Friday 22 June 2001
Written Answers to Questions (Continued)

(a) Níl an t-eolas seo ar fáil.

(b) Tá an t-eolas d’Aibreán 2001 (an dáta is déanaí ar a bhfuil sonraí ar fáil) léirithe sa tábla thíos.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 3089/00, to detail the form in which the information is available.

(AQW 3299/00)

Ms de Brún: My Department collects information on persons waiting for inpatient treatment in each quarter on the basis of specialty and Trust. Monthly waiting list information is also collected on the basis of specialty and Board – however, this information excludes private patients and patients from elsewhere.

Cruinníonn mo Roinn eolas ar dhaoine ag fanacht le cóireáil othair chónaithigh i ngach ráithe de réir speisialtachta agus Iontaobhais. Cruinnítear eolas ar liostaí míosúla feithimh fosta de réir speisialtachta agus Boird, ach ní chuireann an t-eolas seo othair phríobháideacha agus othair eile san áireamh áfach.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the average waiting time for treatment at the Ulster Hospital Accident and Emergency Department in May 2001, (b) how this compares with May 2000 and (c) what steps are being taken to reduce the waiting time for Accident and Emergency treatment at this hospital.

(AQW 3309/00)

Ms de Brún: Information on the percentage of new patients seen by a doctor within specified time bands at the A&E Department of the Ulster Hospital for May 2000 and May 2001 is available and is detailed in the table below.

The Ulster Community and Hospitals Trust has introduced a wide range of measures to help reduce the waiting time in the Accident & Emergency Department of the Ulster Hospital. These measures include increased elective day procedures to free up inpatient beds for emergency admissions, the appointment of 10 additional nursing staff, and an Emergency Nurse Practitioner service between 9 am and 10.30 pm to enable treatment of minor injuries and fast-track major injury patients.

Tá eolas ar fáil ar chéatadán na n-othar nua feicthe ag dochtúir laistigh de bhandaí ama ar leith i Roinn Timpistí agus Éigeandálaí Otharlann Uladh le linn mí na Bealtaine 2000 agus mí na Bealtaine 2001 agus mionléirítear sa tábla thíos é.

Thug Iontaobhais Phobal Uladh agus Otharlann réimse leathan beart isteach le cuidiú le laghdú na n-amanna feithimh i Roinn Timpistí agus Éigeandálaí Otharlann Uladh. I measc na mbeart seo tá níos mó gnáthamh roghnach lae le leapacha othair chónaithigh a shaoradh do ghlacadh isteach éigeandála, ceapadh 10 oibrí altrachta breise, agus seirbhís Ghnáthaltra Éigeandála idir 9r.n. agus 10.30i.n. chun cur ar a gcumas mionghortuithe agus othair le gortuithe tromchúiseacha tús áite a chóireáil.

Mr Byrne asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail the investment made in Information Technology in the Further Education sector.

(AQO 1593/00)

The Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment (Dr Farren): In 1999 my Department committed to spend £10 million over three years under its ICT strategy for the Further Education Sector. This funding was spent as follows: £2 million in 1999-2000; £4 million in 2000-01 and £4 million is committed this year (2001-02). This funding has been complemented by significant investment by the Colleges from their own resources, amounting to approximately £3·5 million over the financial years 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

Mr Armstrong asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail his plans to develop East Tyrone College of Further and Higher Education.

(AQO 1599/00)

Dr Farren: The Outline Business Case for the Tyrone Colleges Project, which encompasses a new college for East Tyrone in Dungannon and a new college for Omagh, was presented to my Department on 7 March 2001. Clarification was sought on a number of issues and this was provided to the Department on 31 May 2001. Departmental approval to proceed to the PFI procurement phase will be given if the assessment is positive. The Department has also agreed with East Tyrone that it should explore the feasibility of a joint Further Education / Library facility for East Tyrone’s Cookstown provision.

Mr McClarty asked the Minister of Higher and Further Education, Training and Employment to detail the cost of the Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) in the Higher Education sector.

(AQO 1579/00)

Dr Farren: The Quality Assurance Agency is an independent body funded by subscriptions from universities and colleges of higher education, and through contracts with the main UK funding bodies. Since the Agency’s establishment in 1997 to the end of the 1999-2000 Academic Year, the combined cost to my Department and its predecessor, DENI, and the Northern Ireland universities was £485,190.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail any plans he has to give additional responsibilities to district councils.

(AQW 3255/00)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Campbell): I have no plans to give additional services to district councils at present.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Regional Development whether he has any plans to provide a footpath from Westland Drive to the graveyard in Ballywalter given the volume of traffic on this stretch of road.

(AQW 3281/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department’s Roads Service currently has no plans to provide a footway from Westland Drive to the graveyard in Ballywalter. I have, however, asked Roads Service to carry out a full assessment of such a scheme in order to determine its priority status in comparison with other proposals competing for inclusion in the programme of minor road works. The assessment, which will involve survey work among other things, will be carried out over the coming weeks and I hope to be in a position to advise you of the outcome before the end of August.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the steps he is taking to address the traffic congestion on the Portaferry Road, Newtownards on weekday mornings.

(AQW 3291/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department’s Roads Service is aware of the congestion that occurs at the junction of Portaferry Road and New Road during the morning rush hour. It is fairly typical of congestion that occurs at a number of key junctions in the Newtownards area during this period.

I understand that the problem is exacerbated by parents dropping off their children at the nearby Castle Gardens Primary School and, more recently, by road works associated with the laying of a new gas pipeline. The imminent closure of the school and completion of the road works should, however, improve traffic progression on Portaferry Road.

Following the closure of the school, Roads Service intends to carry out a study to determine the feasibility of introducing traffic management measures to improve traffic progression at this location.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail when the Inishargey Road, Kircubbin will be resurfaced.

(AQW 3293/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department’s Roads Service has no plans to resurface Inishargey Road, Kircubbin. It hopes, however, to resurface a section of Kircubbin Road, Ballywalter within the next few weeks. Pending the resurfacing, a basecourse surface has already been laid on the stretch of road in question, where the Department’s Water Service has recently installed a new water main.

Together, these two roads form the C257 route, which connects Kircubbin and Ballywalter.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail any plans he has to ensure both staff and public safety in railway stations.

(AQW 3302/00)

Mr Campbell: Staff and public safety continues to be a priority for Translink. Meetings have been set up with staff representatives to look at issues of personal safety for staff both at stations and on trains. Staff have been issued with mobile phones for security and safety use. Translink are at present considering measures to enhance security for lone passengers at halts especially for women.

Translink are also implementing the recommendations in the W H Stephens & Sons report in relation to emergency lighting, external lighting, surfaces and paths, handrails and guard rails.

Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail, by constituency, the number of major and minor road traffic accidents in the years 1999-2000 and 2000-01.

(AQW 3306/00)

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

Mrs E Bell asked the Minister for Regional Development, in relation to the imminent Crawfordsburn Sewer Replacement, to detail (a) with whom he consulted; (b) what consideration was given to the possible consequences upon the Tourist Industry; (b) why the scheduled timetable was deemed to be necessary; and (d) why the replacement was not scheduled to give residents and businesses a reasonable period of notice.

(AQW 3338/00)

Mr Campbell: Last year the existing trunk sewer in Crawfordsburn was irreparably damaged by landslides. In these circumstances there is no option but to lay a replacement sewer through the village. The scheme is estimated to cost £300,000 and will take 15 weeks to complete. In view of the scale of the construction work that is necessary the closure of Main Street to through traffic is unavoidable. However, local traffic will be allowed restricted access.

Initial consultations were held with a number of bodies (i.e. Roads Service, Translink, school authorities and Traffic Branch of the Royal Ulster Constabulary) about the timing of the scheme. The consensus was that the summer months of July and August were the least difficult time of the year to carry out the work. Indeed, school and commuter traffic is generally reduced and there is a longer working day for the contractors involved.

However, further consultations have been held with local residents, the owners of businesses in the village and their public representatives. I accept their view that the adverse impact of the work, particularly on tourism and businesses in the area, would be reduced if it were postponed until the autumn. I place great store in public consultation and I have decided to defer the start date of the scheme from 25 June to early September.

Local residents and their representatives are being informed.

Mr McGrady asked the Minister for Regional Development to state when the new sewage treatment works will be provided in Ballymartin, County Down.

(AQO 1608/00)

Mr Campbell: The Urban Waste Water 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 Ballymartin, by 31 December 2005.

A detailed appraisal has been carried out of the options for treating wastewater in the Mourne coastal area including Ballymartin. This has recommended that the best environmental option is to provide centralised treatment at Annalong. Wastewater from adjoining areas would be pumped to the existing Wastewater Treatment Works at Annalong, which would be upgraded.

Design work will start shortly. This will identify land requirements for pumping stations and pipelines and the detailed requirements for the new treatment facilities at Annalong.

It is estimated that the scheme will cost some £2 million and it is intended to commence construction in 2003.

Mrs Courtney asked the Minister for Regional Development whether he has any plans to extend the M22 motorway to connect with Glenshane Road at the Castledawson roundabout.

(AQO 1623/00)

Mr Campbell: My Department’s Roads Service has no plans at present to extend the M22 motorway to connect with Glenshane Road at the Castledawson roundabout.

I can, however, confirm that Roads Service is continuing to make good progress towards the scheme to construct a dual carriageway bypass of the village of Toome on this section of road. The Member may be aware that I have been successful in securing Executive Programme Funds for this scheme and, assuming a positive outcome to the vesting process, work could commence early next year.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister for Social Development, pursuant to AQW 3051/00, to confirm that the new Antisocial Behaviour Unit will be made aware of all complaints made at district office level.

(AQW 3301/00)

The Minister for Social Development (Mr Morrow): The majority of complaints will continue to be dealt with by the district offices and the Antisocial Behaviour Unit will be made aware of the total number of complaints reported to district offices. The unit will provide advice and assistance, as necessary, and deal with the particularly problematic cases. In addition, the Unit will be standardising procedures and delivering appropriate training to district office staff.

Ms McWilliams asked the Minister for Social Development to detail how he intends to remove the obstacles to those unemployed people who are on jobseeker’s allowance and who want to contribute to community life and gain new skills through voluntary work.

(AQO 1586/00)

Mr Morrow: There are no such obstacles. I am in no doubt of the important role that voluntary work can play in helping unemployed people to contribute to the community and keep in touch with the labour market, and to obtain skills and experience that may help them into work.

Under the current rules there is no limit on the number of hours a person may undertake voluntary work whilst in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance as long as they are actively seeking work and available to accept offers of work at 48 hours notice. This represents a concession from the normal requirement that they should be available immediately for employment. They must also be willing and able to give up or re-arrange their voluntary work to enable them to start a job.

We are currently considering proposals to extend from 48 hours to one week the period of notice before such volunteers must be available to start work. Also, in order to ensure that they do not miss out on job opportunities, volunteers will be required to be available for a job interview at 48 hours notice. This measure should give additional flexibility to jobseekers who wish to undertake voluntary work whilst unemployed, helping them to gain experience and skills which may help them into work and helping to meet the needs of the community.

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