(AQW 692/01)

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development what progress has been made in acquiring new rolling stock for Northern Ireland Railways, to increase the commuter potential in East Antrim.

(AQW 701/01)

Mr Robinson: The closing date for the receipt of tenders for the supply of new rolling stock was 16 November. The tenders are now being evaluated and Translink hope to be in a position to award supplier contracts in early 2002. Delivery of the new trains is expected to take place in two phases during 2003, the first around February 2003 and the second around September 2003. Each train should be ready for scheduled service after a 6 month commissioning period by Northern Ireland Railways. The new trains should therefore begin to enter service in the late summer of 2003. Translink has not yet finalised its operational plans on how best to deploy the new rolling stock, but to the extent that they are used in East Antrim they should encourage increased patronage by commuters in this area.

Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister for Regional Development how the proposal by the Roads Service Agency to employ contractors and farmers to clear blocked roads in prolonged periods of lying snow will be implemented.

(AQW 719/01)

Mr Robinson: In early November my Department's Roads Service placed advertisements in the local press, the local farming journal 'Farm Week' and other approved tendering journals, seeking quotations from contractors and farmers for the hire of plant and drivers to assist in the clearance of snow from the public road network in exceptional circumstances. Quotations for a single hire rate, whether for weekdays or weekends, have been sought for each council area.

The closing date for return of quotations was 15 November 2001. By the end of November 2001 Roads Service Section Offices will be provided with a list of those contractors and farmers prepared to assist in this activity. Depending on the amount of assistance required in each Council area, those on the list will be called off, as necessary.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development what steps he will be taking to address the serious traffic congestion afflicting the M2 junction at Sandyknowes in Newtownabbey; and to make a statement.

(AQW 733/01)

Mr Robinson: My Department's Roads Service has commissioned consultants to carry out a Feasibility Study on various measures which might improve the capacity of the Sandyknowes interchange with a view to reducing congestion at this location in the short to medium term. The consultants have recently completed an extensive survey of traffic patterns at Sandyknowes during the morning and evening peak periods and their report is due to be completed by February 2002.

The reality of the situation, however, is that traffic demand at the interchange exceeds the existing road capacity and it is likely that a significant improvement can only be achieved by a major works scheme to provide additional traffic lanes. A study of possible major improvement options in the longer term is therefore also being carried out by Roads Service in conjunction with the development of the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan.

Mr Duncan Shipley Dalton asked the Minister for Regional Development to give his assessment of the progress being made in regard to the consultation document on the future of the Antrim-Knockmore railway line.

(AQW 743/01)

Mr Robinson: The Consultation Document on the Equality Impact Assessment of the proposed discontinuance of services on the Antrim to Knockmore railway line was issued to over 600 consultees and local interest groups on 31 August 2001. The closing date for responses was 23 November. There were 23 responses received. I will consider the responses and then issue a report. I am satisfied that consultees have been given every opportunity to put forward their views.

The Lord Kilclooney asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline (a) if he has provided a Union flag at the Road Services Agency premises at Ballynahonemore Road, Armagh City, (b) if any arrangements have been made to fly the flag at these premises on designated dates, and (c) why it was not flown on Remembrance Sunday; and to make a statement.

(AQW 747/01)

Mr Robinson: My Department's Roads Service has advised me that a Union flag has been provided at its depot at Ballynahonemore Road, Armagh. Arrangements have been made to fly the flag on designated dates but, due to an oversight at the depot, it was not flown on Remembrance Sunday, 11 November 2001. I have asked Roads Service to review its arrangements to ensure that the flag is flown on future designated dates.

Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister for Regional Development to (a) list all four lane carriageways or sections of carriageways which have been built during the last five years and (b) detail the traffic levels recorded prior to their development.

(AQW 754/01)

Mr Robinson: The following schemes have been completed in the last five years:

• the A26 Antrim to Ballymena Stages 2 & 3 - involved construction of a second 2-lane carriageway to provide a dual carriageway. The traffic flow prior to opening was 24,000 vehicles per day (vpd).
• the A26 Windyhall, Coleraine - involved construction of a second 2-lane carriageway to provide a dual carriageway. The traffic flow prior to opening was 13,000vpd.
• the Strand Road, Londonderry - a 2-lane road was widened to a 4-lane road. The traffic flow prior to opening was 29,000vpd.

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development when he will implement a repainting time table for the road traffic markings on routes in East Antrim.

(AQW 760/01)

Mr Robinson: My Department's Roads Service undertakes an annual inspection of road markings on all routes. Arising from this inspection, a repainting programme is compiled for each district council area. Within these programmes, the works are prioritised to ensure that the worst worn markings are repaired.

In addition to its annual inspections, Roads Service inspects all roads on a regular basis and, where necessary, arrangements are made for road markings to be renewed

Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans he has to install an anti-skid surface at the junction of the A2 Shore Road and the Old Shore Road at Whiteabbey.

(AQW 765/01)

Mr Robinson: My Department's Roads Service plans to undertake a major revision of the junction between the A2 Shore Road and the Old Shore Road at Whiteabbey. The scheme is programmed to commence early in 2002 and will include the provision of anti-skid surfacing on the A2 Shore Road approaches to the junction. The scheme will also involve the provision of pedestrian crossing facilities and incorporate pedestrian refuge islands and traffic signals in the centre of the carriageway.

Rev Robert Coulter asked the Minister for Regional Development what action he is taking to address the traffic problems at the M2/Sandyknowes junction.

(AQW 800/01)

Mr Robinson: My Department's Roads Service has commissioned consultants to carry out a Feasibility Study on various measures which might improve the capacity of the Sandyknowes interchange with a view to reducing congestion at this location in the short to medium term. The consultants have recently completed an extensive survey of traffic patterns at Sandyknowes during the morning and evening peak periods and their report is due to be completed by February 2002.

The reality of the situation, however, is that traffic demand at the interchange exceeds the existing road capacity and it is likely that a significant improvement can only be achieved by a major works scheme to provide additional traffic lanes. A study of possible major improvement options in the longer term is therefore also being carried out by Roads Service in conjunction with the development of the Belfast Metropolitan Transport Plan.

Ms Pauline Armitage asked the Minister for Social Development has he any plans to introduce a cash discount policy for Housing Executive tenants to enable them to move to the private sector.

(AQW 740/01)

The Minister for Social Development (Mr Dodds): I have no plans to do so at the present time. The Housing Executive's review of its House Sales Scheme addresses this issue but concludes that it is not a viable option. I await with interest the responses to this consultation to see if there is any support for a cash discount scheme.

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development what steps are being taken to include rates in the housing costs for those who are being assessed by the Child Support Agency.

(AQW 744/01)

Mr Dodds: The amount of maintenance to be paid for a child is worked out according to a national formula which is laid down in child support law. It takes account of the income and essential expenditure of both parents and is based on Income Support rates and allowances.

Regulations govern the amounts to be included in the calculation of a parent's expenditure, including an amount in respect of their housing costs. However, no allowance is made in respect of rates in this part of the formula.

The formula does include an important safeguard, known as protected income, which represents the level below which a non-resident parent's income is not allowed to fall as a result of meeting their maintenance obligation. Current child support regulations specify that housing costs and rates are included in the calculation of protected income.

A completely new child support scheme will be introduced from April 2002. Non-resident parents will pay a flat rate percentage of their net income depending on the number of children to be maintained. No account will be taken of the housing costs of either parent in the reformed scheme.

The Lord Kilclooney asked the Minister for Social Development to outline (a) if he has provided a Union flag at the Crown Buildings, Alexander Road, Armagh City, (b) if any arrangements have been made to fly the flag at these premises on designated dates, and (c) why it was not flown on Remembrance Sunday; and to make a statement.

(AQW 748/01)

Mr Dodds: A flag has been provided for Armagh Crown Buildings and arrangements are in place to fly the Union Flag on designated dates. Because of an oversight the flag was not flown on Remembrance Day until 12.00 noon. It was subsequently removed at 3.00 pm for safekeeping when all staff had left the building. Steps will be taken to ensure that the oversight does not occur again. The staff concerned have been reminded of their responsibilities in this matter and of the importance of ensuring that the Union Flag is flown on the designated dates.

Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister for Social Development what action he is taking to assist unemployed people over the age of 50 years.

(AQW 786/01)

Mr Dodds: The New Deal for 50+ is part of the Government's Welfare to Work programme and aims to help people aged 50 and over who are looking for or considering a return to work. In Northern Ireland, the lead responsibility for this initiative lies with the Department of Education and Learning. The Department of Social Development assists the Department of Education and Learning with the identification of those jobseekers who are eligible for New Deal 50+.