidence of the regional rate burden. It also ensures that adequate funding is available for the public expenditure plans. The incidence of the regional rate — who ultimately pays it — and whether it is progressive in nature is a complex issue. When the Layfield Committee (UK, 1976) examined the incidence of net rates — that is, when rate rebates were taken into account — their conclusion was that rates became more progressive in the lower half of the income distribution, proportional for middle incomes, and regressive in the higher part of the income distribution. The fairness of the rate burden is something which we will need to examine as part of any review of the rating system. European Union Programmes Mr B Bell asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel if he will ensure that the current European structural funds programmes will give priority to economic growth. (AQO 133/99) Mr Durkan: This is likely to be the last significant tranche of structural funds support which Northern Ireland will receive, and it is essential that the new programmes take full advantage of the opportunities created by peace to help to develop a modern, self-sustaining regional economy for the lasting benefit of all the people. Anti-Poverty Programmes: Finance Mrs Nelis asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel how much of his budget will be directed at assisting agencies involved in anti-poverty programmes. (AQO 196/99) Mr Durkan: Detailed distribution of budgets to anti-poverty programmes is the responsibility of each Department. In the Department of Finance and Personnel there is no such programme. However, I see my Department’s main role as helping Departments to develop the methodologies, indicators and measures which can make targeting, appraisal and evaluation of programmes and use of resources more effective. Health, Social Services and Public Safety Occupational Therapists Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many occupational therapists are now in post to serve the residents of East Antrim, and to indicate the current waiting times experienced by new patients between initial referral and actual assessment and what action she will take to reduce delays. (AQW 53/99) The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): There are 10·9 WTE occupational therapy staff in Homefirst Community Trust serving East Antrim. A further 1·5 WTE staff are being appointed. Current waiting times for assessment are: up to 10 working days for priority cases; and a minimum of three months for non-priority cases. The trust has agreed a strategy to target, by June 2000, clients waiting six months or more. As increasing demand for housing adaptation assessments is a particular pressure for the occupational therapy service, officials in my Department and in the Housing Executive are exploring the practicalities of carrying out a regional review of the housing adaptations service, to be undertaken jointly by the two organisations. Tá 10·9 ball foirne teiripe saothair CLA in Iontaobhas Pobail Homefirst atá ag freastal ar Aontroim Thoir. Tá 1·5 ball foirne CLA breise á gceapadh. Is iad na hamanna feithimh le haghaidh measúnaithe faoi láthair ná suas le 10 lá oibre do chásanna tosaíochta agus íosmhéid 3 mhí do chásanna neamhthosaíochta. Tá an tIontaobhas i ndiaidh comhaontú ar straitéis le díriú, faoi Mheitheamh 2000, ar na cliaint atá ag feitheamh le 6 mhí nó níos mó. Ó tharla go bhfuil brú ar leith ar an tseirbhís TS de bharr an éilimh atá ag méadú ar mheasúnuithe le haghaidh oiriúnuithe tithíochta, tá oifigigh i mo Roinn agus san Fheidhmeannas Tithíochta ag iniúchadh cé chomh praiticiúil agus a bheadh sé an dá eagraíocht a thabhairt i gcomhar le chéile faoi athbhreithniú ar an tseirbhís oiriúnuithe tithíochta. Whiteabbey Hospital Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what steps she will take to reduce the six- to seven-hour waiting period for patients presenting to the accident and emergency department at Whiteabbey Hospital. (AQW 54/99) Ms de Brún: Figures supplied by United Hospitals Trust, which manages Whiteabbey Hospital, indicate that the vast majority of patients attending the accident and emergency department at Whiteabbey are being seen and attended to within a reasonable time. During the period 1 July 1999 to 31 December 1999 there was a total of 13,402 new attendances. Of these, 98% were assessed by a triage nurse within five minutes of arrival. The figures also show that 97% of those attending accident and emergencies were treated in under three hours, and 99% in under four hours. I regard this as a very acceptable level of performance, particularly as the number of patients attending Whiteabbey’s accident and emergency department in December 1999 rose by 20% over the same period in the previous year. Tugtar le fios sna figiúirí a sholáthair United Hospitals Trust, atá i mbun bhainistíocht Ospidéal na Mainistreach Finne, go bhfuiltear ag amharc agus ag cur cóireála taobh istigh d’achar réasúnta ama ar mhórthromlach na n-othar a thagann chuig an roinn Timpistí agus Éigeandála sa Mhainistir Fhionn. Le linn na tréimhse ó 1 Iúil 1999 go 31 Nollaig 1999, d’fhreastail líon iomlán de 13,402 othar úr ar an roinn seo. Rinne banaltra triage 98% díobh a mheas taobh istigh de 5 nóiméad i ndiaidh dóibh an áit a shroicheadh. Taispeánann na figiúirí fosta gur cuireadh cóireáil i níos lú ná 3 uair an chloig ar 97% díobh sin a d’fhreastail ar T&É; agus ar 99% i níos lú ná 4 uair an chloig. Measaim féin gur leibhéal éifeachtachta iontach soghlactha é seo, go háirithe agus ardú 20% tagtha ar an líon othar a d’fhreastail ar roinn TUÉ na Mainistreach Finne i Nollaig 1999 i gcomparáid leis an tréimhse chéanna an bhliain roimhe sin. Whiteabbey Hospital: Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what positive progress has been made in providing the residents of the rapidly expanding area of East Antrim with a level of Health Service provision acceptable in the twenty-first century, based at Whiteabbey Hospital, and if she will make a statement. (AQW 55/99) Ms de Brún: People living in East Antrim use a range of hospitals, including Whiteabbey Hospital, Antrim Area Hospital and the major Belfast hospitals. Following a review of acute hospital services within its area in 1998, the Northern Health and Social Services Board recommended changes to the pattern of acute and other hospital services. These envisaged Antrim becoming the focus for acute services in the southern part of the board’s area, with local hospital services, including day surgery, outpatient services and diagnostic facilities, being developed at Whiteabbey. I am at present considering how our hospital services can be developed in a way which ensures high-quality hospital care for all those who need it. In doing so, I am very aware of how important hospital services are to local communities in particular. Before any changes are made, therefore, I shall want to ensure that decisions about the future of such services are based on the fullest possible information. Bíonn raon d’ospidéil in úsáid ag daoine a chónaíonn in Aontroim Thoir, raon ar a bhfuil ospidéal na Mainistreach Finne, ospidéal Cheantar Aontroma agus na hospidéil mhóra i mBéal Feirste. I ndiaidh athbhreithnithe ar na géarsheirbhísí ospidéil taobh istigh dá cheantar i 1998, mhol Bord Seirbhísí Sláinte agus Sóisialta an Tuaiscirt go ndéanfaí athruithe ar an phatrún géarsheirbhísí agus seribhísí eile ospidéil. Bhí i gceist sna hathruithe seo go mbeadh Aontroim ina fhócas le haghaidh géarsheirbhísí sa chuid theas de cheantar an bhoird, le seirbhísí ospidéil áitiúla, ar a mbeadh ionad máinliachta lae, seribhísí d’othair sheachtracha agus áiseanna fáithmheasa, á bhforbairt ar an Mhainistir Fhionn. Faoi láthair, tá mé ag breathnú cad é mar is féidir ár seirbhísí ospidéil a fhorbairt i ndóigh a chinnteoidh cúram ardchaighdeáin ospidéil dóibh siúd uile a mbíonn sé de dhíth orthu. Agus mé á dhéanamh sin, is maith is eol dom cé chomh tábhachtach agus atá seirbhísí ospidéil do phobail áitiúla go háirithe. Sula ndéanfar aon athruithe, mar sin de, beidh mé ag iarraidth a chinntiú go mbeidh cinntí faoi thodhchaí a leithéid de sheirbhísí bunaithe ar eolas chomh hiomlán agus is féidir. NHS Direct Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if, given that modern telecommunications infrastructures exist in Northern Ireland, she can advise when the National Health Service Direct advice service will operate in this part of the United Kingdom to provide additional health advice. (AQW 115/99) Ms de Brún: I have no plans to introduce NHS Direct at present. However, my officials are currently examining the issue. In doing so, they will analyse the findings from a review of the operation of NHS Direct which is currently being carried out. The report of the review is due in the spring. Níl plean ar bith agam faoi láthair NHS Direct a thabhairt isteach. Mar sin féin, tá oifigigh s’agam ag scrúdú na ceiste faoi láthair. Agus iad á dhéanamh sin, déanfaidh siad iniúchadh ar an chinneadh ó athbhreithniú atá sa siúl faoi láthair ar oibriú NHS Direct. Táthar ag dréim le tuarascáil an athbhreithnithe san earrach. Acute and Maternity Services: Mrs Carson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if the centralisation of acute and maternity services contravenes the policy on social inclusion, as their removal affects the most vulnerable sections of the community, especially those who live in rural areas. (AQO 104/99) Ms de Brún: As I indicated earlier, I am at present considering how hospital services, including acute and maternity services, can best be developed so as to ensure that they are able to meet the needs of all our people. I have not yet reached any conclusions on the matter. In taking this work forward, however, I shall want to look in particular at the needs of rural communities and vulnerable groups in our society, as I am anxious to ensure that their needs are fully recognised in the decisions that are taken about the future shape of our hospital services. Mar a luaigh mé cheana, tá mé faoi láthair ag machnamh ar an dóigh ab fhearr le seirbhísí otharlainne, agus géarsheirbhísí agus seirbhísí máithreachais san áireamh, a fhorbairt le cinntiú go riarfaidh siad ar riachtanais ár muintire uilig. Nior chinn mé ar chomhairle go fóill ar an ábhar. Ach, agus mé ag tabhairt an ghnó chun tosaigh, beidh aird go háirithe agam ar riachtanais na bpobal tuaithe agus na ngrúpai so-ghonta sa tsochaí againn, nó is mór mo mhian a chinntiú go naithneofar a gcuid riachtanas sna socruithe a dhéanfar fá chruth feasta ár gcuid seirbhísí otharlainne. Health Service: Proposed Review Mr Kane asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to give details of her proposed review of the Health Service and if there will be a reassessment of the cost-effectiveness of health and social services trusts. (AQO 107/99) Ms de Brún: I have not yet decided whether to review the current structure and organisation of the health and social services, including trusts. I am giving the matter careful consideration, and I intend to seek the views of the public and of health and social services staff before reaching any conclusions on the matter. Níl cinneadh déanta agam go fóill cé acu athbhreithniú a dhéanamh nó gan é a dhéanamh ar struchtúr agus ar chúrsaí riaracháin seirbhísí sláinte, sóisialta agus ar na hiontaobhais comh maith. Tá mé ag déanamh machnamh cúramach ar an ábhar seo agus cuardóidh mé barúlacha an phobail agus barúlacha fhoireann na Roinne sula ndéanaim cinneadh ar bith ar na cúrsaí seo. Occupational Therapy Mr McMenamin asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what steps are being taken to reduce the waiting time for occupational therapists to visit homes in West Tyrone — in particular, Strabane. (AQO 108/99) Ms de Brún: Foyle Health and Social Services Trust appointed two temporary senior occupational therapists in September 1999 specifically to target its waiting lists. Sperrin Lakeland Health and Social Services Trust has provided an additional 0·5 WTE senior occupational therapist for the Omagh area. Tá beirt theiripí shinsearacha saothair ceaptha ag Iontaobhas SSS an Fheabhail i Meán Fómhair 1999, agus aird go háirithe acu ar na scuainí feithimh. Agus chuir Iontaobhas SSS Lochlann Shliabh Speirín 0·5 Coibhéisi Lánaimseartha (CLA) teiripí sinsearach saothair eile ar fáil i gceantar na hÓmaí. Punishment Beatings: Treatment (Cost) Mr Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what was the total cost to her Department, in each of the last five years, of treating the victims of punishment beatings. (AQO 112/99) Ms de Brún: The information is not readily available in the form requested. Information on spending by the NHS on victims of punishment beatings is not readily available and could only be obtained at a disproportionate cost to the service. Nil an t-eolas a iarradh san fhoirm infhaighte. Nil an caiteachas atá déanta ag an Roinn Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí ar íobartaigh buailte pionóis infhaighte ach ar chostais dhíréireacha a ghearradh ar an tSeirbhis. Department Advertising (Languages) Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to advise if she expects the cost of job and campaign advertising in her Department to double during the year 2000, given her decision to advertise in both English and Irish. (AQO 113/99) Ms de Brún: The Good Friday Agreement supports the facilitation and encouragement of the use of the Irish language in speech and writing in public and private life and the removal, where possible, of restrictions which would discourage or work against the maintenance or development of the language. The Agreement also makes provision for liaising with the Irish language community. There will be an increase in advertising and translation costs. However, at present it is difficult to estimate what this will be. I do not anticipate at the moment that costs will double. Tacaíonn Comhaontú Aoine an Chéasta le héascaíocht a dhéanamh d’úsáid na Gaeilge agus le Gaeilge labhartha agus scríofa sa saol poiblí agus príobháideach a spreagadh agus áit ar bith ar féidir bacanna a bheadh in éadan chaomhnú nó fhorbairt na teanga a ghlanadh. Cuirtear ar fáil sa Chomhaontú chomh maith foráil don teagmháil le pobal na Gaeilge. Beidh méadú ar chostais fógraíochta agus aistriúcháin agus cé gur deacair meastachán a dhéanamh ar an chostas amach anseo, beidh mé ag tnúth nach dhá oiread an chostais a bheas i gceist. Nurses (Health and Social Services) Mrs E Bell asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what action she intends to take to recruit, train and retain nurses in health and social services in Northern Ireland. (AQO 115/99) Ms de Brún: In the light of the difficulties evident in recent weeks I have asked for an urgent review of the number of places my Department commissions on the three-year diploma course at Queen’s University Belfast. I will then consider the case for increasing the planned number in the next academic year. I have also announced higher-than-inflation pay awards for nurses, with substantial awards for experienced people at grades C and E. Proposals to provide a better and more supportive environment for staff are currently being developed in conjunction with health and personal social services employer and trade union interests, and I hope to consult on these before too long. De dheasca na ndeacrachtaí a tháinig chun solais le roinnt seachtainí anuas, d’iarr mé athbhreithniú práinneach ar líon na n-áiteanna a choimisinaíonn an Roinn s’againn i dtaca le cúrsa Dioplóma 3 bliana ar Ollscoil na Banríona, Béal Feirste. Cíorfaidh mé an cás ansin do mhéadú ar an líon atá beartaithe don chéad bhliain acadúil eile. Thug mé le fios fosta dámhachtainí pá do bhanaltraí níos airde ná boilsciú agus dámhachtainí ollmhóra do bhanaltraí a bhfuil táthí acu atá ar ghrád C agus E. Táthar ag forbairt faoi láthair moltaí a chuirfeadh ar fáil timpeallacht ní b’fhearr tacaíochta don fhoireann i gcuideachta le fostóir HPSS agus le hábhair spéise ceardchumainn agus tá mé ag dúil le dul i mbun comhairle leo gan mhoill. Community Police Liaison Committees Ms Armitage asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she supports the participation of staff attached to her Department in community police liaison committees. (AQO 135/99) Ms de Brún: There are no restrictions in place on staff attached to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety participating in community police liaison committees. Níl aon srian ar bhaill foirne na Roinne Sláinte, Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus Sábháilteachta Poiblí i dtaca le bheith rannpháirteach i gcoistí idirchaidrimh póilíní pobail. Community Care Budget Mr Close asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to confirm that the community care budget will not be reduced to fund, in whole or in part, the pay increase to doctors and nurses. (AQO 181/99) Ms de Brún: This is one of the costs which health and social services bodies will have to meet within the overall resources available to them. The allocations which I will shortly make available to these bodies will include adequate provision for pay and price increases. I do not, therefore, anticipate the need for them to make any reduction in the community care budget to meet the pay increase to doctors and nurses. Seo ceann de na costais a chaithfidh na heagrais sláinte agus seirbhísi sóisialta a chlúdach istigh de na hachmhainní atá ar fáil dóibh. Beidh soláthair is sna suimeanna airgid a chuirfeas mé ar fáil do na heagrais seo le hardú praighis agus ardú pá a chlúdach. Ní fheicim go mba ghá dóibh, mar sin de, aon laghdú a dhéanamh ar bhuiséad scéim comhar na gcomharsan chun le teacht slán ar ardú pá na ndochtúirí agus na mbanaltraí. GP Out-of-Hours Scheme Mr Fee asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will initiate a comprehensive review of the out-of-hours general practitioner scheme. (AQO 182/99) Ms de Brún: I have no plans at present to review the general practitioner out-of-hours arrangements. Níl aon phleananna agam faoi láthair athbhreithneamh a dhéanamh ar na socruithe mar a bhaineas faoi láthair le seirbhís as uaireanta na ngnáthdhochtúirí. Higher and Further Education, Third-Level Education: Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to outline the composition of the student population in third-level institutions in Northern Ireland within higher and further education, in terms of the council area in which they originate. (AQW 170/99) The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Dr Farren): It is not possible to determine the council area from which Northern-Ireland-domiciled students at Northern Ireland higher education institutions originate. Data on postcode of home addresses are not currently available for students attending further education colleges. A2 Road (Warrenpoint Newcastle) Mr Bradley asked the Minister for Regional Development if he will produce a record of the reported accidents (fatal and non-fatal) for the last 10 years on the section of the A2 route between Warrenpoint and Newcastle and to make a statement on any proposed upgrading at that section of roadway. (AQW 148/99) The Minister for Regional Development (Mr P Robinson): The RUC is responsible for collating details of all personal-injury road accidents. I have requested the appropriate information and will advise the Member of the details in due course. I can, however, advise that the accident rate per million vehicle kilometres of travel for the Warrenpoint-to-Newcastle section of the A2 is less than the overall Northern Ireland average for all routes. As regards the upgrading of the route, subject to the successful acquisition of the necessary land, the Department’s Roads Service proposes to carry out an accident remedial scheme to improve the Quarter Road / A2 Glassdrumman Road junction in 2000-01. In addition, a minor-works scheme to realign the carriageway at Killowen chapel is programmed for 2001-02. |