Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail the number of applications from overseas citizens to attend Northern Ireland universities have been received in each year since 1998.

(AQW 1338/00)

The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Dr Farren): The number of applications made through the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) to the Northern Ireland universities by domicile was as follows:

(AQW 1365/00)

Dr Farren: Information on the progress of participants through New Deal is kept by the Department on its newly introduced client management system (CMS).

Comprehensive statistical data from CMS are not currently available pending resolution of some difficult data and IT issues. It is anticipated that data will become available in the next few weeks and that publication will resume thereafter. Once all of the issues have been resolved, a timetable will be drawn up which will outline when detailed information will become available for release.

I regret that in the absence of data from CMS it is not currently possible to answer your question.

(AQW 1421/00)

Dr Farren: The number of participants on ACE fluctuated significantly over the years, but in December 1998, when recruitment ceased and the rundown of the programme was announced, the number was 3,838. All participants had left by June 2000.

Comprehensive statistical data on New Deal participants are not currently available from the Department’s new client management system pending resolution of some difficult data and IT issues. It is anticipated that data will become available in the next few weeks and that publication will resume thereafter. Once all of the issues have been resolved, a timetable for publication of detailed information will be drawn up.

However, as an indication of the impact of New Deal on long-term unemployment, it may be noted that since the New Deal 25+ was introduced, unemployment in the target group has fallen by 10,748, from 19,042 in May 1998 to 8,294 in December 2000.

(AQO 604/00)

Dr Farren: The three colleges in the constituency, in line with all FE colleges, receive an annual allocation of capital funding to remedy estate deficiencies, improve disabled access, create more adult ambience and upgrade and replace equipment, including ICT infrastructure. Limavady College has also received permission to conduct an economic appraisal addressing its overall accommodation requirements.

(AQO 646/00)

Dr Farren: Employees of a Republic of Ireland company, irrespective of where they live, can access national vocational qualifications. However, Republic of Ireland employers do not receive Jobskills programme funding in respect of their employees. Jobskills has no remit to subsidise the training costs of businesses that are based outside Northern Ireland.

(AQO 620/00)

Dr Farren: Since ministerial approval for Springvale was announced at February 2000, grant conditions have been met by the institutions and a Departmental letter of grant will issue shortly; a PFI project board is being established for the main campus; building work has commenced on the community outreach centre; and; an OJEC for the applied research centre is imminent.

(AQO 644/00)

Dr Farren: On the extent of student drop out, I would refer the Member to my answer to AQO/625/00. The Department does not hold information on the reasons why students do not complete.

(AQO 655/00)

Dr Farren: The ‘Status Zero – Four Years On’ Report was the subject of a major Conference held in December and attended by approximately 200 people. The findings of the conference, which are currently being collated, will provide further insights and inform the development of policy. Current departmental activities to prevent exclusion amongst young people include the Access strand of the Jobskills programme; the work of the Basic Skills Unit recently established by the Department; and the New Deal.

(AQO 626/00)

Dr Farren: Following the outcome of the 2000 spending review, the process of determining the individual programme budgets which are supported by my Department and also the student population which can be accommodated within these programmes is still underway. It is, therefore, not possible to provide details of the planned level of higher education funding on a per student basis at this time.

(AQO 642/00)

Dr Farren: Following the scheduled review of the Walsh visa programme the T&EA and FAS are engaged in the re-development of the recruitment and selection process and the pre-departure training (PDT). These developments will address important issues regarding the suitability and their preparation for the reality of living and working in the USA.

In the second phase of the programme hub locations have been selected on the basis of their suitability in terms of availability of jobs, accommodation and transportation and also the quality of participant support.

(AQO 608/00)

Dr Farren: The web site for my Department has been operational since devolution. My Department is currently working on improving and developing this site. It is hoped that these new improvements and developments will be operational in March 2001.

(AQO 602/00)

Dr Farren: Since the programme was introduced in January 2000 the development and implementation costs of the Walsh visa programme are as follows:

These figures cover the cost of provision of training in the pre-departure phase in Northern Ireland and the support provided to participants in the United States.

(AQO 625/00)

Dr Farren: Amongst full-time students starting first degree courses in 1997-98 there is a lower percentage of students finishing with neither an award nor transfer (drop out) in NI institutions than the UK average of 16%. The value for the University of Ulster is 12% compared to an expected value (benchmark) of 16% while the figure for QUB is 10% compared to an expected value (benchmark) of 9%.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the amount of funding allocated for renewal of disadvantaged areas in the current financial year; and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 947/00)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Campbell): I understand that your question relates to roads infrastructure funding that is allocated for the renewal of disadvantaged areas. My Department’s Roads Service does not allocate funding on that specific basis.

You will be aware, however, that Roads Service is currently assessing potential major works schemes for possible inclusion in its 10-year forward planning schedule. The assessments are on the basis of the five key criteria of integration, safety, economy, environment and accessibility in accordance with the Department’s Northern Ireland transport policy statement, ‘Moving Forward’ published in November 1998. The process takes into consideration the objectives of the Department’s New Targeting Social Need policy, primarily under the accessibility criterion. Consultants, appointed in December 1999, have reviewed the assessment methodology used by Roads Service and have confirmed that it provides a practical means of addressing New Targeting Social Need policy considerations.

(AQW 1203/00)

Mr Campbell: Based mainly on census information, Water Service estimates that there are approximately 6,000 properties in Northern Ireland not connected to the public water supply. It is not yet possible to establish an accurate figure for Strabane District Council area. Water Service is, however, engaged in a pilot study of the number of properties not connected in the Omagh District Council area. This pilot study is nearing completion and further studies are proposed in a number of other council areas, including Strabane. The Strabane study is expected to be completed in June of this year when more accurate figures should be available.

(AQW 1226/00)

Mr Campbell: Translink has advised that it is currently considering what rolling stock it will operate on the Antrim to Bleach Green line immediately it re-opens. For the longer term, Translink is seeking to acquire two new trains to operate scheduled passenger services along this line. Translink hopes to place an order for 23 new trains, including these two additional trains, in 2001-02 using part of the additional £19·6m allocated to the railways for 2001-02, to meet the initial part of the acquisition costs. Translink is currently preparing an investment appraisal for this acquisition project.

(AQW 1277/00)

Mr Campbell: The Budget approved by the Assembly on 18 December 2000 included a provision of £3·1m in 2001-02 and an indicative allocation of £3·2m in 2002-03 to enable the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company to introduce a fully integrated ticketing system throughout Translink train and bus services. My Department has given approval to the company to proceed with this major project involving the complete replacement of Translink’s existing ticketing equipment. A project board has been established to manage the project, and the tendering process is currently under way, in accordance with normal public service procurement procedures. Translink has advised that the first part of the new system should be introduced and operational by April 2002. In addition to improving management-related information this should facilitate arrangements to provide free travel for elderly people. The second part of the system involves the introduction of the Smartcard technology for all passengers. This should be completed during 2003. Among other benefits, this will improve integration between transport modes, help reduce boarding times and provide for more flexible payment methods, as well as giving further marketing flexibility.

(AQW 1294/00)

Mr Campbell: The provision of information in relation to road accidents is a matter for the Northern Ireland Office, and I have therefore asked that Department to respond directly to you on this issue.

During the past six months or so, my Department’s Roads Service has endeavoured to improve access and road safety at the junction of Doagh Road and the A8 Belfast to Larne road by realigning the kerb line at the south-east leg of the junction and by extending the existing 40mph speed limit on Doagh Road to the junction. As part of its plans to carry out a package of road improvements to the A8 route, Roads Service proposes to construct a roundabout at this junction. The roundabout should make access from Doagh Road easier and safer. The package of improvements is subject to the satisfactory completion of the necessary statutory procedures and the future availability of funds.

(AQW 1325/00)

Mr Campbell: In my statement in the Assembly on Monday 15 January 2001, I announced that I was initiating a review of my Department’s current policy on the salting of roads. Among other things, the review will consider what further steps Roads Service might take to prepare for severe weather conditions similar to those experienced towards the end of last month. The nature of the review will be discussed with the Regional Development Committee, which will be invited to play a full part in it.

(AQW 1326/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department’s Roads Service does not have a standby list of private contractors who would be available to carry out salting operations.

As I indicated in my statement to the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday 15 January 2001, I have initiated a review of my Department’s current policy on the salting of roads. The review will examine arrangements for dealing with extreme weather conditions and for using private contractors.

(AQW 1334/00)

Mr Campbell: Water Service does not have access to the records held by district councils. However, councils normally contact Water Service if they receive complaints about drinking water quality.

During the period 1 December 2000 to 12 January 2001, Water Service received no complaints from district councils about the quality of water supplied from Fofannybane water treatment works, which treats water from both Spelga and Fofanny impounding reservoirs.

During that period, the Water Service received 194 complaints about water quality from customers supplied from Fofannybane water treatment works. The operation of the works at its peak capacity following a large number of bursts in water mains and in customers’ pipework resulted in some temporary deterioration in the taste and colour of the drinking water. A new water treatment works which will increase output capacity and enhance water quality is planned, with completion in 2004.

(AQW 1351/00)

Mr Campbell: Both my Department’s Roads and Water Services meet regularly with officials from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety as members of the infrastructure emergency planning group. This group considers how its member organisations can best co-operate in the event of emergency incidents, including severe weather conditions.

As regards elderly and disabled, care of these people is usually administered within the community and, arising from the work of the infrastructure emergency planning group, contact numbers of local Roads Service offices have been distributed for use by local care managers. These managers can contact Roads Service staff in the event of emergency incidents.

If water services are likely to be interrupted for a prolonged period, my Department’s Water Service would implement its major incident plan. The plan includes specific contingency arrangements for dealing with interruptions to the public water supply caused by extreme weather conditions. These include liaison with health officials to identify special needs customers, such as the disabled and those who are immunocompromised, to ensure that they receive alternative water supplies.

(AQW 1372/00)

Mr Campbell: I welcome and support the broad thrust of the CBI report highlighting, as it does, the need to secure higher levels of investment for infrastructure, particularly in the strategic road network, road maintenance, public transport services and water and sewerage services. The report is, of course, wide-ranging and includes many issues which are the responsibility of other Ministers. I will therefore restrict my comments to those matters which fall within the broad remit of my Department.

The Report suggests that an additional investment of £900m will be required over the next 10 years in our strategic road network, road maintenance and public transport services. This understates the position. As you will be aware, I have on several occasions referred to the need for an additional £2 billion over the next 10 years to achieve the stepped change that is required to achieve a modern, integrated transportation system. In reality, this would necessitate a doubling of the existing investment in transportation in the region.

I also welcome the recognition of the significant investment needed for water and sewerage services. Indeed, an asset management plan, scheduled for completion in 2002, will likely indicate that close to £3 billion will be required over the next 20 years in addition to the existing level of investment. Also, the 80% quoted for compliance relates to waste water treatments works discharge standards, not water treatment discharge standards.

The report refers to the need to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public expenditure. For my part, I am committed to improving efficiency and effectiveness throughout my Department. For example, the following wide-ranging agency reviews are under way, ‘Roads Service: Delivering Excellence’ and ‘Water Service: Moving Forward’. Water Service is also engaged in an efficiency programme which includes benchmarking, market testing and contracting out. In 1999 Roads Service obtained ministerial approval to adopt best value as a means of achieving its own continuous improvement. During 2000-01, the first year of a five-year programme, Roads Service is carrying out a number of best value reviews, including development of internal and external benchmarking.

I note the strong advocacy in the report for public-private partnerships (PPPs) and the private finance initiative (PFI) arrangements, and I am familiar with the CBI’s paper on this topic. Inevitably, it will not be possible to address the serious deficiencies in our infrastructure by solely relying on public expenditure. As is the case in the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland, we must proactively examine the options for securing the involvement of the private sector. Within my Department, officials are exploring ways in which the private sector could play an appropriate role in developing our infrastructure in the future.

The issue of contributions from developers is raised in the report, and in my Department these are being considered as part of the above-mentioned agency reviews. I generally support the proposition that developers should provide for the infrastructure, including transportation, necessary to support their development proposal. It is, however, recognised that the current approach to provision of infrastructure is either "piecemeal" or "opportunistic" due to the incremental development of land. My officials are actively exploring ways of ensuring that developers in future make a full and realistic contribution to associated infrastructure costs.

With regards to the comments on congestion charging et cetera, these are matters which will be fully explored within the formulation of the 10-year regional transportation strategy, a process which I initiated earlier this month by way of a consultation paper. My officials involved in the development strategy will shortly be meeting with the CBI to discuss transportation investment and other related issues.

The report also suggests a number of possible methods of enhancing existing resources, and my Department is already investigating many of them. I endorse the view that innovative and radical new funding sources need be considered to raise additional money for transportation investment.

I plan to meet with the CBI on 14 February 2001.

(AQW 1377/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department’s Roads Service normally uses rock salt to treat roads in wintry conditions. On occasions, sand or grit may be used along with rock salt to give better grip on snow-covered roads.

It is not Roads Service policy to make such materials available for collection by businesses as these materials can all be purchased at outlets across the country.

(AQW 1446/00)

Mr Campbell: Information in the form requested is not available. My Department’s Roads Service does not maintain details of expenditure on trunk roads on a parliamentary constituency basis

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