Friday 25 May 2001
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

Mr McGrady asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to outline what progress has been made in respect of the skills audit to be undertaken by the Training and Employment Agency for the software sector for the Down District Council area; and to make a statement.

(AQW 2898/00)

The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Dr Farren): A meeting has been arranged between my officials and the chief executive of Down District Council to discuss in detail what useful information can be supplied with regard to the availability of software skills. Following that meeting on 15 June I will be in contact to inform you of progress.

Mr Tierney asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail (a) what actions he has put in place to assist groups in completing the necessary application forms for gap funding (b) how many applications have been made and (c) what is the turn around timescale.

(AQW 2924/00)

Dr Farren: Guidance was issued by DFP and SEUPB with the application forms.

There are 45 employment and training single programme projects in the voluntary and community sectors already receiving gap funding under arrangements initiated by my Department last June and are continuing to receive such interim support.

The Department received 123 applications for PEACE gap funding of which 89 were accepted to undergo the department’s selection procedure. Four applications were not eligible for gap funding, and 30 applications were returned to the Special EU Programmes Body for re-allocation.

Peace gap applications were to be returned to SEUPB by 12 April 2001. After the allocation process, Departments are expected to have undertaken their selection procedure and to begin issuing letters of rejection or acceptance during the week beginning 21 May 2001.

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail what compensation has been paid to persons suffering from asbestosis in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

(AQW 2944/00)

Dr Farren: Payments made by the Department under the Pneumoconiosis (Workers’ Compensation) scheme have been:

Mr O’Connor asked the Minister for Regional Development what procedures are in place in respect of the carriage by Translink of signal detonators and to confirm that no breach of the procedures has occurred in recent months.

(AQW 1821/00)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Campbell): The making and enforcement of Regulations to ensure the safe keeping of signal detonators is the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Office.

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail his plans to increase the level of funding for road safety and traffic management schemes within Newtownabbey; and to make a statement.

(AQW 2875/00)

Mr Campbell: I recently announced a 30% increase in funding available for traffic calming schemes in an endeavour to improve road safety in Northern Ireland. This means that £1.8 million , including an increase of some £400,000 will be spent on traffic calming measures in the current financial year. These additional funds will be used to bring forward some high priority schemes that would otherwise have to wait to the following year for completion.

The Roads Service proposes to carry out two traffic calming schemes in the Newtownabbey Borough Council area during the current financial year – at Glenbane Avenue, Rathcoole and at Ashgrove Road, Newtownabbey. These will in total cost in the region of £55,000. Also programmed for completion in 2001-02 are a number of accident remedial and traffic management schemes.

Mr McGrady asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail what progress has been made on the provision of a new sewage and water treatment works for the Ballyhornan/Bishopscourt area of South Down.

(AQW 2904/00)

Mr Campbell: The Urban Wastewater Treatment Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995, which implement the EU Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, require the provision of appropriate treatment for wastewater at locations, such as Ballyhornan/Bishopscourt area of South Down, by 31 December 2005.

Consulting engineers were initially appointed to provide a report on the most efficient method of treating wastewater in this area. Water Service subsequently asked the consultants to extend the scope of the study to take in the entire eastern coast of Lecale. This will ensure the optimum solution for wastewater treatment in the wider area. The report is due to be completed next month. However, due to other priorities and current levels of funding, it is unlikely that the scheme will commence before the 2003-2004 financial year.

Ballyhornan and the surrounding area receives its water supply from the Silent Valley source. A new water treatment works for the Silent Valley is programmed for completion in late 2004 at a cost of some £35 million.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the amount spent on traffic calming measures in each district council area.

(AQW 2926/00)

Mr Campbell: The table below shows the expenditure incurred by the Department’s Roads Service on traffic calming schemes in each district council area during the financial year 2000-2001:

Funding for traffic calming schemes is not apportioned on a district council area basis but is an integral part of the minor works allocation for each Roads Service Division.

Traffic calming schemes within each division are prioritised using criteria which take account of the nature of the roads, their accident histories, traffic volumes and speed on the roads.

Mr Carrick asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail each water supply zone in Northern Ireland which fails to comply with drinking water quality regulations as published by the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

(AQW 2937/00)

Mr Campbell: The Water Service has a statutory responsibility to supply water that meet the standards contained in the Water Quality Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994. These Regulations implement national standards and incorporate the requirements of the EU Drinking Water Directive.

During 1999, 104 water supply zones were routinely monitored for 86 individual parameters and over 54,000 tests were undertaken. 98.1% of all these tests met the regulatory requirements, which were met in full for 64 of the parameters. A water supply zone will be non compliant if one parameter fails on a single occasion. A total of 92 supply zones failed one or more of the parameters.

Information on zonal compliance is contained in appendix 4 of the Water Service’s 1999 ‘Drinking Water Quality Report’, which is in the public domain. The 2000 report will be published at the end of June. More detailed information is also contained in the Drinking Water Register which is available for public inspection at Water Service’s Divisional Offices in Ballymena, Belfast, Craigavon and Londonderry.

