Friday 9 March 2001
Written Answers to Questions

Ms Ramsey asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister when they will reply to Assembly Members in respect of the debate on 30 January 2001 on the appointment of a Children’s Commissioner.

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Reply: All members who raised questions during the debate on a Commissioner for Children on 30 January will by now have received written replies. The letters were issued on 21 February and copies have been placed in the Library.

Mr Neeson asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail (a) what vacancies have been advertised to staff the office of the Northern Ireland Executive in Brussels (b) the date and place of advertisement of the vacancies (c) what vacancies are to be advertised in the near future (d) the expected dates of future advertisements and (e) where future vacancies will be advertised.

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Reply: A trawl notice was issued across departments for the post of Head of Office in December last year and an appointment was made in February. A trawl notice for the deputy post in the Office will be issued shortly and an appointment is expected at the end of this month.

These posts were not externally advertised. Scotland and Wales have followed similar appointment procedures for the staff of their Offices in Brussels.

Two locally engaged staff will be appointed in due course to help run the Office.

It is anticipated these posts will be advertised in April or May in the appropriate Belgian press.

Mr Hilditch asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail the projected spend on consultancy services in the 2001/02 financial year.

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Reply: The planned expenditure on consultancy services for projects identified to date in 2001/02 is £714,000.

Mr ONeill asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail (a) what recommendations have been made with regard to public service agreements (b) by whom they have been made and (c) who will decide whether or not they are adopted.

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Reply: The intention to produce public service agreements (PSAs) for each department was included in the draft Programme for Government. The Economic Policy Unit and the Department of Finance and Personnel have worked with departments to progress the exercise. To assist this process, consultants were engaged to provide advice. Ministers took views from their respective departmental committees prior to finalising their Public Service Agreements for inclusion in the Executive’s Programme for Government and its presentation to the Assembly for endorsement. The Programme explains that further work will be undertaken to develop the Public Service Agreements.

Ms McWilliams asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to recognise the contribution made by the women’s voluntary sector in respect of adult education, childcare, family support and community development and to outline the timetable envisaged for the provision of mainstream funding for this sector.

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Reply: We fully recognise the valuable contribution which women’s voluntary organisations make.

There is a range of sources to which women’s voluntary organisations can apply for support for projects and services, including Health and Social Services Trust, the Training and Employment Agency, the National Lotteries Charities Board and charitable trusts.

Denis Haughey, Sean Farren and Bairbre de Brun will meet members of the Women’s Support Network later this month.

The Ministers have indicated their willingness to take part in the meeting to show their support for the valuable work undertaken by women’s groups and to demonstrate their commitment to the equality agenda.

Mrs Nelis asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail how it is intended to progress new Targeting Social Need (TSN) in respect of the Travelling Community and to state how the Programme for Government can reduce the inequalities experienced by travellers.

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Reply: We are committed to tackling root causes of social exclusion among the Travelling Community.

New TSN is designed to benefit all those objectively shown to be in greatest social need. This includes members of the Travelling Community.

As part of the Promoting Social Inclusion element of New TSN, we have published for consultation the report of a Working Group on Travellers.

After the consultation we will consider the report’s recommendations and views expressed in the consultation. We will then publish a short report identifying what we intend to do over the following 3 years.

Actions in the Programme for Government which will benefit Travellers include:

A commitment to bring forward and implement cross-departmental policies to tackle racial inequality within a 3 year strategic framework; and support for ethnic minority groups and projects.

Development of appropriate permanent accommodation which best meets Travellers’ needs.

Appropriate measures to address the educational needs of Traveller children and children from other minority ethnic backgrounds.

The creation of a social Inclusion/Community Regeneration Fund, which will cover initiatives on community relations and cultural diversity.

A Single Equality Bill to be introduced in 2002 which will bring together existing anti-discrimination law and taken account of recent developments in Europe on discrimination in relation to race.

Implementing Departmental equality schemes, which require proofing of policies to assess their impact on equality of opportunity for persons of different racial groups.

These policies demonstrate our commitment to eradicating racism and to creating the equitable inclusive society we all wish to see in Northern Ireland.

Mr Poots asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail what representations it has made to the Secretary of State regarding human rights abuses by paramilitary organisations.

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Reply: We have not jointly discussed this matter with the Secretary of State. Our respective parties have, however, met the Secretary of State on a number of occasions to express our total condemnation of acts of violence.

Dr McDonnell asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail what steps have been taken to promote community relations within Northern Ireland.

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Reply: We refer the Member to the answer to Assembly Question 844/00, given on 19 February 2001.

Under the Executive’s Community Relations Programme, funding is provided to a wide range of groups which promote community relations, with the bulk of the support channelled through the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council and the District Council Community Relations Programme. In the current financial year the Department’s Community Relations budget, including research provision, amounts to some £5·5m. The Department of Education also has its own community relations programme for schools and young people amounting to £3·4m this financial year. In addition, under the EU Peace Programme "Pathways to Reconciliation" Measure which is administered by the Community Relations Council, over £3m was available for projects during this financial year.

Mr Gibson asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to outline what Government Programmes are in place to support victims of the Omagh Bomb.

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Reply: Following the atrocity, a co-ordinated response to the needs of the victims was put in place by the Northern Ireland Office, which was responsible for all victims’ matters at that time. The Omagh victims can presently avail of a range of help and support, including:

• the Victims Memorial Fund;
• Northern Ireland Office initiatives on core funding and capacity building for victims organisations;
• the forthcoming Peace II programme which will include a specific measure for victims;
• support for the Trauma Advisory Panels and specific projects to be funded by our Department; and
• help and advice from our Department’s Victims Unit.

Mr Hilditch asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail what funding will be made available for the Community Relations programme beyond 31 March 2001.

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Reply: Our Department’s total budget for community relations for the year 2001/2002 will be £5·36 million. Final decisions on the allocation of these resources have not yet been made, but the total is likely to be distributed approximately as follows:

• a grant of £2·7 million to the Community Relations Council;
• £1·65 million for the District Council Community Relations Programme;
• £310,000 for research; and
• £70,000 to fund capital projects and organisations which fall outside the remit of the Community Relations Council.

Our Department will also be responsible for administering the "Reconciliation for Sustainable Peace" measure of the European Peace II programme, with total funding of over £11 million.

The Department of Education has a community relations programme for schools and young people with funding of approximately £3·4 million per year.

Mr Maskey asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to outline the steps being taken to ensure that Public Service Agreements will contain specific linkages between objectives, budget allocations and key targets in respect of Targeting Social Need.

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Reply: The Executive is committed to the objectives of the New Targeting Social Need policy. This is set out clearly in the Programme for Government and in the individual departmental Public Service Agreements. Each of the PSAs has as an integral part a commitment by each department to implement its New TSN Action Plan. New TSN Action Plans have been produced for each department and they contain the details of targets and actions. The Plans are due to be published shortly.

Mr Savage asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail what progress has been made in implementing the actions on addressing the needs of victims, as set out in the chapter entitled, "Growing as a Community" in the Programme for Government.

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Reply: Significant progress has been made on taking forward the actions relating to victims in the Programme for Government. A cross- departmental working group has been established and a draft strategy on victims is being developed which will be subject to widespread consultation.

In addition, capacity building programmes both for victims groups and policy makers have begun; a programme of visits to victims groups has been established; and research will shortly be commissioned to determine victims’ needs and the level and quality of services currently available to them.

Mr J Wilsonasked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to give an assessment on the Executive Programme Funds.

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Reply: The Executive Programme Funds received broad support in our consultation on the draft Programme for Government. The five Funds will be used to support programmes or projects of major importance to the Executive. They will assist the development of new policies and programmes and new, improved services and will have regard to and be fully consistent with the Executive’s Priorities in the Programme for Government. The Executive is expected to consider departmental proposals for allocations from the Funds later this month

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail her projected spend on consultancy services in the 2001/02 financial year.

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The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): Projected expenditure of external management consultancy services in the 2001/02 financial year is estimated at some £0·48m.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail her spending on the promotion and development of organic farming in 2000/01 and proposed spending in 2001/02; and to make a statement.

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Ms Rodgers: My Department’s total spending on the promotion and development of organic farming in 2000/01 will be some £660,000. This expenditure may be broken down as follows:-

• Payments to farmers under the former Organic Aid Scheme and Organic Farming Scheme - £450,000;
• Cost of Organic Conversion Advisory Service (provision of technical advice from Greenmount College) - £112,000;
• Organic Farming Model and Consumer Survey (most of this is payments to farmers to provide detailed data on actual organic farming costs in Northern Ireland to inform the provision of technical advice) - £55,000;
• Strategic Study of the Organic Farming Industry by independent consultants (to ensure that the organic production sector develops in the best possible way to take advantage of market opportunities) - £25,000;
• Administrative costs of the Organic Aid and Organic Farming Schemes - £18,000;

Projected expenditure on the promotion and development of organic farming for 2001/02 is, of course, speculative as it will depend upon how many of those farmers who have indicated interest in entering the Scheme actually do so. That said, our proposed spending for 2001/02 should amount to some £1·2 million pounds. Projected spending may be broken down as follows:-

• Payments to farmers under the former Organic Aid Scheme and Organic Farming Scheme - £1,053,000;
• Costs of Organic Conversion Advisory Service (provision of technical advice from Greenmount College) - £128,000;
• Administrative costs of the Organic Aid and Organic Farming Schemes - £19,000.

Increasing market opportunities have been identified for organic produce and I am doing everything possible to encourage the development of this sector in Northern Ireland. That is why I commissioned consultants to undertake a strategic study on how best to develop organic farming in Northern Ireland. The consultant’s report should be received in early March and I shall, thereafter, initiate an extensive consultation exercise with all interested parties.

Mr Husseyasked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail her spending on the promotion and development of sheep and goats milk and milk products in 2000/01 and proposed spending in 2001/02; and to make a statement.

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Ms Rodgers: The generic promotion of milk, whether from goats, sheep or cows is a matter for the various commercial interests in line with EU State Aid rules. I nevertheless recognise that niche market opportunities exist and we are seeking to exploit these through the development of the goats and sheep milk units and new products. This action will provide valuable alternative enterprises for producers and increased employment opportunities particularly in border counties. In 2000/01 my Department spent £60,141 on development costs for various projects and expects to pay a further £1000 in 2001/02. In addition £49,537 was paid in 2000/01 towards the cost of expanding processing facilities for goats milk products. The low expenditure in 2000/01 is because the various schemes are currently closed for applications and the Transitional Objective 1 Programme for 2000/2006 has not yet been approved by the EU.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development whether she will provide assistance to fishing vessels following reductions in cod quotas in the North Channel and Clyde Estuary.

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Ms Rodgers: It has not been practice to compensate fishermen for loss of earnings due to reductions in the fish quotas. However the European Commission has approved 29m euros for assistance to the Northern Ireland fishing industry as a whole. Details of how this funding is to be allocated between different measures, including for the decommissioning of fishing vessels, have still to be agreed by the Commission as they are contained in the overall Northern Ireland Transitional Objective 1 Programme.

Mr Douglas asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (a) whom she has employed as special advisor(s) (b) the qualifying criteria for the appointment and (c) the remit of the special advisor(s).

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Ms Rodgers: I have appointed Conall McDevitt as a Special Adviser to me as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. Mr McDevitt, was appointed on the basis of his ability to carry out the functions of the post. The remit of my Special Adviser is set out in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the standard contract of employment for such advisers, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail those meetings she has held with pig farmers’ representatives within the last year to discuss the state of the pig industry.

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Ms Rodgers: I am taking the reference in your question to "the last year" to literally mean just that ie the 12 month period ending on 23 February 2001, the date on which your question was tabled. However, as the Assembly was suspended from 11 February to 31 May 2000, in practical terms, the period in question actually begins on 1 June 2000. Since then, I have met three delegations of pig producers accompanied by their political representatives, as well as having meetings with officials from the Ulster Farmers’ Union on a similar number of occasions. I would add that I have responded positively, by agreeing to meetings, to all requests from pig farmers’ representatives who wished to discuss this issue.

In addition, as you would surmise, my officials also have had a number of meetings with the farming unions and interested parties in relation to aid for the sector.

Indeed in January this year, they were involved, in conjunction with the Ulster Farmers’ Union and the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers’ Association, in a series of public meetings about the Pig Industry Restructuring Scheme. Subsequently, and as an immediate follow-up, they ran a number of workshops to provide guidance for those interested in the Ongoers element of the scheme, particularly on the content of business plans. Upwards of 1,000 producers attended the 4 public meetings and around 200 producers (approximately 25% of those still in the sector) attended the 10 workshops.

Culture, Arts and Leisure

Karate in Northern Ireland

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the number of Karate organisations in Northern Ireland.

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The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): The Northern Ireland Karate Board (NIKB) is the Sports Council’s recognised governing body for the sport in Northern Ireland and is directly affiliated to the European Karate Federation and the World Karate Federation. The NIKB is comprised of eight associations, each of which practices a slightly different style of the sport and some of the associations have a number of clubs attached to them. Individual Club members are licenced to take part in the sport and the number of licences which were current, in June 2000, totalled 1,043. In addition, karate is practiced by a number of clubs and other organisations which have chosen not to affiliate to the NIKB. Their membership numbers are not known to the Sports Council, but they operate under a fairly informal umbrella organisation entitled ‘The Ulster Karate Council’.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to give a breakdown of funding made available to the sport of karate in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

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Mr McGimpsey: The breakdown of funding made available to the sport of karate in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years is as follows:

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail his policy on recreational shooting.

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Mr McGimpsey: The term "recreational shooting" embraces a wide variety of shooting activities ranging, for example, from game shooting to target shooting. Underpinning all recreational shooting activity is the absolute need for firearms holders to comply at all times with the Northern Ireland Firearms legislation. Any individual wishing to participate in a recognised bona fide recreational shooting activity is advised to seek the assistance and instruction provided by the appropriate governing body within the shooting disciplines.

In pursuance of the objective of raising the performance level of sport in Northern Ireland the Sports Council currently recognise and invest in the activity programmes of three Northern Ireland Shooting Governing Bodies; namely the Ulster Rifle Association, the Northern Ireland Small Bore Shooting Union and the Ulster Clay Pigeon Shooting Association. Each of these governing bodies has exclusive access to International competition programmes and responsibility for selecting elite performers to represent Northern Ireland at Major competition events such as the Commonwealth Games.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the criteria used by Departmental agencies when distributing funding from the European Union and the International Fund for Ireland in North Antrim.

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Mr McGimpsey: I am not aware of any agencies under my authority that are at present responsible for distributing European funds or funds from the International Fund for Ireland anywhere in Northern Ireland.

Mrs Nelisasked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to initiate a Northern Ireland Audit Office enquiry into the tendering procedures associated with the procurement of the Odyssey Project to establish if this represented best value.

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Mr McGimpsey: All major contracts awarded for the Construction of the Odyssey Project at Queen’s Quay, Belfast were tendered strictly in accordance with European Union Procurement Regulations. These contracts included:

• Appointment of Design Consultants;
• Appointment of Project Manager;
• The Enabling Works Contract;
• The Main Construction Contract.

At all times The Odyssey Trust Company Ltd was advised and guided on tendering matters by its solicitors and other expert consultants.

In the light of this I see no need to initiate a Northern Ireland Audit Office enquiry into the tendering procedures associated with the procurement of the Odyssey Project.

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Education to confirm that (a) pupils at Moderate Learning Difficulty (MLD) schools are denied the option of remaining at school beyond 16 years and (b) this is a situation based on past practice rather than one based upon legislation.

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The Minister of Education (Mr McGuinness): The normal leaving age for pupils at special schools for moderate learning difficulties is the upper limit of compulsory school age (16). At 16 such pupils are generally considered capable of leaving the sheltered environment of such schools and beginning to make their own way in the world independently. Their transition from school to further education or training will have been prepared for from age 14, in consultation with parents, teachers and career officers. Beyond the age of 16, pupils with more severe difficulties, who are still considered to need a statement of special educational needs, will transfer to schools for severe learning difficulties (SLD). In such cases statements can be maintained up to age 19 where pupils need this. These arrangements are made in the best interests of the pupils, and are based on good practice rather than legislation.

Mr Douglas asked the Minister of Education to detail the qualifications required to become a home education tutor.

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Mr M McGuinness: Since home tutors have to teach the same subjects as in school, they are expected to hold the normal qualifications required for appointment as a teacher. Occasionally because of excessive demands on home tuition, Boards may not always be able to obtain the services of qualified teachers. A similar situation exists with regard to the appointment of substitute teachers.

Mr Douglas asked the Minister of Education to detail the maximum number of children assigned to a home tutor in each (a) education and library board area and (b) each local council area in each of the last three years and the current year to date.

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Mr M McGuinness: The information is not available in the form requested.

There is no statutory or recommended maximum number of children who can be assigned to a home tutor. The actual number, however, will depend on a number of factors - age, medical condition of the child, geographical location, the number of subjects the tutor can teach at secondary school level and the number of hours per week that the home tutor is willing to work.

Mr Douglas asked the Minister of Education to detail the cost per hour of a home tutor in each of the education and library board areas for (a) primary and (b) secondary level tutoring and what were the sums expended in each board area in each of the last three years and the current year to date.

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Mr M McGuinness: Home tutors are paid the same hourly rate as part-time teachers. The current hourly rate for qualified home tutors at both primary and secondary school level is £14.47. The available information on expenditure is as follows: -

Mr Douglas asked the Minister of Education to detail the total number of children receiving home tutoring in (a) primary and (b) secondary level education broken down by (i) council and (ii) education and library board area in each of the last three years and the current year to date.

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Mr M McGuinness: I understand from the Education and Library Boards that the information is not available for previous years.

The number of children in each area currently receiving home tuition provided by the relevant Board is as follows:-

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Education to detail the steps he is taking to address the backlog of building replacement and improvements required by all publicly funded schools.

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Mr M McGuinness: On 1 March I announced details of an investment package to address the backlog of building work across the schools estate. The package was in two parts. The first part included 17 projects to be taken forward under the conventional school building programme representing an investment of over £62 million. The second part provided for up to 8 secondary school projects to be taken forward under Public Private Partnerships with a total capital value of some £70 million.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Education to detail the action he is taking to mitigate the impact of no-win, no fee litigation on schools’ liability for injuries incurred in school playgrounds.

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Mr M McGuinness: All school authorities are aware of their responsibility for the safety of pupils, the prevention of injury and thus avoidance of litigation. It is a matter for the owners of school property - education and library boards or voluntary trustees - to deal with public liability claims in light of their own legal advice.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Education to detail when he will reach his target of 87% pre-school places and to make a statement.

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Mr M McGuinness: I expect that, as a result of my Department’s Pre-School Education Expansion Programme, some 9,200 new pre-school education places will have been secured by 2001/02, thus reaching the target of making places available for at least 85% of all children in their final pre-school year.

Mr Douglas asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of home education tutors available at (a) primary and (b) secondary level in (i) each education and library board area and (ii) each district council area and how many were actually employed in each of those areas in each of the last three years and the current year to date.

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Mr M McGuinness: I understand from the Education and Library Boards that the information is not available in the form requested, or for previous years.

Four Boards have registers of home tutors and current numbers on their registers are as follows: -

Home tuition in the Belfast Board area is provided by the Belfast Hospital and Jaffe Special Schools.

At any time, the tutors actually employed reflect pupil needs: tutors are drawn from the list according to the age of the child, the subjects to be taught (if of secondary school age), the reason for absence from school, and geographical availability. If no-one suitable on the register is available, the board may make arrangements using peripatetic teaching staff, through the child’s own school, or using a substitute teacher.

The latest available information about the number of home tutors actually employed in each Education and Library Board area in the current school year is as follows: -

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of requests received by the Northern Ireland Council for the Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment to remark "A" level examination papers in (a) 1998 (b) 1999 and (c) 2000 and to give his assessment of the implications of any regrading.

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Mr M McGuinness: I understand from the Chief Executive of CCEA that the information requested is as follows:

The reduction in the number of requests is a result of the Council making more detailed information on results available to candidates. For candidates using the Council’s accelerated remark service, a change in grade should have no implications for their ability to take up a university place. CCEA is the only examination board which sets a 15 day remark service and meets that target.

Mr S Wilson asked the Minister of Education to detail the religious breakdown of teachers employed in each of the following sectors (a) Controlled (b) Catholic Maintained (c) Voluntary (d) Integrated and (e) Irish Medium in each of the last two years for which figures are available.

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Mr M McGuinness: It is not possible to provide these figures as information on the religion of teachers is not collected.

Mrs Nelis asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to give his assessment on the prospects for future employment in the textile industry in the North-West.

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The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): The Kurt Salmon Associates (KSA) Report set out an action plan to address the problems faced by the textile and clothing industry in Northern Ireland. The KSA Report has been endorsed by the Government, industry bodies and the trade unions. An implementation team, including representatives from the industry in the North West, IDB and other parties, is taking forward the key recommendations. The Report anticipates a change in the nature of employment in favour of higher value added skills of merchandising, brand management, design, supply chain management and IT, as well as manufacture of higher value products.

Mr Maskey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the steps he is taking in conjunction with the voluntary and community sectors to agree an integrated approach to the development of the social economy in order to maximise its contribution to economic growth as outlined in the draft Programme for Government.

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Sir Reg Empey: The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in conjunction with the Department of Social Development and other interested Departments has recently appointed a consortium of Colin Stutt (consultant), Dr Brendan Murtagh (QUB) and Professor Mike Campbell (Leeds Metropolitan University) to carry out a study on the Social Economy for completion by end of April 2001 and covering the following areas –

• agree a working definition of the Social Economy;
• provide a profile of the existing social economy measures outlining the resources involved and key outputs;
• identify key policies of central importance and best practices in Northern Ireland and elsewhere;
• recommend a range of actions and programmes which are particularly suited to implementation at a local level;
• report on the present role of the Social Economy Agency; and
• develop a monitoring and evaluation framework including indicators.

The consultancy study will be ‘participative’ in that contact will be made with key social economy and community sectors, trade union and business interests and agencies. A website has also been set up to allow a wide range of interested parties to contribute. The address is http://www.colinstutt.com/social_economy.htm An interdepartmental steering group has also been established to oversee the process and comprises representatives from DETI, DSD, DARD, DHFETE, LEDU and NICVA. The intention is that the study will inform the development of a strategy for development of the social economy for consideration by the Executive.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail what types of partnership arrangements he is considering for the future development of the Causeway tourist site.

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Sir Reg Empey: Moyle District Council, in conjunction with the National Trust, DOE Environment & Heritage Service and NITB are engaged in a process designed to identify, agree and co-ordinate the most appropriate way to take forward the development of the Causeway site. This process will identify and test various options for the provision of appropriate visitor facilities at what is Northern Ireland’s only World Heritage site.

Mr Bradley asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the steps he is taking to involve the rural community in the tourism industry.

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Sir Reg Empey: The development of rural community tourism offers opportunities for the regeneration of rural areas. In recognition of this NITB in conjunction with DARD, and DOE Environment & Heritage Service have been working together on a collaborative bid for a natural resource rural tourism measure under the Peace II element of the next round of EU funding.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he intends to offer grant aid assistance to Carpets International to bring the roof of the factory to the standards required by health and safety regulations.

(AQW 2001/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The Company is renewing the factory roof on its own volition. I understand some 75 per cent of the work is already complete. It is not normal practice to offer grant assistance for normal maintenance of property.

Mr Douglas asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (a) whom he has employed as special advisor(s) (b) the qualifying criteria used for the appointment and (c) the remit of the special advisor(s).

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(a) The Minister, Sir Reg Empey, Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has appointed Ray Hayden as special advisor.

(b) The selection criteria used for the appointment were:

• He/she will need a wide network of political contacts in NI, and preferably beyond, and be able to present the Minister’s positions and perspectives positively and sensitively, absorb the views of others in the political arena and gain understanding of the likely actions by both opponents and supporters.
• He/she will need to have or be able to gain the confidence of those in the ETI Assembly Committee and in the North-South and East-West institutions and bodies relevant to the work of the Minister.
• He/she will need to be able to maintain an overview of the operational activities of the Department and their impact.
• He/she will have an understanding of how legislation is conceived and of its passage through the Assembly.
• He/she will require to have an in-depth working knowledge of the UUP’s economic policies and agenda for Government and be able to discuss these appropriately with party members, other Ministers, Assembly members and with a wide range of people in the economics, business and political fields in and beyond NI.
• He/she will have to have a reputation for being discreet, but will need experience in and talent for developing positive public relations and excellent media handling.

