(AQO 219/01)

Mr Campbell: To approximate to the area 'west of the Bann' for the purposes of this answer, I have collated what information there is in relation to the nine Local Government Districts in Counties Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone. This area has 27% of the total NI population. In approximate terms some 32% of the Roads Service road maintenance budget and 23% of the Water Service operations budget are specifically allocated to this area for 2001/02. Capital allocations can vary more from year to year depending on the particular schemes being undertaken but over the past six years, of the order of 24% of the roads capital budget has been allocated 'west of the Bann'. This percentage will rise to 26% this year. Over the same period Water Service capital expenditure 'west of the Bann' has averaged about 25% of the capital budget and this is planned to rise to 30% over the next three years.

Most resources allocated to public transport services are allocated on a network basis rather than on a geographical one and Translink maintains a comprehensive network of services throughout Northern Ireland, to some extent by cross subsidising loss making services, often in rural areas, from profitable services. However, figures on a geographical basis are available for the Rural Transport Fund and an estimated 44% of the resources available will be spent in areas 'west of the Bann' this year. This area has approximately 40% of Northern Ireland's rural population.

Dr Alasdair McDonnell asked the Minister for Regional Development to make it his policy to replace the decaying sewage and rainwater drainage system in Belfast at an early date; and to make a statement.

(AQO 197/01)

Mr Campbell: It is my Department's policy to replace or refurbish drainage infrastructure which is no longer able to provide satisfactory service.

This work is prioritised on a Province wide basis taking account of a range of key factors including the condition of the infrastructure, available finance and other essential projects for water treatment, wastewater treatment and infrastructure for development.

I am pleased to confirm, however, that the major scheme to upgrade the Belfast Sewerage System remains a high priority. It is currently programmed to commence in 2003 at an estimated cost of some £100million.

In the meantime work is continuing to identify and provide interim solutions to out of sewer flooding problems at 12 locations in the Belfast City Council area. I have secured an allocation of £1million from the Executive Programme Fund for this work in the current financial year. A further £4.5 million of the Executive Programme Funds will be spent on interim flood alleviation measures in Greater Belfast and across the Province over the next 2 years.

Mr John Fee asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail (a) what improvements have been made to rural roads in South Armagh in this financial year; and (b) what further plans he has for the improvement of roads in that area.

(AQO 228/01)

Mr Campbell: For the purpose of this reply I have taken South Armagh as being that area of County Armagh, South of Armagh City which contains part of Armagh City and District, and Newry and Mourne District, Council areas.

My Department's Roads Service plans to spend some £268,000 on minor road improvement schemes in this area during the current financial year. Of this amount, approximately £30,000 is earmarked for very minor schemes at 6 different locations, only one of which, the provision of a lay-by at Berna Park, Meigh, has been completed. The remaining £238,000 will be spent on 4 larger schemes involving:

• road widening and realignment at Sturgan Brae, Camlough;
• junction improvement and provision of forward sight distance at Annaghmare Road, Crossmaglen;
• road alignment at Newtownhamilton Road, Ballymacnab; and
• road widening and verge improvement at Derrynoose Road, Keady.

Subject to the successful acquisition of the necessary land, all of these schemes should be completed by the end of this financial year.

With regard to future minor works programmes, you will be aware that Roads Service consults with all Councils in the Spring and Autumn of each year about the minor works schemes proposed for their areas. As part of this process, the Divisional Roads Manager will be visiting Newry and Mourne District Council later this month, and Armagh City and District Council early in November 2001.

Mr George Savage asked the Minister for Regional Development to indicate who has the responsibility for clearing badgers and other wildlife that have been killed on the roads.

(AQO 203/01)

Mr Campbell: My Department's Roads Service is responsible for clearing animal carcasses from the motorway network. In the case of all other roads, responsibility for this task lies with district councils.

Mr Edwin Poots asked the Minister for Regional Development to indicate how he will assist in the development of the Lisburn North Feeder road in view of the adoption of the Lisburn Area Plan.

(AQO 245/01)

Mr Campbell: As stated in the Lisburn Area Plan 2001, the development of lands in north Lisburn will only be permitted in accordance with an agreed comprehensive plan to provide the necessary public infrastructure, including the proposed North Lisburn Feeder Road and the proposed extension of Prince William Road. These schemes will be considered as part of the longer-term transportation and road infrastructure needs of the Belfast Metropolitan Area, which includes the Lisburn Borough Council area, and will be dealt with in the Belfast Metropolitan Area Plan (BMAP) and the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan (BMTP).

Work on both these plans is already underway. It is anticipated that the BMTP will be completed by the end of 2002 and that a draft BMAP will also be published at that time.

Mr Joe Byrne asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline what capital roads investment has taken place on the designated TENS (Trans-European Networks) across Northern Ireland.

(AQO 216/01)

Mr Campbell: Over the past five year period (1996/97 - 2000/01), my Department has invested some £33M on major capital road schemes across the country's Trans European Network routes.

The above expenditure does not include investment on minor capital road schemes on these routes. My Department's Roads Service has advised that this detail could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Mrs Annie Courtney asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail any plans he has to construct roundabouts on the Clooney Road, near the City of Derry Airport and to give the proposed time scale.

(AQO 242/01)

Mr Campbell: In my letter to you dated 26 September 2001, I advised of the procedure I propose to use in the preparation of the Roads Service 10-year Forward Planning Schedule. The Schedule will contain a number of major road schemes which, together with those in the Major Works Preparation Pool, I would expect could be funded and started within the next ten years or so. As you know, the Chief Executive of Roads Service will be writing to you shortly to provide, inter alia, details of the schemes which will be assessed for possible inclusion in the Schedule.

For your information, a scheme to provide roundabouts at the junction of McLean Road and Coolnafinney Road at Broadbridge and at the junction of Cloghole Road and Donnybrewer Road on the A2 Clooney Road is one of the schemes being considered for possible inclusion in the Schedule.

A further scheme to dual the A2 Clooney Road between Maydown Road and the City of Derry Airport, providing a further roundabout at the Airport entrance, will also be assessed for possible inclusion in the Schedule along with a number of other worthwhile schemes.

Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail (a) discussions he is having or is planning to have with the RUC to resolve the major traffic problems associated with the Saintfield Road and (b) the measures he will take to ensure a reduction in the number of accidents on this stretch of road.

(AQO 191/01)

Mr Campbell: My Department's Roads Service is in regular dialogue with the RUC about traffic problems on Saintfield Road. At present, for example, it is assisting the RUC in its investigations into recent road accidents at Commons Brae.

I should point out that road traffic accidents occur for a variety of reasons, the majority of which cannot be directly influenced by engineering measures. Nevertheless, Roads Service has already undertaken a number of schemes to improve road safety on Saintfield Road. I can assure you that it will continue to monitor and review traffic conditions to identify any possible additional safety measures that might be appropriate along this important arterial route.

Mr Tommy Gallagher asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail when he expects the Organisational Review of the Water Service to be completed.

(AQO 231/01)

Mr Campbell: The first stage of the Water Service organisational review, which will outline structural proposals, is due to be completed before the end of this year. Managers, their staff and trade union representatives will be consulted and their views will be carefully taken into account.

Implementation is due to commence in Spring 2002 and is expected to be completed in Spring 2003.

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the level of expenditure on roads within the Ards Borough Council area over the last ten years.

(AQO 217/01)

Mr Campbell: The table below shows the expenditure incurred by my Department's Roads Service in the Ards Borough area during the ten-year period 1991/92 to 2000/2001:

Ms Eileen Bell asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail (a) what progress has been made in the upgrading of the Belfast/Bangor railway line; (b) when is the work expected to be completed; and (c) when will new rolling stock be introduced into service; and to make a statement.

(AQO 241/01)

Mr Campbell: Translink has advised that preparatory work on the upgrading of the railway line between Belfast and Bangor commenced in April 2001. The main contract for the trackworks is due to commence on 15 October 2001 and Translink expect this work to be completed by mid-January 2002.

My Department recently conveyed approval to Translink to purchase 23 new trains at a total cost of £87m. Translink issued Invitations To Tender to four train manufacturers on 22 August. The closing date for receipt of tenders is 30 November. Translink expect that the new trains will start to be brought into service during 2003/04.

Mr Conor Murphy asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline progress on the dualling of the Newry section of the proposed Newry to Dundalk road.

(AQO 220/01)

Mr Campbell: My Department's Roads Service has advised me that work on the design and statutory procedures for this project is progressing well. It is hoped that the Environmental Statement and draft Direction Order will be published towards the end of this year. The expected public inquiries for both the Environmental Statement and the draft Direction Order should take place in summer 2002. As the statutory procedures in both jurisdictions are different, separate public inquiries will be required. Depending on the outcome of these inquiries and the subsequent vesting order process, construction work could commence in the summer of 2003 at the earliest.

This scheme has been prioritised as part of the completion of all parts of the Trans-European Network (TEN) from Larne to the border with the Republic of Ireland.

Mr John Fee asked the Minister for Social Development to detail how many applicants for Disabled Facilities Grants in each Housing Executive region have been waiting for assessment by an Occupational Therapist for (i) up to six months (ii) between six and twelve months and (iii) over twelve months.

(AQW 246/01)

The Minister for Social Development (Mr Morrow): The information is not held in the exact form requested and to convert it would involve disproportionate cost.

The timeframes set out below are based on those that the Housing Executive uses to regularly monitor Occupational Therapy (OT) service performance and used by the OT service to monitor its performance for Citizens Charter Standards purposes.

At 30 September 2001 the numbers and waiting times are as follows: