Friday 9 March 2001
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Mr Berry asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail what system of pay is used to determine the remuneration of night shift nurses when they are on leave.

(AQW 2113/00)

Ms de Brún: The remuneration of night shift nurses during their statutory entitlement of four weeks annual leave is governed by the Working Time Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1998 and the Employment Rights (Northern Ireland) Order 1996. Due to the complex nature of the legislation and the diversity of working patterns of staff employed in the HPSS, a working group representing HPSS employers, staff organisations and my officials has been established to agree the appropriate method for calculating payments. Agreement is expected shortly.

Remuneration for annual leave in excess of the four weeks statutory entitlement is determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of service applicable to nursing staff. These provisions do not allow for enhanced payments for night shift working to be paid to staff while on leave.

Tá íocaíocht banaltraí sealoibre oíche le linn a saoire bliantúla reachtúla ceithre seachtaine atá siad i dteideal, leagtha amach san Ord Rialacha Ama Oibre (TÉ) 1998 agus san Ord Cearta Fostaíochta (TÉ) 1996. Mar gheall ar ghné choimpléascach na reachtaíochta agus ar éagsúlacht phatrúin oibre na foirne fostaithe sna SSPS, bunaíodh grúpa oibre ag seasamh d’fhostóirí SSPS, d’eagraíochtaí foirne agus do mo chuid oifigeach leis an mhodh chuí d’áireamh íocaíochtaí a chomhaontú. Táthar ag súil le comhaontú ar ball.

Cinntear íocaíocht do shaoire bhliantúil níos mó ná na ceithre seachtaine reachtúla atáthar i dteideal, de réir téarmaí agus coinníollacha na seirbhíse maidir leis an fhoireann banaltrachta. Ní chuireann na forálacha seo san áireamh íocaíochtaí méadaithe do shealobair oíche, le bheith íoctha don fhoireann agus iad ar saoire.

Mr Adams asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the amount of travel expenses and subsistence allowances paid to the Chief Executive of each Health and Social Services Trust in each of the last four years for which figures are available.

(AQW 2183/00)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is shown in the table below.

Léirítear an t-eolas a iarradh sa tábla thíos.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail his plans to inform student/parents about childcare available in their area.

(AQW 1969/00)

The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Dr Farren): The Northern Ireland Childcare Strategy, which is the joint responsibility of DHSS&PS, the Department of Education and DHFETE, includes a commitment to establish a childcare information system in order to make childcare more accessible.

The Inter-Departmental Group on Early Years (DHFETE, DHSS&PS and DE officials) will shortly convene a multi-agency project board to take forward this work, with the aim of establishing by March 2002 a system that will provide parents with childcare information that is local, reliable, up-to-date and comprehensive.

In the meantime local childcare information is available from the following sources:

• the four Childcare Partnerships (based in the HSSBs);
• local HSS Trusts;
• the Northern Ireland Childminding Association (NICMA);
• PlayBoard (for out-of-school-hours childcare);
• NIPPA (for pre-school playgroups) and
• childcare providers themselves.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail the average amount of funding per student at the Queen’s University, Belfast and the University of Ulster in each of the last four years.

(AQW 1978/00)

Dr Farren: The average amount of funding per full-time equivalent student funded by my Department is as follows:

The level of funding per full-time equivalent student at a university depends on the subject being studied. Differences in the average funding levels between universities are accounted for by the different distribution of subjects studied by students in each university.

Mr Bradley asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail the steps he is taking to make the rural community aware of the availability of Information Technology training currently being promoted by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

(AQW 1993/00)

Dr Farren: My Department works closely with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to ensure that the rural community has access to learning opportunities that are relevant and timely. My officials are aware of the opportunities available and have ensured that Learndirect, the free information service, has information on courses and that Individual Learning Accounts support appropriate training.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, pursuant to AQW 1689/00, to outline his plans to assist higher education institutions in bidding for support for projects under the European Community Canada Programme for co-operation in higher education and training and to make a statement.

(AQW 2043/00)

Dr Farren: I have no such plans. The bidding process is a matter for the higher education institutions themselves.

Mr Douglas asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment 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).

(AQW 2050/00)

(a) I have appointed Mr Brendan Mulgrew as my special advisor;

(b) Mr Mulgrew was appointed on the basis of his ability to carry out the functions of the post;

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to outline his policy to reduce youth and long term unemployment and to make a statement.

(AQW 2132/00)

Dr Farren: The main initiative for tackling unemployment is the New Deal programme which has already helped a significant number of young people and adults make the transition from benefit to work.

An enhanced New Deal 25+ programme, which will offer a flexible package of help, tailored to meet the individual needs of participants, will be introduced from, 9 April this year.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to give his assessment of the effect of the New Deal on the employment prospects of young people.

(AQW 2133/00)

Dr Farren: The evidence from surveys is that most young people who have participated in New Deal feel that it has improved their chances of finding permanent work. An independent survey of 18-24 year olds found that eight months after they had left New Deal 50% reported being in employment.

Mr Beggs asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to provide his assessment of the number of Northern Ireland students dropping out of further and higher education courses and what arrangements are in place to monitor this issue.

(AQW 2137/00)

Dr Farren: An exercise aimed specifically at reporting retention information at the NI further education colleges has been commissioned and the first results should be available later in 2001.

Non-completion rates for higher education institutions in the UK are calculated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE). They are available only at institutional level, therefore it is not currently possible to identify students by country of domicile.

There are fewer students finishing with neither an award nor transfer (drop-out) in NI institutions than the UK average. In the University of Ulster, the figure at, 12% is significantly lower than the benchmark level at 16%. In QUB the figure is 10%, compared to a benchmark level of 9%.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail his projected spend on consultancy services in the 2001/02 financial year.

(AQW 1927/00)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Campbell): Projected spend on external consultancy services in the 2001/02 financial year is estimated at £1·839m.

Mr McNamee asked the Minister for Regional Development to confirm whether an additional post of Principal Private Secretary has been created in his Department and to make a statement.

(AQW 2020/00)

Mr Campbell: A new post of Principal Private Secretary at Grade 7 level was trawled within the Northern Ireland Civil Service with a closing date of 13 February. However, it has subsequently been decided that some of the duties and responsibilities for this post require further refinement. The context for the post has, therefore, been revisited and a new competition for a Grade 7 vacancy will take place shortly. This post will, like the original proposed post, be located in the Department’s Central Policy and Management Unit. The new post will include many of the duties specified in the original trawl notice plus other duties arising from a restructuring of the Unit.

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

(AQW 2046/00)

Mr Campbell: I appointed Mr Richard Bullick as my special adviser. He took up the appointment on 9 October 2000.

In advance of his selection and appointment, I established selection criteria as recommended in paragraphs 7 and 8 of the Code of Practice on the Appointment of Special Advisers, which is made available to Ministers to provide advice and guidance on the method of appointment of Special Advisers.

The remit of the Special Adviser is set out in Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the standard contract of employment for such advisors, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail discussions he has had with Maritrade regarding the proposed new ferry from Carrickfergus to Belfast.

(AQW 2056/00)

Mr Campbell: I met with the Managing Director of Maritrade, and others associated with the project, on 23 November 2000 to hear details of their proposals for the provision of a low-wash ferry service on Belfast Lough. Since then my officials have maintained close contact with the company and have assisted the promoters in seeking to establish the new service.

I understand that the company hopes to begin the service this summer and that it will link both Carrickfergus and Bangor with Belfast (Laganside).

I very much welcome the initiative shown by Maritrade in seeking to develop this innovative service and wish the company every success with the project.

Mrs Nelis asked the Minister for Regional Development if he intends to introduce water rates and to make a statement.

(AQW 2078/00)

Mr Campbell: I am not considering the introduction of domestic water rates at this present moment. However, I will be paying close attention to the progress of the Department of Finance and Personnel’s review of rating policy, and its implications for the future funding of water and sewerage services.

The Member will be aware that non-domestic consumers currently pay for water and sewerage services through metered water and trade effluent charges.

Mr Neeson asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the steps he is taking to alleviate traffic problems on the A2 Carrickfergus to Belfast road.

(AQO 973/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department aims to alleviate traffic problems on the A2 Carrickfergus to Belfast road, and on other main arterial routes, by pursuing an integrated transport strategy that will make best use of the existing road network and develop and encourage the use of alternative modes of transport.

In that context, Roads Service has plans to widen 2 sections of Shore Road between Greencastle and Merville Garden Village and between Shore Avenue and Island Park to 4 lanes. These schemes, along with other proposed major road schemes on arterial routes into Belfast, will be considered as part of the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan.

Also, the anticipated delivery of Translink’s new rolling stock, comprising 23 new train sets, during late 2003/04 and the proposed refurbishment of the railway line between Belfast and Carrickfergus in 2002/03, should encourage more commuters to switch from cars to train. In the longer-term, Translink will consider the provision of more Park and Ride facilities at stations along this line.

Mr C Murphy asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the steps he has taken to remove any restrictions within his Departmental remit on the use of the Irish language.

(AQO 992/00)

Mr Campbell: The use of the Irish language within this Department will be considered within the context of part 3 of the Council of Europe Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, once ratified.

Mr M Murphy asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail what progress has been made on the production of a computerised system for the verification and registration of road works and to make a statement.

(AQO 965/00)

Mr Campbell: I refer the Member to my response to his Assembly Question (AQO 302/00) on 20 November 2000 when I advised that a computer- based Northern Ireland Street Works Register and Notification System is already in place. It has been operating successfully across the country since September 2000.

Mr Maskey asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the legislative proposals he is taking to promote the use of the Irish language on road signage.

(AQO 975/00)

Mr Campbell: I have no proposals to promote the use of the Irish language, or any other language, on road traffic signs. As I have previously stated in the House, the cost of changing signs throughout Northern Ireland would be several million pounds. I believe that the public would expect me to concentrate the resources available to me to improve the road infrastructure in Northern Ireland.

Mr Ford asked the Minister for Regional Development to give his assessment on Road Service control of road openings by utility companies.

(AQO 981/00)

Mr Campbell: At the outset I want to make clear that Roads Service has no power to prevent utilities from making a road opening. Utilities provide essential services for our society so they have been given a statutory right to excavate public roads to install and maintain pipes and cables. The number of utility openings has more than doubled from 21,000 in 1992 to 46,000 last year.

Against that background Roads Service has been working with the utilities to manage this activity. It has:

• operated a computerised Street Works register across Northern Ireland since September 2000;
• formally implemented 2 of the 5 planned Codes of Practice, with alternative statutory provision in place for the Safety Code and is using the remaining two Codes on a non-statutory basis; and
• established a formal training and accreditation system for utility staff employed on roadworks.

Much has been done, but more is needed. For that reason I welcome the Northern Ireland Audit Office Report published on 22 February 2001 and will be looking forward to making further progress in this important area in close co-operation with the utilities.

Mr McFarland asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail his plans to improve traffic flow on the A2 road between Bangor and Belfast.

(AQO 946/00)

Mr Campbell: Within the past year, my Department’s Roads Service has modernised traffic signal equipment at 3 junctions along this route and has installed 4 slow scan CCTV cameras from which the prevailing traffic flows can be monitored. Also, Roads Service is currently in the process of commissioning an extension of its computerised Urban Traffic Control system to include 10 junctions on the route from Redburn Square, Holywood to Ballysallagh Road, Clandeboye. When completed, the system will enable the timings of traffic signals to be adjusted to cater for the variety of traffic flows throughout the day and it will assist in maximising the operational efficiency of junctions along the route.

My Department aims, however, to tackle the growing problem of traffic congestion on all main arterial routes by pursuing an integrated transport strategy that will make best use of the existing road network and develop and encourage the use of alternative modes of transport. As regards the latter, the imminent completion of the Bangor Bus and Rail Station, the refurbishment of Central Station by early 2002, the relaying of the Belfast to Bangor railway line within the coming months and the anticipated delivery of new rolling stock during 2003/04, all provide the potential for encouraging motorists to switch to public transport when travelling along this corridor.

Mr McElduff asked the Minister for Regional Development to undertake to extend the safer routes to schools initiative to include places of worship.

(AQO 968/00)

Mr Campbell: The Safer Routes to Schools Initiative was prompted by the need to address the increased traffic congestion and pollution caused by the school run, particularly during the morning peak period in school term. I am not aware of any significant traffic congestion or road safety issues that would support extending this initiative to include places of worship.

My Department’s Roads Service does, however, address road safety problems in other ways. For example, it has a specific programme of works targeting accident reduction and problems relating to specific locations are considered for appropriate remedial action within that programme.

Mr McGrady asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail what steps have been taken on the establishment of a special modernisation fund for the provision of new roads and water and sewerage infrastructure in Northern Ireland and to make a statement.

(AQO 999/00)

Mr Campbell: I have consistently highlighted the massive infrastructure funding needs facing us and Members will be familiar with the requirement for £3 billion for water and sewerage over the next 20 years and £2 billion for roads and transport over the next ten years. In light of those figures, I am very much in favour of a special one-off injection, which a modernisation fund might provide to address deficiencies in these areas. In the meantime, I have asked for extra resources under four of the new Executive Programme Funds. In particular I have bid for some £90 million, over 5 years, from the Infrastructure/Capital Renewal Fund to help me tackle these serious deficiencies.

Mr Savage asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the number of traffic calming schemes that have been implemented in each month since he took office.

(AQO 1009/00)

Mr Campbell: Since my appointment as Regional Development Minister my Department’s Roads Service has commenced construction on 26 traffic calming schemes throughout Northern Ireland as follows:-

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline his policy on traffic calming measures.

(AQO 969/00)

Mr Campbell: I am aware of the growing number of requests for traffic calming measures throughout Northern Ireland, particularly in the greater Belfast area. The number of potential schemes far exceeds the resources available to my Department’s Roads Service for such work. Accordingly, a scoring system has been developed using criteria that have been drawn up to identify those sites where the greatest benefits may be achieved, primarily in accident reduction. The criteria include, for example, the history of personal injury road accidents, the volume and speed of traffic and the road environment. In addition, increased emphasis is given to accidents involving children and the elderly.

Members may recall that, in response to an Oral Assembly Question on 18 December 2000, I announced my intention to introduce 10 pilot traffic calming schemes across Northern Ireland to explore ways of progressing schemes more quickly and, at the same time, ensuring full and meaningful consultation with local people. I will be announcing full details of this initiative later this month.

Mr Gibson asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the steps he is taking to ensure that hamlets have an adequate sewage disposal system.

(AQO 950/00)

Mr Campbell: Water Service plans to invest £7.5 million over the next 5 years to provide public sewerage facilities to some 1,500 properties in approximately 42 rural hamlets.

Approximately 83% of properties in Northern Ireland are served by the public sewerage system. In addition, Water Service provides a desludging service for approximately 40,000 private septic tanks. Properly installed and maintained septic tanks are a satisfactory means of disposing of domestic wastewater across the United Kingdom and will continue to be the most cost effective system for many rural properties.

The provision of a public sewerage facility to every hamlet in Northern Ireland would require hundreds of millions of pounds of public funding and would divert resources from other high priority areas of investment.

Mr Hay asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail his plans to upgrade the A5 road from Magheramason to Newbuildings, County Londonderry.

(AQO 991/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department’s Roads Service is considering a proposal to widen a two kilometre stretch of the A5 road between Magheramason and Newbuildings. The scheme, which would cost approximately £2 million to complete, will be assessed for possible inclusion in the 10-Year Forward Planning Schedule. Needless to say, there are many schemes competing for a place in this schedule. I hope to be in a position to announce details later this year.

Mr Maskey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the steps he is taking, through the Promoting Social Inclusion dimension of Targeting Social Need (TSN), to identify ways of tackling those factors that may cause social exclusion which may require a cross Departmental approach.