Mr Carrick asked the Minister for Regional Development to explain why the water quality target of 98.2% set out in the Programme for Government is less than the actual outcome of tests meeting regulatory standards between 1996-99 as outlined in the 1999 report by the Northern Ireland Drinking Water Inspectorate.

(AQW 2938/00)

Mr Campbell: The compliance target of 98.2% for 2001-02, set out in the Programme for Government, relates to compliance with the regulatory standards contained in The Water Quality Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1994, as measured at the customers’ taps. This compares to compliance of 98.19% in 1996; 98.12% in 1997; 97.96% in 1998; and 98.10% in 1999. The results for 2000 will be published at the end of next month.

The regulatory compliance, set out in figure 1 of the 1999 report by the Northern Ireland Drinking Water Inspector, relates to overall water quality. This includes microbiological quality at water treatment works and service reservoirs in addition to compliance at the customers’ taps. Overall water quality was 98.89% in 1996; 98.89% in 1997; 98.86% in 1998; and 98.95% in 1999.

Mr Carrick asked the Minister for Regional Development to provide a list of the Water Service sewage effluent standards containing all the necessary parameters as agreed between the Water Service and the Environment and Heritage Service for population equivalents of up to (a) 1,000 persons (b) 2,000 persons and (c) over 10,000 persons.

(AQW 2939/00)

Mr Campbell: The Water Service has 918 wastewater treatment works. Of these:-

• 648 serve a population equivalent up to 250 persons
• 136 serve a population equivalent between 251 and 1,000 persons
• 55 serve a population equivalent between 1,001 and 2,000 persons
• 40 serve a population equivalent between 2,001 and 10,000 persons
• 39 serve a population equivalent in excess of 10,000 persons

Responsibility for setting the discharge standards for the effluent from wastewater treatment works rests with the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) of the Department of the Environment.

Most of the works, serving population equivalents of up to 250 persons, are subject to descriptive consents. These are currently being reviewed by EHS. The 270 works, serving population equivalents greater than 250 persons, have registered discharge standards. The volume of information relating to discharge standards for the 270 works, serving population equivalents greater than 250 persons, is such that it would be impractical to include it in a written reply. The information is already in the public domain and is contained in a public register, which can be viewed at the EHS office at Calvert House, Castle Place, Belfast.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant AQW 2272/00, if he will make public the outcome of the investigation into cost effective interim solutions for the areas susceptible to flooding in the Ford Cottages and Ransevyn areas of Whitehead.

(AQW 2949/00)

Mr Campbell: The investigation of possible interim solutions for areas susceptible to flooding in the Marine Parade, Lumford Avenue/Ford Cottages, Donegal Avenue, and Ransevyn Estate areas of Whitehead, is taking longer than originally anticipated. The investigation involves extensive site survey work, and detailed computer modelling and analysis of the sewerage systems in these areas. The engineering consultants involved are due to report in late June 2001 and their recommendations will be carefully considered. I will write to the Member outlining the outcome of the investigation and the itemising of any interim solutions which may be cost effective.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail (a) the number of accidents on the Marshallstown Road, Carrickfergus in each of the last five years and (b) the steps he intends to take to improve road safety on this stretch of road.

(AQW 2967/00)

Mr Campbell: The provision of information in relation to road traffic accidents is a matter for the Northern Ireland Office.

My Department’s Roads Service continually monitors road safety and accident trends on all roads to assess if there is a requirement for additional road safety measures. All personal injury road traffic accidents are investigated and plotted to identify accident cluster sites that might require to be treated by engineering measures.

An examination of the personal injury road traffic accidents on Marshallstown Road has not identified any sites where engineering factors are a significant contributing cause of accidents. However, last year, recognising that there had been a number of damage only accidents the Roads Service provided enhanced road signage at the junction of Marshallstown Road and Beltoy Road.

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister for Social Development to outline what discussions he has had with other agencies to ensure that the phased improvement schemes in Monkstown form part of a larger estate strategy to enhance the quality of life and environment in the area.

(AQW 2931/00)

The Minister for Social Development (Mr Morrow): This is an operational matter for the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. An estate-based strategy was approved for Monkstown in August 1991. To support this strategy, Housing Executive officials meet regularly with the representatives of Monkstown Community Forum, the Monkstown Community Resource Centre and local public representatives. Other agencies such as the Roads Services, the RUC and Translink attend as necessary.

Mr McGrady asked the Minister for Social Development to outline his plans for the provision of new build social housing in South Down; and to make a statement.

(AQW 2934/00)

Mr Morrow: Current plans for housing provision in the South Down constituency over the next three year period are as shown in the attached appendix. In summary:

The social housing programme is a three-year rolling programme, which is updated annually by the Department in conjunction with the Housing Executive. The Housing Executive’s role is to continually reassess housing need. Year one is firm, but at each annual roll forward, the plans for years two and three are updated.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development, pursuant to AQW 2646/00, to detail the amount of compensation and interest that was paid to the Housing Executive by the developer.

(AQW 2951/00)

Mr Morrow: The amount paid by the developer was as follows: