Friday 6 April 2001
Written Answers to Questions

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment, pursuant to AQW 1468/00, to (a) confirm that an identical course offered by Further Education Colleges and Universities can attract different funding levels and (b) explain the reason for this inconsistency.

(AQW 2380/00)

The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Dr Farren): As indicated in my response to AQW/1468/00, students attending similar courses offered by Further Education Colleges and Universities can attract different funding levels due to the operation of different funding methodologies.

In further education, the funding methodology takes into account various factors including the mode of delivery; the course duration; whether the course is vocational or non-vocational; the subject area; and includes various weighting factors dependent on the category of student. In universities, the methodology is based on costs which have been determined for each full-time equivalent student within four broad groups of subjects.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to give his assessment of the business case presented by the governing body of Omagh College for a new build college and to make a statement.

(AQW 2466/00)

Dr Farren: The Outline Business Case for the Tyrone Colleges Project, which encompasses new colleges for Omagh and East Tyrone, was presented to my Department on 7 March 2001. Departmental officials are currently assessing the Business Case. Departmental approval to proceed to procurement will be given if the assessment is positive.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail a starting date and timescale for the public inquiry into the final stage of the Omagh Through-Pass.

(AQW 2417/00)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Campbell): My Department’s Roads Service has made arrangements for the public inquiry for the Environmental Statement for the proposed Omagh Throughpass Stage 3 scheme to commence on Monday 21 May 2001.

This will be followed by the public inquiry in relation to the scheme’s Direction Order and subsequently the public inquiry in relation to the Vesting Order, if required. I would expect the Direction Order Inquiry to take place in the Autumn of this year.

Mr Armstrong asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail (a) the income from parking tickets for the constituency of Mid Ulster for each of the past three years and (b) the related administration and operational costs to recover this income.

(AQW 2425/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department’s Roads Service has no charged car parks in the parliamentary constituency of Mid Ulster. It does not therefore derive any income (nor incur any costs in collecting income) from its car parks in the constituency.

Dr Birnie asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail his assessment of the desirability and feasibility of removing Crown Immunity from the Water Service.

(AQW 2452/00)

Mr Campbell: The Public Accounts Committee, in its hearing on the Northern Ireland Audit Office report on River Pollution, raised the matter of the Crown Immunity of the Water Service. The environmental regulation of the Water Service is the responsibility of the Department of the Environment and I will be liaising with the Minister of the Environment on how this issue is to be progressed.

Mr Byrne asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline what steps he is taking to obtain the necessary finances for the immediate capital investment in roads infrastructure.

(AQO 1253/00)

Mr Campbell: As I indicated in my reply to a recent similar Assembly Question on this subject, I am very conscious that existing levels of funding to maintain and improve the road network fall short of what is required.

In this context I entered substantial bids for both roads capital and roads structural maintenance in the 2000 Spending Review. While some additional funds were confirmed as a result of that review, the indicative baselines for 2002-03 and 2003-04 continue to be significantly underprovided.

I therefore entered bids for additional funding, in excess of £48m over the next five years, from the newly created Infrastructure Fund.

I will continue to bid for the very necessary additional resources in subsequent Spending Reviews and at every other opportunity.

In the meantime, I can assure the member that my Department will continue to seek to make the best use of the resources currently available to develop and maintain the roads infrastructure.

Mr Carrick asked the Minister for Regional Development to specify the location and length of any public watermains containing asbestos cement.

(AQO 1204/00)

Mr Campbell: There are approximately 1,250 miles of asbestos cement watermains which are located in many parts of Northern Ireland. This represents less than 10% of the total length of watermains.

Laying asbestos cement watermains was common practice throughout the UK water industry until the early 1970s. Most of the asbestos cement watermains in Northern Ireland were laid by the former local water authorities prior to 1973.

Mr Wells asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline the progress made in discussions between officials from his department and those from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on compensation payments for sheep farmers in the inner Mournes.

(AQO 1241/00)

Mr Campbell: Two recent meetings have been held between my officials and officials from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. During these meetings officials explored the steps that might be taken to assist the farmers affected by the ban on sheep grazing in the Silent Valley catchment.

I am proposing to have a meeting with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to discuss these matters. However the focus within DARD at the moment has had to be on the immediate consequences of the foot and mouth outbreak.

Mr Neeson asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline what progress has been made in acquiring new rolling stock for Northern Ireland Railways.

(AQO 1215/00)

Mr Campbell: Translink has advised that Technical Procurement Consultants have now been engaged in order to provide the technical input and support for the procurement of 23 new trains. With input from these consultants, Translink is currently in the process of carrying out a pre-procurement review which will consider the range of rolling stock options available. Following completion of this review, Translink will be in a position to prepare technical performance specifications and invitations to tender.

The Economic Appraisal for the procurement has been approved by the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company Board and is now being considered by my Department and the Department of Finance and Personnel. Indications are that outright purchase is the preferred option over leasing. However, this option would necessitate major capital expenditure over the next two to three financial years.

Lease options, while not necessitating such initial outlay, represent a greater longer term call on public expenditure.

Mr Hay asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the number of unadopted roads in the Londonderry area.

(AQO 1227/00)

Mr Campbell: Within the Derry City Council area, there are currently 85 roads associated with new housing developments. These are at various stages of construction by the relevant developer and so have not yet been adopted by my Department’s Roads Service.

These roads comprise some 19km of roadway, 38km of footway and 6km of shared surface and have a bonded value of approximately £4M.

Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline what progress is being made on road safety improvements to the A26 between Ballymoney and Ballymena.

(AQO 1194/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department’s Roads Service has made good progress in implementing road safety improvements on the A26 between Ballymoney and Ballymena. A package of measures costing some £400,000 is to be implemented over 2 years and will be completed by March 2002. Around 50% of the package has already been undertaken including:

• the introduction of two stretches of 50 mph speed limit;
• extensive street lighting improvements;
• the provision of pedestrian facilities;
• improvements at a number of key junctions; and
• the introduction of double white lining systems, special cats eyes and central islands.

In addition to the above safety works:

• resurfacing work costing some £100K has been completed at the Dunloy, Seacon Park and Burnquarter junctions; and
• schemes to construct a climbing/overtaking lane from New Buildings to Glenlough and differential acceleration lanes at either side of the Portrush Roundabout (total cost approximately £600K) are underway.

Mrs E Bell asked the Minister for Regional Development to give an update on the provision of water sewage treatment works in North Down.

(AQO 1214/00)

Mr Campbell: A substantial programme of work is under way or is planned to improve wastewater treatment facilities in the North Down area to ensure compliance with regulatory standards including The Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations (NI) 1995.

The Wastewater Treatment Works at Kinnegar is currently being upgraded under a Private Finance Initiative Scheme. It is due for completion in early summer of 2001 at a capital cost of some £10 million.

A new Wastewater Treatment Works, estimated to cost £35 million, is planned to serve the Bangor, Donaghadee and Millisle areas. Two sites have been shortlisted. I have invited the North Down and Ards Borough Councils to participate in a Working Party to review the suitability of the criteria and processes used in the site selection. I would hope that this review can be completed by the end of June 2001 and will enable a decision to be made on the site for the proposed new Works.

The existing Wastewater Treatment Works at Seahill is to be upgraded at an estimated cost of over £3 million. It is planned to commence work in late 2002. The upgraded Works will also treat the wastewater from the Crawfordsburn and Helen’s Bay areas.

Mr Hamilton asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail when work will commence on the Comber bypass.

(AQO 1235/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department’s Roads Service intends to publish the Notice of Intention to Make a Vesting Order (NIMVO) for this scheme in the Spring 2001. The time required to complete the vesting process will depend on whether objections are received to the Notice of Intention to Make a Vesting Order (NIMVO) and, in particular, whether a public inquiry is necessary.

In view of this uncertainty and the continued uncertainty over funding in future years, it is not yet possible to provide a firm date for the commencement of the scheme.

Mr Armstrong asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the total cost of road improvements in the constituency of Mid-Ulster and Northern Ireland as a whole in each of the last three years.

(AQO 1201/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department’s Roads Service does not maintain details of expenditure on road improvements on a parliamentary constituency basis. However, I am able to provide statistics for the district council areas of Cookstown and Magherafelt, which form the bulk of the Mid-Ulster constituency.

The table below shows Roads Service expenditure on capital improvements such as minor works, accident remedial schemes, new car parking facilities and new street lighting. It does not include major works expenditure since the benefits of such schemes are not confined to the district council areas or constituencies in which they are located. For example, the Toome Bypass will be of great benefit to the Mid-Ulster constituency.

The figures are given for the three years up to 1998-99. Regrettably, because of changes to internal financial systems arising from the reorganisation of Roads Service in 1999-2000, details of capital works expenditure for that year are not yet available on a district council basis.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail his plans to upgrade the A5 road from Ballygawley to Omagh.