(AQW 1970/00)

The Minister for Social Development (Mr Morrow): Promoting social inclusion is seen as a high priority for this Department. Indeed in the Department’s New TSN Action Plan, which will be included in the second New TSN Annual Report, one of the 4 key themes which has been identified is "Addressing Social Exclusion".

Although promoting social inclusion applies to all areas of the Department’s business, it will have particular relevance in the areas of Urban Regeneration and Community Development. My Department will aim to bring about social, economic and physical regeneration and redress disadvantage in cities, town and villages as well as continuing to make assessments of social exclusion across Northern Ireland. We will also aim to promote an active Voluntary and Community Sector and partnership between Government and the Sector.

Evidence of the work the Department for Social Development has already been involved in to tackle those factors that may cause social exclusion, is provided through the Promoting Social Inclusion (PSI) Working Group on Travellers, which was established in June 1999. This Group, chaired by my Department, looked at all the issues affecting Travellers such as accommodation, health, social services, education and training. As well as members from the relevant central government Departments, the group included Travellers and representatives from the Traveller’s support organisations. The report was submitted to OFMDFM in July 2000 who have subsequently issued it for public consultation. The consultation period will end on 30 April 2001.

I am totally committed to establishing the Department for Social Development as one of the foremost New TSN Departments. To do that I will ensure that my Department will continue to work both cross-departmentally and with partners outside Government to identify and tackle factors which contribute to social exclusion.

Mrs Nelisasked the Minister for Social Development to detail the resources he has targeted to the Travelling Community and to make a statement.

(AQW 2015/00)

Mr Morrow: My Department has allocated a considerable amount of resources towards identifying the accommodation needs of Travellers and will continue to react to meeting those needs in the future.

Over the last two financial years an annual grant of £35,000 has been given to the Lee Hestia Housing Association to liaise and consult Travellers regarding accommodation. My Department is also funding four pilot group housing schemes that are designed and constructed specifically for Travellers. The first of these, at Omagh, has commenced and hopefully two others will commence in the next financial year. The start date of the fourth scheme is dependent on the completion of the statutory processes. The total cost of these schemes is estimated at over £10m.

For each of the next two financial years my Department has made available £100,000 to provide grant aid for the capital costs of providing authorised sites by District Councils, and immediate basic facilities on other sites.

Mr Douglasasked the Minister for Social Development to detail (a) whom he has employed as special adviser(s) (b) the qualifying criteria used for the appointment and (c) the remit of the special adviser(s).

(AQW 2082/00)

Mr Morrow: I have appointed Mr Ian Crozier as a special adviser on the basis of his ability to carry out all the functions contained in the job description for the post. Furthermore, a detailed knowledge of Democratic Unionist Party policies and the necessary political skills were essential requirements. 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 Armstrongasked the Minister for Social Development to detail the number of Northern Ireland Housing Executive properties sold within (a) Magherafelt District Council area (b) Dungannon Borough Council area (c) Cookstown District Council area and (d) the revenue generated from their sale within the last three years.

(AQW 2097/00)

Mr Morrow: The Northern Ireland Housing Executive has advised that detailed financial records at district council level are only available from the house sales computer records from the 1999/2000 financial year onwards and are as follows:

Mr M Robinsonasked the Minister for Social Development to detail when he intends to conduct a quinquennial review of the Social Security Agency.

(AQW 2142/00)

Mr Morrow: The Second Quinquennial Review of the Social Security Agency was due to have been undertaken in the last year. However, I have decided to postpone the review for a further year mainly for 2 reasons. First, the Social Security Agency is about to embark on one of the most ambitious programmes to modernise the social security benefit system through implementation of the Welfare Reform and Modernisation initiative. In addition a central review of finance and personnel functions in the Northern Ireland Civil Service is underway and this could have a significant bearing on flexibilities to the chief executive.

Mr M Robinsonasked the Minister for Social Development to detail when he expects to publish the bilateral concordat between his Department and the Department of Social Security.

(AQW 2143/00)

Mr Morrow: The Secretary of State for Social Security and I have agreed the text of the concordat between the Department of Social Security and the Department for Social Development. Copies of the concordat have been placed in the Assembly Library.

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