(c) The remit is set out in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the standard contract of employment for such advisers, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

Mr Dallat asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (a) the cost of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board’s "Gulliver " project and (b) the income the project has generated locally, since its inception.

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Sir Reg Empey: Gulliver is an innovative project developed jointly by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board and Bord Failte. The development cost borne by the Northern Ireland Tourist Board prior to Public Private Partnerships (PPP) arrangements in 1997 is £1.5m. Income generated locally over the past 5 years averages £129k per annum.

Mr Dallat asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (a) how many Northern Ireland accommodation providers currently subscribe to "Gulliver" (b) what proportion of all Northern Ireland accommodation providers this represents and (c) how many accommodation bookings were secured through "Gulliver" by local providers in 2000.

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Sir Reg Empey: 694 accommodation premises currently subscribe to Gulliver, representing 39% of all tourist accommodation in Northern Ireland. 3,165 automated bookings, to the value of £165k were secured through Gulliver to local providers in 2000.

Mr Dallat asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the action he is taking following the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Northern Ireland Tourist Board.

(AQW 2059/00)

Sir Reg Empey: I can confirm that all weaknesses identified in the Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General regarding the Northern Ireland Tourist Board have been addressed fully and new control procedures are already in place.

Mr Dallat asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (a) which company printed the Northern Ireland Tourist Board’s brochure "Where to Stay in Northern Ireland" for 1999 (b) whether the printing contract was competitively tendered (c) how many copies of the brochure were printed (d) the cost of the contract and (e) how many of these copies were pulped.

(AQW 2060/00)

Sir Reg Empey: The 1999 edition of "Where to Stay in Northern Ireland" was printed after tendering by W&G Baird Ltd. Two other companies tendered for the contract and a total of 15,000 copies were printed at a total cost of £18,370. At the end of the year a total of 3118 copies were unsold and were pulped.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail his plans to market Carrickfergus Castle as a major tourist attraction.

(AQW 2064/00)

Sir Reg Empey: Carrickfergus Castle is owned by DOE Environment and Heritage Service and is promoted along with other major monuments by that agency. The opportunity for the property to be promoted by the regional tourism organisation, as part of the Causeway Coast and Glens Ltd brand, exists and is currently being considered by Environment and Heritage Service.

Mr Dallat asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the benefits realised for Northern Ireland accommodation providers as a result of the introduction of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board’s "Gulliver" system.

(AQW 2073/00)

Sir Reg Empey: Gulliver permits details of every accommodation premises in Northern Ireland to be distributed to Tourist Information Offices throughout Ireland and provides international presence via the Internet. In addition, Gulliver provides on-line reservations capability for almost 40% of tourism accommodation providers in Northern Ireland.

Mrs Courtney asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to give his assessment on the draft Programme for Government commitments on Energy Infrastructure.

(AQO 906/00)

Sir Reg Empey: Promoting the development and reinforcement of the gas and electricity infrastructure on an all-island basis is essential to improve our competitiveness, create a downward pressure on prices, and secure Northern Ireland’s position within a European energy market.

Rev Dr William McCrea asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail what plans the Industrial Development Board for Northern Ireland has to attract investment to the Mid-Ulster area.

(AQO 911/00)

Sir Reg Empey: IDB promotes Northern Ireland in targeted overseas markets and works with local councils, including those in Mid Ulster, both to support the councils’ own efforts and to ensure co-operation with IDB in the attraction of projects. IDB has recently acquired land for a new industrial estate in the Magherafelt area.

Mr McGrady asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail what action will be taken to safeguard the telecommunications jobs in the Viasystems factory located on the Antrim Road, Ballynahinch, and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 2191/00)

Sir Reg Empey: IDB maintains a close working relationship with management at Ballynahinch and with its parent in the UK. The IDB and the company recently completed an "e-business" initiative regarding fast-turn manufacture that will lead to new business opportunities over the next 3/6 months.

In the short-term, the company will continue to monitor the market/business conditions closely and react to the situation in matching its workload and employment levels. The company will liaise closely with IDB.

Management at Viasystems in Ballynahinch are confident regarding medium-term prospects and will be working closely with IDB to develop the business.

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