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WRITTEN ANSWERS Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister Civic Forum Consultancy Services Comber High School Enterprise, Trade and Investment Consultancy Services Consultancy Services Health, Social Services and Public Safety Paedophiles Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment 3rd Level Students Consultancy Services Friday 17 November 2000 Written Answers to Questions TOPOFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER Civic Forum Mr David Ford asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister if they will detail the number of members of the civic forum who are aged under 30, those aged between 31 and 40, those between 41 and 50, those aged between 51 and 60 and those aged over 60. (AQW 561/00) The First Minister and Deputy First Minister (Mr Trimble and Mr Mallon): Information has not yet been received on the ages of all members. The age grouping of the members of the Civic Forum, based on information provided, either by the consortia or by the Civic Forum members, is as follows:
Consultancy Services Mr John Dallat asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if, for the period since devolution, he will detail (a) the number of contracts for consultancy services which did not have to go out to public tender, that have been awarded by his Department; (b) to whom these contracts have been awarded; (c) the number of contracts awarded on the basis of such consultancy advice; and (d) to whom these contracts were awarded. (AQW 551/00) The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): I can confirm that my Department let 14 contracts without going to public tender. The contracts were awarded to:- Dr Bill Jack (2 contracts) All these were individual contracts for specific pieces of work and no further contracts were awarded on the basis of the initial project. TOPSixth Form Pupils Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Education if he will, pursuant to AQW 308/00, (a) review the financial constraints on Secondary Schools to make provision for sixth form pupils and (b) make it his policy to introduce flexibility into local management of schools to enable all sixth form pupils wishing to continue their education to do so. (AQW 499/00) The Minister of Education (Mr McGuinness): The Department and other educational partners encourage staying on in education beyond the statutory school leaving age. There is however no legal entitlement that 16+ education must be at a school. The principle constraint in relation to either an increase in the number of places in existing 16+ provision at a school, or the introduction of such provision at a secondary school where none exists, is the approved capacity/enrolment number of the school. The current policy on the introduction of 16+ courses in secondary schools is set out in the document "The Curriculum for 14-19 Year Olds - A Framework for Choice". The central point is that such provision can only be made within existing resources, which includes accommodation. There is also an extensive range of 16+ provision at Further Education Colleges for young people unable to obtain a place for 16+ study at a school The Department is prepared to consider a request from a school with an existing sixth form for a temporary variation to enable the school to enrol its own returning fifth formers who meet the school's criteria for admission to sixth form study. School Inspectors Mr Eugene McMenamin asked the Minister of Education if, in relation to School Inspection Reports, he will detail, (a) who finalises each report, (b) who scrutinises each report, (c) what qualifications are required to become a School Inspector and (d) how such Inspectors are appointed. (AQW 570/00) Mr McGuinness: (a) Inspection reports are finalised by the inspector leading the inspection team. (b) All draft reports are checked by at least one other inspector, and, in addition, may undergo a quality check by the staff inspector; all reports are scrutinised at pre-publication stage by the principal of the school under inspection, who is invited to identify any factual errors which need to be rectified. All reports are publicly available and can be scrutinised by any person who is interested. (c) Essential qualifications for school inspectors are usually at least a second class honours degree, and a teacher-training qualification which meets the requirement to teach in grant-aided schools/institutes of further education. (d) Inspectorate posts are advertised in the press; all those applicants who appear from their application forms to meet the stated criteria are interviewed by a board which will include senior members of the Inspectorate. Appointments are made on merit. Comber High School Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education if he will confirm that sufficient funding exists to ensure that work on Comber High School new-build may now commence. (AQW 585/00) Mr McGuinness: The South Eastern Education and Library Board have advised my Department that Comber High School is No 4 on its list of school capital priorities. The revised Economic Appraisal for the project is currently under consideration within my Department but planning of the project is unlikely to be sufficiently advanced to enable it to be considered for a place in next year's capital programme. Comber High School Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education if he will confirm that Comber High School is on the short-list for new-build within the South Eastern Education and Library Board in this financial year. (AQW 586/00) Mr McGuinness: The South Eastern Education and Library Board have advised my Department that Comber High School is No 4 on its list of school capital priorities. The revised Economic Appraisal for the project is currently under consideration within my Department but planning of the project is unlikely to be sufficiently advanced to enable it to be considered for a place in next year's capital programme. TOPENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT Investment in Tourism Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he will detail the amount of investment in tourism in each constituency in each of the last five years. (AQW 509/00) The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): [supplementary answer]: Further to the answer printed in Hansard on Friday 10 November (detailed below) which gave the overall amount of financial investment in tourism in the last five years. Please find detailed on the attached tables the breakdown by constituency. Over the last five years (1 January 1995 to date) £56.1m of financial assistance has been provided by NITB through a number of EU, IFI and central government schemes for the development of tourism infrastructure. The details are contained in the attached Table A. In addition, over the same period, some £4.9m of assistance has been invested in marketing. A breakdown of this figure, which is recorded by District Council Area, is contained in Table B. Table A NITB SELECTIVE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AWARDED JANUARY 1995 - OCTOBER 2000 BY YEAR AND PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY
*No approvals for capital assistance were awarded during this period. This could occur for a number of reasons including no applications being received or those received being withdrawn by the applicant or being rejected having failed to meet the necessary criteria for support. TABLE B NITB MARKETING SUPPORT ASSISTANCE AWARDED JANUARY 1995 - OCTOBER 2000 BY YEAR AND BY COUNCIL AREA*
*The administrative system used to account for the marketing administration is based on District Councils only and on the address of the grant recipient. Awards made may therefore relate to areas outwith the actual District Council address of the grant recipient. **Under the Marketing Support Scheme criteria and guidelines all approvals for financial assistance had to be completed and Letters of Offer issued before December 1999. ***No approvals for assistance were awarded during this period. This could have been due to a number of reasons including no applications being received or those received being withdrawn by the applicant or being rejected having failed to meet the necessary criteria for support. Consultancy Services Mr John Dallat asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if, for the period since devolution, he will detail (a) the number of contracts for consultancy services which did not have to go out to public tender, that have been awarded by his Department; (b) to whom these contracts have been awarded; (c) the number of contracts awarded on the basis of such consultancy advice; and (d) to whom these contracts were awarded. (AQW 553/00) Sir Reg Empey: Under the terms of a Service Level Agreement with the Government Purchasing Agency (GPA), DETI normally uses consultants from the Consultancy Framework Contract drawn up by GPA as a result of public tendering. However, I can confirm that 17 contracts were let to consultants who are not listed in the Framework Contract, and details of these are shown on the attached table.
MKF (UK) Ltd Mr Conor Murphy asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the findings of an IDB report into industrial relations at the MKF factory, Newry. (AQW 554/00) Sir Reg Empey: During the period August 1999 to September 2000 IDB worked closely with the German owners of MKF (UK) Ltd in an attempt to secure the long term future of the Newry Plant which had been facing trading pressures for some time. This included a review facilitated by IDB, together with an assessment by the German shareholders covering a wide range of operational (including industrial relations) procedures, at the factory. The review identified opportunities to effect cost savings plus a number of weaknesses in procedures. Regrettably however, despite intensive efforts, the worsening of the trading situation during 2000 and the loss of key customers resulted in the closure of the business. Superhighway Telecommunications Mr Eddie McGrady asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail when the report on Superhighway Telecommunications which is being prepared by his Department and the Industrial Research and Training Unit will be published, and if he will make a statement. (AQW 565/00) Sir Reg Empey: I have received the benchmarking report on Northern Ireland Telecommunications Infrastructure. It is comprehensive and complex. I am now studying it carefully and will need to discuss its implications with my Executive colleagues in the context of the Programme for Government. In doing so I will consider with them how best to publicise its findings. I am aware of your interest in this matter and I am forwarding to you a copy of the recently published all island Telecommunications for e-Business users guide containing the first all island maps of both the current and planned broadband backbone network and international links. I am also making this publication available to all Assembly colleagues in the usual way. Promoting Newtownabbey and Antrim Borough Areas Mr Donovan McClelland asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he will outline his plans to promote the Borough areas of Newtownabbey and Antrim as prime locations for enterprise and investment. (AQO 297/00) Sir Reg Empey: The draft Programme for Government includes actions by my Department which includes working with regional groupings of District Councils to co-ordinate marketing information about Northern Ireland and Council areas as a location for inward investment. TOPConsultancy Services Mr John Dallat asked the Minister of the Environment if, for the period since devolution, he will detail (a) the number of contracts for consultancy services which did not have to go out to public tender, that have been awarded by his Department; (b) to whom these contracts have been awarded; (c) the number of contracts awarded on the basis of such consultancy advice; and (d) to whom these contracts were awarded. (AQW 552/00) The Minister of the Environment (Mr Foster): Details included in attached table.
UK Climate Change Programme Mr Jim Wilson asked the Minister of the Environment when will the United Kingdom Climate Change Programme be published. (AQW 652/00) Mr Foster: The United Kingdom Climate Change Programme was published today (17 November 2000). The Programme sets out the Government's and the devolved administrations' strategic approach to tackling climate change. It focuses on a wide range of fiscal, regulatory and presentational policies to reduce emissions over the next decade. A Northern Ireland chapter is included in the Programme, together with one for Scotland and Wales. This confirms Northern Ireland's commitment to supporting the UK Climate Change Programme and outlines the measures that have already been put in place. It does not, however, commit Northern Ireland Ministers to any specific actions within their areas of devolved responsibility without their explicit agreement. Copies of the Programme are available from the Business Office, Parliament Buildings. TOPHEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY Paedophiles Mr Eugene McMenamin asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if she will outline the steps being taken, on an all Ireland basis, to supervise the movement of paedophiles into Northern Ireland from the Republic of Ireland. (AQW 543/00) The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): Arrangements exist for authorities, both here and in the South, to exchange information about the movement of sex offenders. My Department is also represented on the North/South Ministerial Council Joint Working Group on Child Protection. This Group aims to develop a mechanism for the reciprocal identification of people considered to be unsuitable for working with children. In addition, my Department runs the Pre-employment Consultancy Service which allows employers and voluntary organisations to check the suitability of those applying to work with children and with adults with a learning disability. This includes checking Garda criminal records where an applicant has given a previous address in the south of Ireland. Tá socruithe ann do na húdárais, anseo agus sa Deisceart araon, le heolas a mhalartú faoi chiontóirí gnéis. Tá ionadaithe mo Roinne ar an Ghrúpa Comhoibrithe Chomhairle Aireachta Thuaidh/Theas ar Chosaint an Pháiste. Tá sé de aidhm ag an Ghrúpa meicníocht aitheantas comhalartach a fhorbairt ar dhaoine a shíltear a bheith mífhóirsteanach do bheith ag obair le páistí. Lena chois sin, reáchtálann mo Roinn an tSeirbhís Chomhairleach Réamhfhostaíochta a thugann cead d'fhostóirí agus d'eagraíochtaí deonacha fóirsteanacht na ndaoine sin atá ag iarraidh obair le páiste nó le daoine fásta faoi mhíchumas foghlama a mheas. San áireamh leis seo tá seiceáil thaifid choiriúla na nGardaí má thug iarratasóir seoladh i Dheisceart na hÉireann. TOPHIGHER AND FURTHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT Long Term Unemployed Mr John Tierney asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will detail his plans to address the needs of long term unemployed people not currently partaking in New Deal or other job training programmes. (AQO 292/00) The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Dr Farren): Opportunities are available to long-term unemployed people through the Worktrack Programme. Advice and guidance on finding employment is available through the JobCentre Network. I am currently considering what further provision might be needed for long-term unemployed people before they reach the 18 month unemployment threshold for New Deal for 25+. Student Finance Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment what assessment he has made in relation to the report by his committee titled "Student Finance in Northern Ireland" and if he will make a statement. (AQO 264/00) Dr Farren: I can confirm that the Review of Student Finance will encompass support for students, both full-time and part-time, in further and higher education. It will take full account of the Report of the HFETE Committee and concerns about levels of debt. Status 'O' Four Years On Report Ms Carmel Hanna asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will detail what the current position is in relation to "Status '0' Four Years On" Report issued in August 2000 and if he will make a statement. (AQO 300/00) Dr Farren: The Report is a valuable addition to the literature on social exclusion. It will be the subject of a Conference on 13 December in Belfast with speakers from England, Scotland, Wales and the Republic of Ireland as well as Northern Ireland. I anticipate that the findings of the Conference will provide further insights about how to deal with social exclusion. Information Technology Education Mr David Ford asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will detail his plans to ensure that Further Education Colleges and the three Colleges run by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development co-ordinate their activities in the field of Information Technology. (AQO 279/00) Dr Farren: My Department has established and is implementing a comprehensive strategy for the development of ICT within the FE sector covering - college infrastructure, staff and curriculum development and networking. My officials liaise regularly with officials in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and there has been co-operation particularly in the area of networking and connection of colleges to the Joint Academic Network (JANET). There is also close liaison in taking forward the UfI initiative. University Places Mr Seamus Close asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will detail the expansion of university places in Northern Ireland and if he will make a statement. (AQO 280/00) Dr Farren: As a result of the 1998 Comprehensive Spending Review and my announcement, earlier this year, of Government support for the Springvale Educational Project, some 2240 additional university places will be phased in between 1999 and 2004. Any further expansion will be subject to consideration of budget proposals. Student Financing Mr John Kelly asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will detail his plans to redress the severe debt burden placed on third year students and their families under the current system of student finance. (AQO 271/00) Dr Farren: I can confirm that the Review of Student Finance will encompass support for students, both full-time and part-time, in further and higher education. It will take full account of the Report of the HFETE Committee and concerns about levels of debt. Advanced Level Qualifications Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, if he will detail the number of first year undergraduates admitted to the Queen's University Belfast and the University of Ulster in the current academic year and indicate how many of those undergraduates do not have Advanced Level qualifications. (AQO 268/00) Dr Farren: The number of new students who have enrolled so far on to full-time undergraduate courses at the University of Ulster in 2000/01 is 4,237. The equivalent figure for the Queen's University of Belfast is 3,842. It should be noted that the figures for both universities are currently provisional. A breakdown of entrance qualifications for 2000/01 for both universities is not yet available. However, in 1999/2000, 1,603 (41.1%) and 902 (23.7%) of new full-time undergraduate students at the University of Ulster and the Queen's University of Belfast respectively did not possess A-levels. Research and Development Mr Joe Byrne asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will ensure that the further education sector is included in the increased provision for research and development. (AQO 276/00) Dr Farren: The public-private partnership, Support Programme for University Research, will provide up to £40m for research and development over the next four years. This is aimed exclusively at enhancing the research strategies and capacity of the two local universities. The FE sector has however received additional funding to ensure that it makes a significant contribution to the development of the NI economy - this funding has taken the form of increased recurrent grant to allow for expansion in areas of skills need, targeting of HE places and increased funding for capital equipment to enhance colleges ability to deliver provision to industry standards. Increased support for college/industry links is also being provided through the collaboration fund and lecturers into industry initiative. Research and development is not at this stage a priority for the FE sector. 3rd Level Students Mr Arthur Doherty asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will give an assurance that his review into student financial support will cover the needs of all third level students including those in Further Education colleges and those in part-time study. (AQO 294/00) Dr Farren: I can confirm that the Review of Student Finance will encompass support for students, both full-time and part-time, in further and higher education. It will take full account of the Report of the HFETE Committee and concerns about levels of debt. Career Guidance Services Mrs Joan Carson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, if he will outline his responsibilities in relation to career guidance services, and if he will make a statement. (AQO 267/00) Dr Farren: This Department employs professionally qualified Careers Officers who provide guidance and information services to young people in schools, colleges and in training as well as to unemployed young people and adults. There are 95 Careers Officers, based throughout the Training and Employment Agency's JobCentre network, providing information, advice and guidance to young people and adults on specific options relevant to their interests, abilities and to available opportunities. Much of Northern Ireland's careers information is produced and provided by this Department's Careers Occupational Information Unit. Most of the Careers Officer's work is done in schools. The Careers Officers contribution to the school's careers education programme is facilitated through a Service Level Agreement between the School Principal and the JobCentre Manager. Each Agreement will differ in content however the range of guidance services will normally include Interest Inventories, Aptitude Tests, Individual Interviews, Class Talks and Group Sessions. Strategy 2010 has recommended that the current system of careers guidance should be enhanced. In response to this recommendation this Department and the Department of Education have commissioned a review of Careers Education and Guidance. The Review Group is made up of representatives from education, training and employment and is chaired by Professor Sean Fulton of Queen's University Belfast. The Review Group will produce an initial report in January 2001 and I intend to keep the Assembly informed of the outcomes of the Review and of future developments within careers guidance services. Equality of Access Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will ensure the promotion of equality of access to the Certificate/Diploma in Community Education and Development at the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education. (AQO 282/00) Dr Farren: The type and location of provision within the further education (FE) sector is a matter for FE institutions taking account of local community needs. With regard to the Certificate/Diploma in Community Education and Development, previously offered by the University of Ulster at its Jordanstown campus, I have been advised by the Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education (BIFHE) that it had been the Institute's original intention to deliver this programme from its proposed Springvale site but delayed development at this location compelled the Institute to examine alternative locations. After careful consideration it was decided to locate the course in the Institute building closest to the Springvale site which had the necessary resources available - BIFHE's Whiterock building. Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education (BIFHE) seeks to promote equality of access to all its programmes and services regardless of age, disability, race, religion or gender. BIFHE has advised that its Whiterock campus, while sited in an area that may be identified with a particular culture, is a politically and religiously neutral building and that its mixed staff and student base at the site is testament to its neutral environment. Current Participation Rates Mr Danny O'Connor asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will detail the current participation rates of young people (aged 16-25) in Further and Higher Education in Northern Ireland and if he will provide a comparison with participation figures in (1) Republic of Ireland and (2) Great Britain. (AQO 296/00) Dr Farren: Comparisons in higher education are difficult because the data available is drawn on a different basis in each case. However: NI Age Participation Index1
GB Age Participation Index2
ROI Participation3
In respect of further education, I can confirm that in 1998/99, 58% of the total vocational enrolments in the Northern Ireland FE sector were from 16 to 25 year olds. The figure for GB is 38% (although, in England, this excludes over 300,000 students for whom data was unavailable and those in sixth form colleges). At present the Republic of Ireland only publish participation figures for full time enrolments which would not give a comparable figure to the NI and GB statistics. 1. The NI API expresses the number of new entrants aged under 21 from Northern Ireland to full-time undergraduate courses in the publicly funded institutions in UK and ROI as a proportion of the 18 year old population. 2 The GB API expresses the number of new entrants aged under 21 from the UK to full-time undergraduate courses in publicly funded institutions in GB as a proportion of the averaged 18 to 19 year old population. 3 The ROI participation rate refers to new entrants aged under 21 to full-time third level courses in all institutions (aided and non-aided) expressed as a proportion of the 18 year old population. Staff in New Deal Programme Dr Esmond Birnie asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment if he will detail the percentage of his staff who are participants in the New Deal programme. (AQO 265/00) Dr Farren: The Department employs 7 staff through the New Deal programme, equating to 0.5% of its total staff currently. We were the first Department to employ New Deal staff and a number of these secured permanent posts in my Department, with others taking up employment or training opportunities elsewhere. TOPConsultancy Services Mr John Dallat asked the Minister for Social Development if, for the period since devolution, he will detail (a) the number of contracts for consultancy services which did not have to go out to public tender, that have been awarded by his Department; (b) to whom these contracts have been awarded; (c) the number of contracts awarded on the basis of such consultancy advice; and (d) to whom these contracts were awarded. (AQW 531/00) The Minister for Social Development (Mr Morrow): Since devolution, my Department has awarded contracts for consultancy services as detailed in the attached table. DEPARTMENT FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
New Housing Executive Homes Mr Donovan McClelland asked the Minister for Social Development if he will outline the current position in relation to the building of new Housing Executive homes in the Borough areas Newtownabbey and Antrim. (AQO 299/00) Mr Morrow: Most new build is now carried out by Housing Associations. The Housing Executive has a strategic role of assessing housing need, and drawing up plans to enable other social housing providers to meet that need. In the Newtownabbey Borough Council area, Housing Associations intend to build 105 houses over the next 3 years, and 50 houses in Antrim Borough Council area over the next 2 years. If the member is content, I will write to him detailing the location of the new build, the approximate cost and the providers. TOP
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