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Monday 29 October 2001 ENTERPRISE, TRADE AND INVESTMENT Job Losses at Shorts Bombardier Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what plans he has to assist those sub contractors who supply Bombardier Shorts, taking into consideration the likely economic effect of the job losses at the factory. (AQW 380/01) The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): LEDU and IDB, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Aerospace Consortium, are liaising closely with those client companies which may be affected by the recent events in the United States and will consider how best their support programmes may be used to maintain their competitiveness at this difficult time. LEDU is currently monitoring events and is in close contact with all key subcontractors to both Bombardier and the global aerospace industry to ascertain the current and future impacts of the developments, post September 11. LEDU is actively liaising and working with the Northern Ireland Aerospace Consortium to develop a way forward for the industry. I have written to the Prime Minister urging him to introduce measures which would mitigate against some of the job losses recently announced by Bombardier Shorts, and which in turn would ease the pressures on the local sub-contract network. Any business issues being raised are being actioned. Merger of LEDU & IDB Ms Michelle Gildernew asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to outline his plans for local job creation post the merger of LEDU and IDB and subsequent creation of Intertrade Ireland. (AQW 409/01) Sir Reg Empey: A body is being set up, Invest NI, to carry out the functions of the existing economic development agencies. When Invest Northern Ireland is set up, responsibility for the delivery of local economic development services will fall to it. In a letter to the Enterprise, Trade & Investment Committee on 10 October 2001, the Chairman of the Shadow Board of INI, Professor Fabian Monds, set out the strategic principles which would direct the new agency. Apart from innovation, which will be a prime focus, there will be a clear emphasis on the local delivery of services, the needs of small businesses and an increase in the number of business births. INI will pursue these objectives in the context of the overall policy framework set by my Department. Science Park at Ulster University at Coleraine Mr Sean Neeson asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the cost of building the Science Park at the University of Ulster at Coleraine, its estimated income and actual income to date. (AQW 432/01) Sir Reg Empey: The University of Ulster at Coleraine has allocated 28 acres for science park development to provide 28,000 square metres of high specification accommodation over the next ten years. Stage 1 involving 5,700 square metres of incubation space and a multi occupancy building has been completed at a cost of £6m. Since the first buildings have just been completed there is no income to date. However projected returns from these buildings are £0.5 million per annum. The Coleraine site is a satellite site of the Northern Ireland Science Park and that link will provide further opportunities for start-up knowledge based companies. TOPENVIRONMENT Planning Applications Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of the Environment what action has been taken to ensure that planning applications are processed within the 12 week timescale. (AQW 388/01) The Minister of the Environment (Mr Foster): There is no 12 week timescale for processing planning applications. The Department's targets are to take 65% of minor applications and 60% of major applications to the District Councils within 8 weeks of receipt and to issue decisions on all applications within 14 working days of final consultation with all relevant consultees. In 2000/01 64% (target 65%) of minor applications and 53% (target 60%) of major applications were taken to District Councils within 8 weeks and 54% (target 65%) of decisions issued within 14 working days of final District Council consultation. I was successful in securing an additional £850K last year and again this year to assist in both reducing the backlog of all applications in line with its Programme for Government commitments, and in meeting the above targets. However, the recruitment of additional staff has taken some to complete, and, in the interim, planning application numbers have also continued to rise - by 7.9% and 4.5% in each of the last two years and by 5.4% in this year to date. In addition, the foot and mouth restrictions have delayed site inspections. TOPFINANCE AND PERSONNEL Average Wage Levels of District Council Employers Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to outline the average wage levels within each district council area for (a) men and (b) women and when was the most recent survey completed. (AQW 407/01) The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Mr Durkan): The average gross weekly earnings for adult males, females and all employees in Northern Ireland's 26 district councils at April 2000 are detailed in the following table. The most recent survey was completed in November 2000, containing data for April 2000. April 2001 data is due to be released mid-November 2001. AVERAGE GROSS WEEKLY EARNINGS IN N.I. DISTRICT COUNCILS, APRIL 2000
Source: DETI Northern Ireland New Earnings Survey, Sub NI Data April 2000 Note: *sample too small for statistical reliability Trend of Personal Non Mortgage Debt in NI Dr Esmond Birnie asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what statistical information is held on the trend of personal, non mortgage, debt in Northern Ireland and how that level compares to Great Britain. (AQW 428/01) Mr Durkan: There is no statistical information currently held on the trend of personal, non mortgage, debt in Northern Ireland and how that level compares to Great Britain. Information on household financial liabilities is provided at the United Kingdom level by the Office for National Statistics. The information is provided as all personal financial liabilities attributable to both households and non-profit institutions serving households but can be used to calculate an approximation to household, non mortgage, financial liability. However, the information is not provided at a regional level. Executive Enforcement Office Mr George Savage asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel what steps are being taken to create an Executive enforcement office to ensure that specific action is taken in respect of Departments that have been criticised over their operations by the Public Accounts Committee and Comptroller and Auditor General. (AQO 310/01) Mr Durkan: I have no plans to create such an office. My officials already work closely with Departments to ensure that issues raised in reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General that are subject either to a Public Accounts Committee Hearing or written correspondence between the Committee and departments, and subsequently included in the Committee's formal reports, are addressed appropriately. Employment of Consultants Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel if the Executive has issued any guidance to Departments on the employment of consultants. (AQO 311/01) Mr Durkan: Various pieces of guidance have been issued in respect of this issue, the most recent substantive guidance being in 1995. In summary, the guidance defines what is covered by the term "consultancy", clarifies the roles and responsibilities of DFP and departments, and provides both a model guide and a detailed mechanism for monitoring the use, performance and cost of consultants. Breast & Testicular Cancer Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the number of deaths over the past five years as a result of (a) breast cancer and (b) testicular cancer. (AQW 437/01) Mr Durkan: The information requested on deaths resulting from breast cancer and testicular cancer is presented in the table below.
HEALTH, SOCIAL SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY Energy Efficient Policy Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) those local trusts that currently adopt energy efficient policies and (b) the estimated annual energy savings for each trust. (AQW 237/01) The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): My Department's Regional Environment Group, in which all trusts participate, plays a leading role in implementing energy efficiency in the HPSS. All trusts are required to submit returns annually on energy performance, for inclusion in a Departmental annual environmental report. The report for the year 2000/2001 is in preparation, and will be completed towards the end of November 2001. An extract from the 1999/2000 report which summarises the energy performance of Health and Social Services Boards, Trusts and Agencies is shown below. HEALTH SERVICE TRUST ENERGY SAVINGS 1990/91 - 1999/2000 TARGET 20%
*Blood Transfusion - Base Year 1996/97 Tá príomh-ról stiúrtha , ina bhfuil páirt ag gach Iontaobhas, ag Grúpa Réigiúnach Comhshaoil na Roinne s'agam le éifeacht fuinnimh sa SSSPa chur i bhfeidhm. Ní mór do gach iontaobhas tuairisceán bliantúil a chur ar ais ar fheidhmiú fuinnimh, le cur isteach i dtuairisc bhliantúil chomhshaoil na Roinne. Táthar ag ullmhú thuairisc na bliana 2000/2001 agus beidh sí réidh i dtrátha dheireadh Mhí na Samhna 2001. Tá cuid den tuairisc ó 1999/2000 a dhéanann achoimre ar fheidhmiú fuinnimh Bhoird Shláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta, Iontaobhas agus Gníomhaireachtaí léirithe thíos. SÁBHÁIL FUINNIMH IONTAOBHAIS NA SEIRBHÍSÍ SLÁINTE
1990/91 - 1999/2000 SPRIOC 20%
*Bonnbhliain 1996/97 - Seirbhís Fhuilaistrithe Funding Over Next Three Year Period Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans she has to increase funding to trusts over the next three years in line with the projected demand for services. (AQW 267/01) Ms de Brún: The Executive's proposals for funding in 2002-03 are set out in the Draft Budget, currently before the Assembly. In light of the pressures faced by the Service, I will continue to press for an increase in the level of HPSS funding. Funding for the 2003-04 and 2004-05 financial years will be decided in the context of the next Spending Review. Leagtar moltaí an Fheidhmeannais le haghaidh maoinithe i 2002-03 amach sa Dréacht-Bhuiséad atá faoi bhráid an Tionóil i láthair na huaire. Mar gheall ar na brúnna ar an tSeirbhís, leanfaidh mé ar aghaidh ag iarraidh ar mhéadú i leibhéal an mhaoinithe do na SSSP. Déanfar cinneadh ar mhaoiniú do na blianta airgeadais 2003-04 agus 2004-05 i gcomhthéacs an chéad Athbhreithnithe eile ar Chaiteachas. Budgets & Staff Morale Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what assessment she has made in relation to the correlation between budgetary shortfalls and staff morale in local trusts. (AQW 270/01) Ms de Brún: I have little doubt that HPSS staff morale can suffer where funding is inadequate. My aim, of course, is to secure adequate funding for the HPSS, to help to satisfy the requirements and expectations of both service users and HPSS staff. Níl mé in amhras go bhféadann maoiniú neamhimleor beagmhisneach a chur ar fhoireann SSSP. Tá sé de aidhm agam, ar ndóigh, go leor maoiniú a aimsiú don SSSP le cuidiú le riar ar riachtanais agus ar ionchais úsáideoirí agus fhoireann SSSP. Residential Care for Drug Users Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans she has to establish a unit to provide long term residential care for drug users. (AQW 372/01) Ms de Brún: An effective range of residential and community treatment services is already in place, and a long stay residential treatment unit would not be a priority at the present time. Tá réimse éifeachtach de sheirbhísí cóireála cónaithe agus pobail ar fáil, agus ní tosaíocht é aonad cóireála cónaithe fadtéarmach faoi láthair. << Prev / Next >> |
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