Mr Derek Hussey asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail whether it has received for consultation proposals from Her Majesty's Government in respect of fugitives from justice.

(AQO 84/01)

Sir Reg Empey and Mr Mallon: We have not received for consultation any proposals from Her Majesty's Government in respect of fugitives from justice.

Mr John Dallat asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to make a statement on the follow up to the recently completed North/South Obstacles to Mobility Study.

(AQO 100/01)

Sir Reg Empey and Mr Mallon: The report on the Study of Obstacles to the Mobility of persons, in either direction, between North and South on the island of Ireland has not yet been finalised.

The study should be completed in October. The study has taken slightly longer to complete than planned to enable the Steering Group to take into account the findings from two public consultation conferences, which had to be rescheduled because of the outbreaks of Foot and Mouth Disease. The Steering Group had also sought clarification from the consultants on a number of issues raised in an earlier draft of their report.

However, we are pleased to say that the consultants delivered their draft final report to the Steering Group on Friday, 31 August. The Steering Group is now considering the draft report, which has also been circulated to Government Departments, for comment by 28 September.

The study will make recommendations on obstacles to mobility in the areas of:

• Taxation, Social Security and Pensions
• Health and Childcare
• Housing
• Transport
• Education, Training and Employment, and
• Telecommunications, Banking and Insurance.

When the study is finalised, the Steering Group will report to an early meeting of the North/South Ministerial Council.

Mr John Fee asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail the level of consultation there has been with Co-operation Ireland and outline how the work of this organisation can assist the wider objective of North/South Economic and Social Development.

(AQO 105/01)

Sir Reg Empey and Mr Mallon: There are a number of levels of consultation between Co-operation Ireland and the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, including on community relations funding and cross border developments. With regard to the latter the organisation wrote to both of us earlier this year seeking support with regard to proposals for funding various North/South initiatives. Our officials hope to meet Co-operation Ireland's Chief Executive soon to explore, without commitment, this request and its associated objectives in more detail.

Mr Billy Armstrong asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, given the fresh outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in England, to detail if the Executive has contingency arrangements in place to prevent the recurrence of the disease in Northern Ireland.

(AQO 88/01)

Sir Reg Empey and Mr Mallon: The Executive has detailed contingency plans in place to deal with any recurrence of Foot and Mouth disease in Northern Ireland should that happen. There are extensive controls in place at all the entry ports and airports to ensure that the disease is not re-introduced from Great Britain. These controls are regularly reviewed to take account of the prevailing disease risk.

Mr Joe Byrne asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail the Executive's proposals in relation to promoting better community relations in flashpoint areas of Northern Ireland.

(AQO 32/01)

Sir Reg Empey and Mr Mallon: Our office, working through the Community Relations Council, is supporting efforts to promote local dialogue aimed at resolving disputes in community interface areas such as North Belfast.

More generally, the Programme for Government includes a range of actions aimed at tackling the fundamental divisions within society, which are at the root of problems within interface areas. This includes a review of community relations policy and the development by 2002 of an inter-departmental strategy aimed at delivering measurable improvement in community relations.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to indicate if any Departmental Ministers are included in the proposed Sinn Fein delegation visit to meet President Fidel Castro.

(AQO 86/01)

Sir Reg Empey and Mr Mallon: The composition of party delegations is not a matter for the devolved administration. If any Minister is included in a party delegation, that participation could not be in a Ministerial capacity.

Ms Patricia Lewsley asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to outline what consultation has been undertaken concerning the appointment of a Children's Commissioner.

(AQO 102/01)

Sir Reg Empey and Mr Mallon: A consultation paper entitled "Protecting our Children's Rights: A Consultation Paper on a Commissioner for Children for Northern Ireland" was published on 9 August 2001. The consultation period will run from that date until 8 November, after which responses will be analysed and we will decide on the appropriate way forward for Northern Ireland. Publication of this consultation paper marks the culmination of 6 months of information gathering, research and discussion with key statutory and non-governmental organisations working in the field of children's rights.

12,000 copies of the document are being distributed widely throughout Northern Ireland to interested individuals and organisations and copies are available from the Department on request or can be accessed via the internet. A dedicated website has been launched - www.allchildrenni.com

255,000 information leaflets have been distributed to GP's surgeries, libraries and to the general public through the three main daily newspapers to raise awareness of the consultation. Special versions for children and young people and facilitators have been produced and are being distributed to all schools in Northern Ireland and widely throughout the youth sector, as we particularly welcome responses from children and young people themselves.

A summary version of the main consultation paper together with the children's and facilitators' versions have also been produced in Irish and the information leaflet is being translated into Cantonese for distribution to the Chinese community. Other special versions are available on request.

Mr Fred Cobain asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to outline how it would ensure that the disgraceful scenes of school children being escorted to school in North Belfast can be avoided in the future.

(AQO 83/01)

Sir Reg Empey and Mr Mallon: Our office, working through the Community Relations Council, is supporting efforts to encourage local dialogue aimed at resolving both the current dispute at Holy Cross Primary School, and the underlying disputes between the two communities in North Belfast.

We will continue to do all we can to make progress.

Mr Alex Maskey asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail whether they have jointly initiated any response intended to bring an end to the loyalist sectarian attacks; and to make a statement.

(AQO 60/01)

Sir Reg Empey and Mr Mallon: We condemn sectarian attacks from whatever source. The responsibility for law and order is a matter for the Secretary of State.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the level of expenditure on the Peace Maze at Castlewellan, including additional resources committed to its upkeep.

(AQW 20/01)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): Payments to the end of August total £506k, with an estimated further £67k still to be paid.

Ongoing maintenance requirements will be met from within the existing Forest Service budget, and no additional funding is required.

Mr Wilson Clyde asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, pursuant to AQW 2090/00, to detail (a) the precise location in County Antrim where the animal was slaughtered on 8 February 2001, (b) the farm of origin in Northern Ireland (c) the date of birth of the animal and (d) any other information contained on the removal permit.

(AQW 63/01)

Ms Rodgers: The animal in question was born on 16 September 1997 and was subsequently slaughtered at Langford Processors, Crumlin on 22 January 2001 having been permitted from the herd of origin in the Cookstown area on the normal MC2 movement permit used for moving animals for a farm premises to a meat plant for immediate slaughter.

I regret to say that the date of slaughter previously quoted in Assembly Question AQW 2090 i.e. 8 February 2000 was incorrect.

As the animal was over 30 months at time of slaughter, it came under the Over Thirty Months Scheme whereby animals are killed and the carcases disposed of and no part of the animal entered the human food chain.

Mr Wilson Clyde asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, pursuant to AQW 2090/00, to detail (a) if the carcass of the animal slaughtered in County Antrim was sold on or processed (b) if processed, how it was labelled (c) if it entered the Northern Ireland food chain and if so did it state the country of origin (d) whether there was any humane reason for slaughter and (e) if any part of the animal was condemned.

(AQW 64/01)

Ms Rodgers: The animal in question was born on 16 September 1997 and was subsequently slaughtered at Langford Processors, Crumlin on 22 January 2001 having been permitted from the herd of origin in the Cookstown area on the normal MC2 movement permit used for moving animals for a farm premises to a meat plant for immediate slaughter.

I regret to say that the date of slaughter previously quoted in Assembly Question AQW 2090 i.e. 8 February 2000 was incorrect.

As the animal was over 30 months at time of slaughter, it came under the Over Thirty Months Scheme whereby animals are killed and the carcases disposed of and no part of the animal entered the human food chain.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to indicate the nature of the threats made to the lives of bailiffs working on behalf of the Fisheries Board at Glenarm in late August 2001.

(AQW 21/01)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): A telephone call was made to the Headquarters of the Fisheries Conservancy Board on 30 August 2001 from someone purporting to be from the IRA, alleging that one of the Board's Fishery Conservation Officers had assaulted a young person at Glenarm and that unless the officers were withdrawn, the IRA would be sent in.

Following the recent escape of a substantial number of farmed salmon from a sea cage in the bay, the level of angling at Glenarm has increased considerably. The Board's officers have been undertaking enforcement duties there to prevent illegal fishing activity occurring. The threat made to the Board's officers, and the considerable verbal and physical abuse that they have endured at Glenarm, is deplorable and must be roundly condemned. The Board has my full support for its current operations at Glenarm.

Mr Ian Paisley Jnr asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the action taken by his Department to protect those salmon which escaped recently from the Northern Salmon Co fish farm in Glenarm; and to make a statement.

(AQW 22/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The Fisheries Conservancy Board.is responsible for the conservation and protection of the salmon and inland fisheries in Northern Ireland other than the fisheries of the Londonderry and Newry areas which are the responsibility of the Loughs Agency of the Foyle, Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission.

Following the escape of farmed salmon, the Board's Fishery Conservation Officers carried out patrols of the bridge, harbour and beach areas in Glenarm. A number of alleged fishery offences have been detected and files are being prepared for prosecution.

I share the concerns about the recent salmon escape expressed by my Ministerial colleague, Mrs Rodgers, in the statement she issued on 3 September. My Department has contributed to the introduction of measures to protect wild salmon stocks. The situation at Glenarm will continue to be monitored over the next few months.

Ms Mary Nelis asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to explain the situation in respect of training allowances for further education courses involving cross border students.

(AQW 7/01)

The Minister of Employment and Learning (Dr Farren): Training allowances are not paid to students following further education courses. However such allowances are paid to young people participating in the Jobskills programme. I have previously given an undertaking that I will review the issue of payment of training allowances to young people from Republic of Ireland participating in the Northern Ireland Jobskills programme on completion of the labour mobility research commissioned by the North South Ministerial Council.

