Friday 22 September 2000
Written Answers to Questions

Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
Agriculture and Rural Development
Education
Environment
Finance and Personnel
Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment
Regional Development
Social Development
Assembly Commission

OFFICE OF FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister whether they are aware of the campaign for a "Sarah’s law" and what measures, if any, the Executive is taking to implement a programme that will effectively protect children from sex offenders.

(AQW 31/00)

Reply: We are aware of the campaign for the introduction of "Sarah’s law", which would give parents access to a register of sex offenders. Legislation in this area remains a reserved matter and is thus the responsibility of the Secretary of State.

In Northern Ireland a number of Departments are involved in the provision and documentation of guidance on dealing with sex offenders.

The Inter-Agency Sex Offender Steering Group has recently approved a manual of guidance on the assessment and management of risk of sex offenders. Implementation of the manual, which largely formalises procedures that are already in place, will be taken forward from next month.

The Department of Education has advised all schools to include in their pastoral care curriculum, self-protection programmes for pupils. Guidance on the content of these has been widely circulated. Further, the Departments of Education and of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, together with the Northern Ireland Office, are working with UK Government Departments and the other devolved administrations to introduce a reciprocal mechanism for preventing unsuitable people from working with children. This development is also being pursued with colleagues from the Departments of Education and of Science and Health in Dublin under the auspices of the North/South Ministerial Council education sectoral joint working group on child protection.

Dr Birnie asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to detail the staff complement of the Northern Ireland Economic Council, any current vacancies on the staff of that body and the planned process of recruitment.

(AQW 52/00)

Reply: The Northern Ireland Economic Council has a staff complement of nine. This consists of five professional staff and four administrative/ clerical staff.

Currently there are three professional staff in post, one on a career break and one post—that of the director —vacant. An existing member of staff is carrying out the duties of the director. The appointment of a new director will take place after a review of the council has been undertaken this year.

The filling of two administrative/clerical vacancies is currently in progress.

Mr McCarthy asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister what plans exist regarding the establishment of Executive subcommittees on cross- departmental issues.

(AQO 27/00)

Reply: The Executive Committee is established under section 20 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which states that the Executive Committee should consist of the First Minister, the Deputy First Minister and the Northern Ireland Ministers.

Paragraph 19 of strand one of the Belfast Agreement states that the Executive Committee will provide a forum for the discussion of, and agreement on, issues which cut across the responsibilities of two or more Ministers.

There is no specific provision for subcommittees in the legislation, but this would not preclude their being set up if that were deemed a more effective way of handling particular items of Executive business.

We recognise the need for Ministers to work cross- departmentally from time to time to ensure that policies are handled in a coherent strategic fashion. The Executive Committee has had one formal subcommittee on flags. It has also approved an interdepartmental subcommittee on drugs.

In the context of the Programme for Government, the Executive Committee will be examining how best to address cross-departmental issues.

Mr P Robinson asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to indicate the number of meetings of an official nature all Northern Ireland Ministers have had with Ministers in the Republic of Ireland.

(AQO 29/00)

Reply: In the two periods of devolved administration since 2 December 1999, there have been a total of 30 meetings of an official nature between Northern Ireland Ministers and Ministers from the Republic of Ireland. Of these, 14 were under the auspices of the North/South Ministerial Council, including the inaugural plenary that was held in Armagh in December 1999.

Mr Neeson asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister if a statement will be made on progress towards establishing a European office for Northern Ireland in Brussels.

(AQO 28/00)

Reply:The Executive Committee has agreed to set up an office of the Executive in Brussels, and work is proceeding on its establishment. The fitting out of the office premises will commence as soon as the normal procurement procedures for contracting work have been completed. The process of selecting the staff for the office is already under way. We expect the office to be functioning in about three months’ time.

The Office of the Executive will provide a European contact point for Ministers and their Departments. The staff of the office will be members of the UK permanent representation, who will have access to meetings and to a level of information which they would not otherwise have. Having separate premises will provide a focal point for Northern Ireland in Brussels, helping us to develop a distinct and positive profile within the EU.

Mr Poots asked the Office of the First Minister and the Deputy First Minister to provide details of the current religious composition of the Equality Commission.

(AQO 11/00)

Reply: The appointment of members of the Equality Commission is a reserved matter. The composition of the commission is therefore a matter for the Secretary of State.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what measures she has put in place to address the Northern Ireland audit report ‘The Rural Development Programme’ (NIA Office 19); and if she will make a statement.

(AQW 35/00)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): I welcome the breadth of the Northern Ireland Audit Office report on the rural development programme and recognise the importance of learning lessons from what has been done before and the value of the report in highlighting those lessons. The Department is addressing the main concerns identified by the Audit Office.

Following publication of the report, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Assembly has decided to take evidence from the departmental accounting officer at a hearing scheduled for 25 October 2000. After the hearing the PAC will produce a report with recommendations, which the Department will respond to. These recommendations will be taken fully into account in preparing for the next rural development programme, which will come on stream early in 2001.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she plans to implement any of the recommendations made by the Committee for Agriculture and Rural Development in its report ‘Retailing in Northern Ireland - A Fair Deal for Farmers’ (1/99/R); and if she will make a statement.

(AQW 53/00)

Ms Rodgers: This report contained recommendations directed at all links in the food marketing chain, as well as the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety and the Department of the Environment. With regard to those recommendations directed at my Department, I was pleased to be able to confirm in my reply to the Committee that in most cases DARD was already taking forward a range of initiatives aimed at addressing the underlying issues and concerns. Particular examples include our work in encouraging collaboration in the marketing of agricultural produce, the promotion of partnerships in the food chain, supporting marketing initiatives and quality assurance programmes, encouraging local sourcing and our significant research and development and technology transfer commitments.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education to outline what provisions are available at grammar schools for children with hearing impairment.

(AQW 43/00)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): Children with a hearing impairment are assessed following the five-stage approach of the special educational needs code of practice in the same way as children with any other form of learning difficulty, and where necessary a statement of special educational needs is made for them, setting out the special provision they require.

A number of hearing-impaired children attend mainstream schools (including grammar schools) and may have additional teaching from an education and library board peripatetic teacher of the hearing-impaired and/or the services of a classroom assistant, in accordance with the provision specified in their statement. Other children attend special education units for the hearing- impaired, attached to local primary and secondary schools and some attend Jordanstown Special School (for pupils with hearing or visual impairment), Newtownabbey. A few children attend special schools for the hearing- impaired in Great Britain or the Republic of Ireland, and some attend Mary Hare Grammar School for the Hearing Impaired, Newbury, Berkshire.

Over the next few months my Department, in conjunction with the education and library boards’ Special Educational Needs Regional Strategy Group, will be considering what other options might be possible for the more academically gifted hearing-impaired pupils. Without wishing to pre-empt these deliberations, I can say that the option of attendance at Mary Hare Grammar School will remain, where the board is satisfied that such a placement would best meet the pupil’s needs and be consistent with the efficient use of resources.

Mr M Murphy asked the Minister of the Environment how many roadside checks with regard to the enforcement of transport licensing will be carried out annually in respect of (a) goods vehicles, (b) taxis and (c) omnibuses.

(AQW 46/00)

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Foster): The Department carries out vehicle checks at the roadside, at the Department’s weighbridge sites and at operators’ premises. Separate figures for these locations are not available as these are determined by operational considerations during the course of the year. It is expected that the following total numbers of vehicle checks will be carried out in the year ending 31 March 2001:

(a) goods vehicles – 175 operations, checking a minimum of 20,000 vehicles;

Mr M Murphy asked the Minister of the Environment, with regard to the enforcement of transport licensing, how many weighbridge operations will be carried out annually in respect of (a) goods vehicles, (b) taxis and (c) omnibuses.

(AQW 47/00)

Mr Foster: The Department carries out vehicle checks at the roadside, at the Department’s weighbridge sites and at operators’ premises. Separate figures for these locations are not available as these are determined by operational considerations during the course of the year. It is expected that the following total numbers of vehicle checks will be carried out in the year ending 31 March 2001:

(a) goods vehicles – 175 operations, checking a minimum of 20,000 vehicles;

Mr M Murphy asked the Minister of the Environment how many tachograph inspections will be carried out annually (a) at the roadside and (b) at operators’ premises.

(AQW 48/00)

Mr Foster: During the year ending 31 March 2001 the Department expects to carry out the following numbers of tachograph inspections:

(a) at the roadside, 4,000 charts

(b) at operators’ premises, 7,000 charts.

Mr M Murphy asked the Minister of the Environment to outline the arrangements to provide balanced geographic distribution of tachograph inspections across Northern Ireland.

(AQW 49/00)

Mr Foster: The Department’s enforcement staff and the police carry out tachograph inspections throughout Northern Ireland. The number and distribution of tachograph inspections form part of an operational strategy aimed at ensuring that operators throughout Northern Ireland receive equitable treatment. The geographic distribution of checks is determined by operational considerations, and there is a combination of routine roadside and weighbridge operations and inspections at operators’ premises. Inspections are also carried out in response to information received from haulage industry representatives.

Mr Neeson asked the Minister of the Environment what action he is taking to fill vacancies for professional staff in the Planning Service and the Environment and Heritage Service.

(AQO 16/00)

Mr Foster: I am glad to be able to tell the Assembly that I have obtained significant financial resources to enable the recruitment of 47 professional planning staff and 43 mainly scientific staff to the Planning Service and the Environment and Heritage Service respectively. The recruitment process is now under way, and 24 posts have been filled.

Mrs Carson asked the Minister of the Environment when the moratorium on accepting applications for grant- aid for historic building schemes will be lifted and if there have been any developments with regard to providing funding for these schemes.

(AQO 10/00)

Mr Foster: Within present resource allocations, my Department intends to accept new applications in 2001-02 under a revised grants policy. However, grant payments for these new applications may not be released until the following financial year, 2002-03.

Discussions on the level of funding for the historic buildings grant scheme are continuing in the context of the 2000 spending review. I am not in a position to anticipate the outcome of those discussions.

Mr A Doherty asked the Minister of the Environment if he will give consideration to the findings of the Railways Task Force in its report ‘The Rail Debate’ and those in the submission of the Northern Corridor Railways Groups and thereby promote the substantial environmental and road safety benefits as part of an integrated transport strategy for Northern Ireland.

(AQO 33/00)

Mr Foster: The then Minister for Regional Development commissioned the Railways Task Force report. Officials from my Department have been involved in providing information on a number of environmental issues to assist in the production of the report.

I am aware that the Regional Development Committee received a presentation giving an overview of the findings of the Task Force on Wednesday 13 September.

I look forward to seeing the full report and technical assessment in due course.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel, pursuant to AQW 689/99, to confirm the level of public expenditure on ministerial transport arrangements for the Minister of Health and the Minister of Education.

(AQW 29/00)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr Durkan): The Department of Finance and Personnel is not responsible for the provision of official transport for the Minister of Health and the Minister of Education. Information on public expenditure in respect of their transport arrangements should be obtained from the Departments concerned.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety when she expects to receive the report from the working group investigating future acute hospital provision in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

(AQW 14/00)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): I have asked the review group to report to me at the end of February 2001. I decided to establish the review group because I wanted to take a fresh look at the complex issues that are involved in acute hospital services. The review group will give me independent, objective and informed advice which will help to guide the strategic development of hospital services in the Twenty-first century.

D’iarr mé ar an ghrúpa athbhreithnithe tuarascáil a chur chugam faoi dheireadh Feabhra 2001. Chinn mé ar an ghrúpa athbhreithnithe a bhunú mar gur mhaith liom breathnú athuair ar na ceisteanna casta a bhaineann le seirbhísí géarmhíochaine ospidéal. Tabharfaidh an grúpa athbhreithnithe comhairle eolach, neamhspleách, oibiachtúil dom a chuideoidh linn forbairt straitéiseach a dhéanamh ar na seirbhísí ospidéal san 21ú haois.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what conclusions have been reached in regard to the strategic development of the Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust.

(AQW 22/00)

Ms de Brún: The need for strategic development at the Ulster Hospital is recognised, but no final conclusions have been reached to date. A meeting between senior officials and management of the trust to consider a strategic and prioritised approach to development of the hospital is due to take place on 25 September 2000. Plans for redevelopment of the hospital will need to take account of the outcome of the recent Eastern Health and Social Services Board proposals on the organisation of hospital services, as well as the wider review of acute hospital services which is now under way and the availability of resources.

Aithnítear go bhfuil forbairt straitéiseach de dhíth in Ospidéal Uladh ach níor thángthas ar aon chinneadh deireanach go dtí seo. Tá cruinniú le bheith ann idir feidhmeannaigh shinsearacha agus lucht bainistíochta an Iontaobhais ar an 25 Méan Fómhair le cur chuige a leagann béim ar straitéisí agus ar thosaíochtaí a breithniú. Caithfear na nithe seo a leanas a chur san áireamh sna pleananna le haghaidh athfhorbairt an ospidéil: an toradh a bheas ar mholtaí Bhord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Oirthir a fuarthas ar na mallaibh agus, lena chois sin, an t-athbhreithniú ginearálta ar sheirbhísí géarmhíochaine ospidéal atá ar siúl anois agus na hacmhainní atá ar fáil.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail meetings her officials have had with the Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust.

(AQW 23/00)

Ms de Brún: Meetings between officials and HSS trusts take place on an ongoing basis. Since the Executive Committee was re-established on 31 May 2000 the following meetings have been held between DHSSPS officials and representatives of the Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust:

seven meetings to discuss the information technology needs of the Trust with staff from the directorate of information systems;

one meeting to discuss the trust’s general capital provision on 29 August 2000.

Bíonn cruinnithe ann go leanúnach idir feidhmeannaigh agus na hIontaobhais SSS. Is mar seo a leanas a bhí na cruinnithe idir feidhmeannaigh na RSSSSP agus ionadaithe Iontaobhas Phobal agus Ospidéal Uladh óna athbhunaíodh an Coiste Feidhmiúchán ar an 31 Bealtaine 2000:

Bhí seacht gcruinniú ann idir an tIontaobhas agus baill foirne ó Stiúrthóireacht na gCóras Eolais;

Bhí cruinniú amháin ann ar an 29 Lúnasa 2000 le soláthar ginearálta caipitiúil an Iontaobhais a phlé

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she considers the capital investment at the Ulster Hospital to be on a par with that at the Royal Victoria, Mater, Altnagelvin and Belfast City Hospitals.

(AQW 25/00)

Ms de Brún: The major redevelopment programmes agreed some years ago for other main acute hospital sites, including the Royal Hospitals and Altnagelvin Hospital, have been taken forward following a detailed examination of the options, costs and benefits of a range of solutions in each case.

It is clear that strategic development also needs to embrace the Ulster Hospital site, and my Department is now working with the Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust to draw its current proposals together. When a redevelopment plan, with costs and implementation programme, has been agreed I will look at the issues of funding and timetable, in the light of the resources available to me.

I ndiaidh mionscrúdú a dhéanamh ar na roghanna, ar na costais agus ar na buntáistí i ngach cás maidir le réimse réiteach, cuireadh chun tosaigh na cláir mhóra forbartha, ar aontaíodh orthu roinnt blianta ó shin, do na príomhospidéil ghéarmhíochaine eile, agus na hOpidéil Ríoga agus Ospidéal Alt na nGealbhan san áireamh.

Is léir go gcaithfear Ospidéal Uladh a chur san áireamh fosta san fhorbairt straitéiseach agus tá mo Roinnse ag obair i gcomhar le hIontaobhas Phobal agus Ospidéal Uladh chun a chuid moltaí a tharraingt le chéile. Nuair a bheifear i ndiaidh aontú ar phlean athfhorbartha agus ar chlár lena chur i ngníomh, breathnóidh mé féin ar na ceisteanna a bhainfidh le maoiniú agus leis an chlár ama, i bhfianaise na n-acmhainní a bheas ar fáil agam.

Mr Davis asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many deaths have occurred in the past three years in each health board area as a result of smoking-related illnesses or disease.

(AQW 26/00)

Ms de Brún: The number of deaths occurring as a result of smoking-related illnesses or disease for each of the three years from 1996 to 1998—the latest year for which such information is available—is as follows:

Is mar seo a leanas atá líon na mbásanna de bharr tinneas nó galar, a raibh baint ag caitheamh tobac leo, a tharla gach bliain ó 1996 go 1998 arb í an bhliain is déanaí í a bhfuil eolas den chineál seo againn:-

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, in pursuance of AQW 769/99, if she has any plans to meet with the chief of the RUC’s anti-drugs unit to discuss plans to combat drug abuse in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 30/00)

Ms de Brún: I have no plans to meet with the chief of the RUC’s anti-drugs unit. Work on the measures to combat drug abuse is being taken forward under the aegis of the Central Co-ordinating Group for Action Against Drugs. This group comprises senior representatives from a wide range of departments and agencies, including the RUC, and I receive regular reports on its work. The measures being taken involve many different groups and agencies, including those in the fields of health and social services and education, as well as many doing important work at community level.

Níl pleananna ar bith agam cruinniú a bheith agam le ceannaire Aonad Frith-Dhrugaí an RUC. Tá an obair ar bhearta in éadan mí-úsáid drugaí á cur chun cinn faoi choimirce an Lárghrúpa Comhordaithe um Ghníomhaíocht in éadan Drúgaí. Is é atá sa ghrúpa seo ionadaithe sinsearacha ó réimse leathan ranna agus gníomhaireachtaí agus an RUC san áireamh. Bíonn a lán grúpaí agus gníomhaireachtaí páirteach sna bearta seo, is é sin, iad siúd atá sna réimsí sláinte, oideachais agus seirbhísí sóisialta, chomh maith leo siúd a bhfuil obair thábhachtach ar siúl acu i measc an phobail.

Mrs Carson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to confirm the date on which the affected communities were alerted to the recent cryptosporidium outbreak, to detail what steps were taken to reduce the level of risk faced by vulnerable members of the population and to explain what steps have been taken to improve the arrangements for notifying the public in such circumstances.

(AQW 38/00)

Ms de Brún: The recent cryptosporidium outbreak has affected the populations served by the Poleglass and neighbouring northern service reservoirs. Elderly patients and those with severe medical conditions in the area served by Poleglass reservoir were advised on 25 August to boil their water before drinking — a precautionary measure in advance of the cause of the outbreak being established. The same day general practitioners in the affected area were contacted by the Eastern HSS Board by telephone and advised of the ongoing investigations. This was followed on 29 August with a letter to all GPs in the Eastern Board area advising them of the areas affected and asking them to advise those patients over 65 and those with serious medical conditions to boil water before drinking.

On 30 August the outbreak control team decided that a boil-water notice should be issued to people in the affected area. The notice was distributed by the Water Service on 31 August to all households and premises served by the Poleglass reservoir. This was extended to the population served via the Forked Bridge water treatment plant on 1 September. On 31 August and 1 September the Water Service and environmental health officers contacted nursing and residential homes, patients on home dialysis, schools and commercial food premises to give advice. The Eastern HSS Board opened a helpline on 2 September to provide information to members of the public who were concerned about the health implications of the outbreak, and a fact sheet on cryptosporidiosis has been added to their website.

It is standard practice to review all of the procedures and practices employed after an outbreak of this kind.

Tá an ráig cripteaspóiriam a tharla ar na mallaibh i ndiaidh dul i bhfeidhm ar an phobal a fhaigheann a gcuid uisce ó Thaiscumair an Phoill Ghlais agus ó na taiscumair de chuid Sheirbhís an Tuaiscirt atá ar na gaobhair. Ar an 25 Lúnasa insíodh d’othair scothaosta agus dóibh siúd atá i ndianriocht míochaine sa cheantar an t-uisce a fhiuchadh sula n-ólfadh siad é ar eagla na heagla go dtí go mbeadh cúis na ráige aimsithe. Chuir Bord SSS an Oirthir glaonna gutháin ar na Liachleachtóirí sa cheantar a raibh an galar ann an lá céanna lena gcur ar an eolas faoi na fiosrúcháin a bhí ar bun. Lena chois sin sheol an Bord litir chuig gach Liachleachtóir ina cheantar ar an 29 Lúnasa le rá leo cá raith an galar agus le hiarraidh orthu inse do na hothair siúd a bhí os cionn 65 bliana d’aois nó a bhí i ndianriocht míochaine an t-uisce a fhiuchadh sula n-ólfadh siad é.

Ar an 30 Lúnasa chinn Foireann Rialaithe na Ráige gur chóir fógra a sheoladh chuig daoine sa cheantar a raibh an galar ann le hiarraidh orthu an t-uisce a fhiuchadh. Ar an 31 Lúnasa scaip an tSeirbhís Uisce na fógraí ar gach teach agus ar gach foirgneamh a fhaigheann uisce ó Thaiscumar an Phoill Ghlais. Scaipeadh iad fosta ar an phobal a fhaigheann uisce trí Ionad Cóireála Uisce Dhroichead an Ghabhail ar an 1 Meán Fómhair. Ar an 31 Lúnasa agus ar an 1 Meán Fómhair chuaigh an tSeirbhís Uisce agus Oifigigh Sláinte Comhshaoil i dteagmháil le teaghaisí cónaithe, le tithe altranais, le hothair a bhfuil scagdhealú ar siúl sa bhaile acu, le scoileanna agus le foirgnimh ghnó atá ag láimhseáil bia chun comhairle a thabhairt dóibh. D’oscail Bord SSS an Oirthir líne chabhrach ón 2 Meán Fómhair le heolas a sholáthar do daoine den phobal a bhí buartha faoi impleachtaí sláinte na ráige agus cuireadh leathanach eolais ar chripteaspóireadóis le láithreán gréasáin an Bhoird.

Is cuid den ghnáthchleachtas é athbhreithniú a dhéanamh ar na modhanna agus ar na cleachtais a chuirtear i bhfeidhm i ndiaidh ráige den chineál seo.

Mrs Carson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what she has done to produce a report on the parasite cryptosporidium since attention was brought to this issue at the meeting of the Regional Development Committee on 7 June 2000.

(AQW 40/00)

Ms de Brún: This question relates to the cryptosporidiosis outbreak which occurred in April/May 2000 in the Eastern HSS Board area. An outbreak control team, led by the Eastern HSS Board, was established to monitor the outbreak and advise on appropriate precautions and remedial measures. The outbreak control team, which brings together public health professionals, environmental health officers and the Water Service, is finalising its report on the incident.

Baineann an cheist seo leis an ráig cripteaspóireadóise a tharla i gceantar Bhord SSS an Oirthir le linn Aibreán agus Bhealtaine 2000. Bunaíodh Foireann Rialaithe na Ráige, agus Bord SSS an Oirthir i gceannas uirthi, le faireachán a dhéanamh ar an ráig agus comhairle a thabhairt faoi na réamhchúraimí agus faoi na bearta feabhais cuí ba cheart a ghlacadh. Is é atá i bhFoireann Rialaithe na Ráige gairmithe na sláinte poiblí, oifigigh sláinte comhshaoil agus an tSeirbhís Uisce agus tá siad ar tí a dtuarascáil ar an ráig a chríochnú.

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