(AQO 1212/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department’s Roads Service proposes to carry out the following schemes to upgrade the A5 road between Ballygawley and Omagh:

• construction of the Omagh Throughpass Stage 3. This scheme will complete the Throughpass of the town and will link Great Northern Road to Dublin Road at Doogary. The scheme is included in the Roads Service Major Works Preparation Pool and is subject to satisfactory completion of statutory procedures and the availability of funding;
• an accident remedial scheme at the junction of the A5 Garvaghy Road and Radergan Road. This scheme is programmed to commence in May 2001; and
• improved overtaking opportunities at Tattykeel. This scheme is currently being considered for inclusion in the minor works programme.

The provision of climbing lanes on the A5 at Ballygawley, Blackhill and Gortaclare are currently being assessed for possible inclusion in the 10-Year Forward Planning Schedule.

Ms Lewsley asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the current capital allocation for road schemes in the Hannahstown and Glenavy areas.

(AQO 1248/00)

Mr Campbell: As I indicated in my oral answer to you on 5 March, my Department’s Roads Service has no current plans to upgrade roads in the Hannahstown and Glenavy areas. Accordingly, no capital funds have been earmarked for this purpose in the incoming year.

Consideration is being given to resurfacing the Upper Springfield Road and the A26 Moira Road between Glenavy and Ballinderry Road Upper within the next two years but as this is maintenance work it is not classified as upgrading and so is not funded from the capital budget.

Mr Poots asked the Minister for Regional Development what impact the Report from the Strategic Railway Review Body will have on rail services provided in Northern Ireland.

(AQO 1208/00)

Mr Campbell: The jurisdiction of the Strategic Rail Authority extends to England, Scotland and Wales, but not to Northern Ireland. There will therefore be no impact on rail services in Northern Ireland as result of the Authority’s Strategic Plan.

Following the A D Little Review of Railway Safety in Northern Ireland the Railways Task Force was established in April 2000 to produce options for the future of the railway network in Northern Ireland. On 18 December 2000 the Assembly approved funding in the Budget to begin implementing the Task Force’s "consolidation" option. This involves upgrading the most heavily used lines and the acquisition of new trains.

Mr Dallat asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline what plans he has to allow public transport to use the hard shoulders of the M2 during peak travelling times to (a) enhance public transport as an attractive alternative and (b) to protect the environment against harmful exhaust emissions.

(AQO 1237/00)

Mr Campbell: Traffic on the M2 is generally free-flowing, although there are delays during the morning peak period at the southbound approach to Sandyknowes junction.

The idea of allowing buses to use the hard shoulder at that location during the peak period raises a number of difficulties, including:

• the conflict between buses running on the hard shoulder and vehicles leaving or joining the motorway via the slip roads; and
• the problem of insufficient hard shoulder width at an overbridge just downstream of the junction.

For these reasons it seems unlikely that hard shoulder running will be technically feasible.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail any plans to introduce on-street parking tariffs in towns currently free of such charges.

(AQO 1207/00)

Mr Campbell: The only on-street charged car parking scheme in Northern Ireland is in Belfast city centre and my Department’s Roads Service has no plans to introduce such schemes in other cities and towns in the immediate future.

However, on-street charging does promote a healthy turnover in scarce town centre parking spaces, helping to keep them available for shoppers and other visitors to the town. Its use will therefore be kept under review, but no scheme will be introduced without consulting local people.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development whether the Egan Project has any staffing implications for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive and outline any discussions he has undertaken with staff and the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance regarding this matter.

(AQW 2407/00)

The Minister for Social Development (Mr Morrow): This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I am advised by the Chief Executive that the staffing implications of Egan type contracts cannot be predetermined at this time. However, there has been, and will continue to be, consultation with the Northern Ireland Public Service Alliance on the matter.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development to (a) confirm that the response maintenance project for Londonderry is to commence in September 2001 (b) confirm that the number of contractors carrying out this service is to be reduced from eight to one and (c) outline the criteria to be used to select the contractor.

(AQW 2408/00)

Mr Morrow: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I am advised by the Chief Executive that a pilot response maintenance project is programmed to commence in October 2001 for part of Londonderry and that one contractor will be involved.

The criteria used to select the contractor are:

• registration of interest by contractors following a public advertisement;
• completion of a pre qualification questionnaire scored against set criteria;
• submission of a tender by successful applicants; and
• evaluation of tenders based on quality and price.

Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to ensure that grass cuttings are collected when grass is cut in public areas of Northern Ireland Housing Executive Estates.

(AQW 2416/00)

Mr Morrow: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I am advised by the Chief Executive that under their current policy, while grass cuttings are not removed from grass areas, there is a requirement to ensure that cuttings are removed from paths and roads immediately after grass has been cut. Horticultural practice promotes the retention of cuttings on grass areas both as mulch and natural fertiliser.

Contractors have been regularly reminded of the necessity to keep paths and roads clear of cuttings and the Housing Executive has advised they will ensure this requirement of the contract is again made clear to them.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development, in relation to the Egan Project Team, to detail (a) how it has been set up (b) the criteria used to set it up and (c) the input of elected representatives to this process.

(AQW 2430/00)

Mr Morrow: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but the Chief Executive has advised me:

a. that the Egan Project Team is a Housing Executive internal group set up in January 2000 and comprising two members of staff. Its terms of reference were to improve relationships with contractors and promote efficiency, best practice and other initiatives.

b. As part of its ongoing policy of providing the most efficient, effective and economical delivery of its construction projects the Housing Executive is piloting a scheme in Londonderry in October 2001. It is being taken forward by a Project Team, experienced in project management and contract work.

c. The Egan methodology was presented to the Housing Council Client Services sub-Committee and the minutes of that meeting were subsequently made available to the full Housing Council, where a Councillor represents each District Council.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development, following the recommendations of the Egan Project Team, to outline (a) how the shortlist of contractors will be arrived at and (b) the two main District Council areas involved.

(AQW 2431/00)

Mr Morrow: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but the Chief Executive has advised me that the criteria to be used to select the contractor are:

• registration of interest by contractors following a public advertisement;
• completion of a pre qualification questionnaire scored against set criteria;
• submission of a tender by successful applicants; and
• evaluation of tenders based on quality and price.

The only District Council area clearly identified is Londonderry.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development to outline (a) how the new electronic link with the single contractor will work within the Egan Project (b) his assessment of the economic viability of such a proposal (c) if it will achieve value for money and (d) how self-certification will work.

(AQW 2432/00)

Mr Morrow: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but the Chief Executive has advised me:

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development to confirm that, under the Egan Project Team’s proposals, contractors once appointed could be responsible for planned external contract maintenance and response maintenance for periods of five to 10 years.

(AQW 2433/00)

Mr Morrow: This is a matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive but I am advised by the Chief Executive that it is possible that some of the contracts could be for up to five years but the period of the contract will depend on the nature of the works to be undertaken. Contracts will be let for one year, renewable annually to a maximum of five years, depending on the contractor meeting key performance indicators.

Mr McGrady asked the Minister for Social Development to outline the amount by which the Social Security Agency’s budget was increased in the 2001/02 financial year.

(AQW 2491/00)

Mr Morrow: In 2001-02 the Social Security Agency Benefit Programme Resources Budget will increase to £3,256·7 million, an increase of £201 million, which represents a 6.6% uplift.

Mr Carrick asked the Minister for Social Development whether he has plans to publish details of the targets for the Child Support Agency; and if he will make a statement.

(AQW 2615/00)

Mr Morrow: The Child Support Agency will publish its 2001-02 Strategic and Business Plan today. Copies will be placed in the Library.

The key targets that I have set for the Child Support Agency for 2001-02 are set out below:

• Case Compliance, to measure the proportion of cases where the non resident parents are paying child maintenance, a value of 74%.
• Cash Compliance, to measure the proportion of the total amount of child maintenance which is due for payment that is actually being paid, a value of 72%.
• Accuracy, 78% on the last adjudication for all assessments checked.
• A set of Customer Service Standards.

The targets in the Business Plan present the Agency with a challenging but attainable objective which will lead to improvements both in customer service and performance in the lead up to Child Support Reform.

Mr Carrick asked the Minister for Social Development what the Northern Ireland Social Fund discretionary budget will be for 2001-02.

(AQW 2616/00)

Mr Morrow: I am pleased to announce that the Social Fund gross discretionary budget for 2001-02 will be £49·27 million. £10.26m will be allocated to grants; £38·91m to loans and £0.1m will be held as a contingency reserve. The new allocations represent an increase of £3·32 million over the initial gross budget set at April 2000.

The Community Care Grant (CCG) budget has been increased by £0·2 million to £10·26 million. This will provide more help to Customers, in particular families with children and the disabled.

The loans budget has been increased to £38·91 million, an increase of £3·12 million on the initial 2000-01 loans budget. To improve the fairness of the scheme, budgets will be allocated in a way that will over time achieve greater consistency of outcome for applicants wherever they live.

Details of the individual District budget allocations, together with a note explaining the basis on which they have been made, have been placed in the Northern Ireland Assembly Library today.

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