That remains the position.

Mr Alex Attwood asked the Minister for Employment and Learning if he will make a statement on the provision of training and employment courses through the medium of Irish language.

(AQW 47/01)

Dr Farren: In recent years the number of children and young people in Irish medium primary and secondary education has grown. Those young people are beginning to enter the labour market following compulsory education and will be seeking access to Irish medium vocational education and training opportunities. I have therefore asked officials in my Department to undertake a policy review of provision for this group and to report to me as soon as possible. I will expect officials to consult with amongst others Irish language groups such as Foras Na Gaeilge, Ultach Trust and Forbairt Feirste to take account of practice in Republic of Ireland and elsewhere.

Ms Mary Nelis asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the number of applications for Gap Funding from community groups by (a) geographical area and (b) amount.

(AQW 8/01)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): DETI received a total of 13 Gap Funding applications from not for profit organisations covering both the Building Sustainable Prosperity and PEACE I I Programmes. The locations of the applicants and amounts requested are as follows:

Location Total Amount Requested

Belfast - 6 £1,024,763*

Derry - 5 £140,874

Ballymena - 1 £7,504

Castlederg - 1 £21,490

*In real terms this figure has subsequently been reduced to £376,153 following consultation with one applicant who submitted the same funding package under both Programmes.

Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to state how the present instability is hampering efforts to attract and win significant overseas investment for Northern Ireland.

(AQW 29/01)

Sir Reg Empey: The attraction of new Foreign Direct Investment remains a vital part of the economic development of Northern Ireland. Each new investment must be competed for, on a project-by-project basis, against a wide range of alternative locations many of which have not had the negative international exposure from which Northern Ireland has suffered in the last 30 years.

Undoubtedly Northern Ireland's ability to attract and win significant overseas investment has been hampered in the past through investors' perceptions of instability in Northern Ireland, but it is difficult to quantify on an individual basis the extent to which individual investors may have been deterred. However Northern Ireland's international image has improved significantly over recent years due to the political developments.

The global economy is currently experiencing a major downturn and there are fewer internationally mobile projects for which to compete. It is vital that Northern Ireland is able to project an image of a stable and profitable location for business. The current instability, and indeed the recent violent scenes on our streets broadcast around the world, undoubtedly has a detrimental effect on Northern Ireland's ability to attract new investment.

The Lord Kilclooney asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (a) how many Portuguese employees work at (i) Dungannon Meats, Granville (ii) Moy Park, Seagoe and (iii) Moy Park, Coolhill; and (b) how many employees have lost their jobs in the past six months at each of these three businesses.

(AQW 48/01)

Sir Reg Empey: DETI does not have a breakdown of employees at these companies. There is no record of any reported redundancies at these companies and the most recent available employment returns indicate an increase in employment at two of the locations and a marginal decrease at one.

The Lord Kilclooney asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail how many persons are presently unemployed in (a) Dungannon and (b) Craigavon District Council areas.

(AQW 49/01)

Sir Reg Empey: The information requested is available in the DETI monthly publication, Northern Ireland Labour Market Statistics (Section 3, Table 3.8), copies of which are placed in the Assembly Library.

Ms Patricia Lewsley asked the Minister of the Environment if there are any plans to introduce increased recycling of waste to protect the environment in the Lagan Valley constituency.

(AQO 68/01)

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Foster): My Department's Waste Management Strategy sets targets for increased recycling of waste throughout Northern Ireland between 2005 and 2020. The Strategy also provides for the production by District Councils of Waste Management Plans. It is these Plans which will indicate how Councils intend to meet the recycling targets, and will inform the policy for Lagan Valley and indeed the rest of Northern Ireland.

The Councils within the Lagan Valley constituency now belong to either the Eastern Region Waste Management Group or the Southern Waste Management Partnership. Both of these are developing Waste Management Plans which will include proposals for the establishment of an integrated network of facilities within their respective areas. The Plans will be subject to public consultation.

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of the Environment to detail the current position regarding the proposal to remove the telecommunications mast from its present location at School Road, Corgary, Newry.

(AQO 2/01)

Mr Foster: Crown Castle, agents for One 2 One, have informed the Department that they intend to replace the mast with two smaller roadside masts. Two roadside sites have been identified and the Department for Regional Development's Roads Service has confirmed that the sites are contained within the adopted road boundary. Crown Castle will now proceed to submit prior approval applications for these masts.

I understand that the aim is to erect and commission the new masts, and then to immediately remove the existing mast.

While, at this stage, I am unable to state exactly when the mast will be removed, I would hope that the situation will be resolved as quickly as possible. My officials will, of course, continue to monitor the situation.

Mr Eugene McMenamin asked the Minister of the Environment to make it his policy to restrict the overall height of communication masts to under 15 metres; and to make a statement.

(AQO 108/01)

Mr Joe Byrne asked the Minister of the Environment to outline the progress he has made to date on devising the new West Tyrone Area Plan.

(AQO 34/01)

Mr Foster: As set out in the Programme for Government, my Department is engaged in a programme of preparation of Development Plans covering all 26 District Council areas. This is a very demanding programme, and it is my intention to have in place full and up to date plan coverage for all of Northern Ireland by 2005.

Under the current Development Plan Programme the new West Tyrone Area Plan work is scheduled to commence during 2002. An Issues Paper should be published before 31^st March 2003, and the Plan should be adopted during 2005.

Ms Eileen Bell asked the Minister of the Environment what progress has been made toward introducing tougher legislation regarding contaminated land; and to make a statement.

(AQO 97/01)

Mr Foster: The enabling powers to provide for a new system for dealing with contaminated land, similar to that already in operation in Great Britain, are contained in Part III of the Waste and Contaminated Land (Northern Ireland) Order 1997. However, other steps, including the preparation of further Regulations, are required before any new system can be put into operation.

I am not able to say when these regulations will be prepared, as this will depend on the necessary resources. As a result of the Budget last year, my Department was allocated substantial additional resources, mainly to deal with the heavy backlog of work needed to achieve compliance with EU Directives on environmental issues. At present, policy on contaminated land does not have an EU dimension and I am giving priority to meeting EU obligations.

However, I appreciate the significance of the issue and, my Department has registered this in the Executive's Position Report on the 2002/03 Budget.

Mr Kieran McCarthy asked the Minister of the Environment whether he has any plans to speed up the planning process when economic and job creation benefits are likely to arise from the application.

(AQO 23/01)

Mr Billy Armstrong asked the Minister of the Environment, in light of his recently launched policy for the protection of groundwater in Northern Ireland, to detail how he proposes to monitor/control the activities of commercial undertakings extracting water from bore wells for sale; and to make a statement.

(AQO 80/01)

Mr Foster: My Department's powers under the Water (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 came into operation on 24 August this year. The Order contains powers to enable the Department to control water abstraction by regulations. We will consider what regulatory controls, including a licensing scheme, may be necessary to protect Northern Ireland's surface and ground waters from abstraction and will bring forward proposals for consultation during 2002. These will cover all forms of water abstraction, including the abstraction of water by bore wells for sale, and will also cover the requirements of the EC Water Framework Directive.

Mr Mick Murphy asked the Minister of the Environment to make it his policy that the Pollution Control and Local Government (NI) Order 1978 becomes the responsibility of his Department as opposed to local councils.

(AQO 10/01)

Mr Seamus Close asked the Minister of the Environment if he has any plans to make it an offence to commence building any structure without first obtaining planning permission and building control permission.

(AQO 24/01)

I propose to bring a Planning (Amendment) Bill before the Assembly in this session. One of the primary aims of that Bill will be to strengthen existing enforcement powers and introduce new procedures, which will enable my Department to respond more speedily and effectively to those cases which raise public concern. The issue of making it an offence to commence building any structure without first obtaining planning permission was raised recently with my Department by the Environment Committee. My Department is currently considering this but the issues are complex and far reaching. I want to consider them fully and carefully, and in the context of existing and proposed enforcement powers, before deciding whether such a change should be made. Responsibility for Building Regulations lies with the Department of Finance and Personnel, but I am advised that it has no plans to create such an offence in regard to building control approval.

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of the Environment to explain why the application by mobile phone company One 2 One for a telecommunication mast at Ganaway, Millisle was processed within 20 days despite the large number of registered objections.

(AQO 38/01)

Mr Foster: The application for consent under the Department's prior approval procedure for the erection of this mast was received by the Planning Service on 26 July 2001. Under current regulations, the Planning Service has a period of 42 days to notify the applicant of its decision.

The proposal was advertised in the local press on 9 August 2001, and local residents were notified in writing. Three letters of objection from local residents and a petition of objection containing 106 signatures were received, raising visual impact and health concerns. After full consideration of the application, and the various objections received, the Planning Service concluded that it should grant consent. A formal letter to this effect issued on 16 August 2001.

I am satisfied that the application was processed consistent with all standard procedures and that all objections and representations were fully considered.

Ms Patricia Lewsley asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the performance targets that have been set for the Land Registers of Northern Ireland for 2001-02.

(AQW 37/01)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr Durkan): For 2001/2002 the following targets have been set for LRNI:

• To achieve a customer satisfaction rate, based on customer surveys, of at least 90%.

• To achieve a registration accuracy rate of at least 98.5%.

• To achieve a weighted unit cost target of £30.00 (inclusive of PFI costs).

• To cover Agency costs out of fee income.