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Friday 7 December 2001 Health, Social Services and Public Safety Homefirst Community Trust Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline her plans to redress the current under funding of Homefirst Community Trust. (AQW 565/01) The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): I acknowledge that Homefirst Community Trust, like all other HSS Trusts, does not have sufficient resources to respond to all the demands that are being placed on it. However, our ability to address this issue is heavily constrained by the overall level of funding available. I have secured additional resources in the September Monitoring round and this will enable some additional funding to be made available to Homefirst Trust, to help address some of their current pressures. Admhaím nach bhfuil go leor áiseanna ag Iontaobhas Phobal Homefirst, mar aon le gach Iontaobhas eile SSS, le freastal ar na héilimh uile atá á gcur orthu. Is mór an -iallach atá ar ár n-ábaltacht le dul i ngleic leis an cheist seo, ámh, mar gheall ar an leibhéal foriomlán maoinithe atá ar fáil. Tá tuilleadh áiseanna faighte agam i mbabhta Monatóireachta Mheán Fómhair agus, mar gheall air sin beifear in ann maoiniú breise a chur ar fáil d'Iontaobhas Homefirst, le cuidiú a thabhairt dóibh chun dul i ngleic le cuid dá mbrúnna láithreacha. Financial Assistance for Nursing and Personal Care for the Elderly Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to make a statement in relation to financial assistance for nursing and personal care costs for the long term care of the elderly and how this compares to the rest of the United Kingdom. (AQW 773/01) Ms de Brún: Free nursing care was introduced in England from 1 October 2001 and in Wales the NHS will pay for the nursing care needed in a nursing home from Monday 3 December 2001. At present there are no plans to introduce free personal care in England and Wales. In Scotland, free nursing and personal care in all settings will be introduced from April 2002. In May, the Executive agreed in principle to the introduction of free nursing care in nursing homes from April 2002, subject to the availability of sufficient resources. As announced earlier today, the allocation of additional resources to my Department in the Executive's budget will allow for the introduction of free nursing care from 1 October 2002. I intend to bring forward the necessary legislation shortly, through the proposed Health and Personal Social Services (No1) Bill, so that this decision may be put into effect. The Executive also agreed in May that an interdepartmental group should be set up to examine the costs and implications of introducing free personal care, taking account of the recent work commissioned by the Scottish Executive. The inter-departmental Group, which is being led by officials from my Department, will ensure that a detailed and considered examination of this issue is undertaken, before fully informed decisions can be made. Tugadh cúram saor altranais isteach i Sasana ó 1 Deireadh Fómhair 2001 agus sa Bhreatain Bheag, íocfaidh an SNS as an chúram altranais atá de dhíth i dteach altranais ón Luan 3 Nollaig 2001. Níl sé beartaithe i láthair na huaire cúram saor pearsanta a thabhairt isteach i Sasana agus sa Bhreatain Bheag. In Albain, tabharfar cúram saor altrachta agus pearsanta isteach i ngach suíomh ó Aibreán 2002. I mí na Bealtaine, chomhaontaigh an Feidhmeannas i bprionsabal go dtabharfaí cúram saor altranais isteach i dtithe altranais ón Aibreán 2002 ag brath ar infaighteacht leoracmhainní . Mar a fógraíodh ní ba luaithe inniu, ligfidh an dáileadh breise do mo Roinnse i mBúiséad an Fheidhmeannais de theacht cúram saor altranais a thabhairt isteach ó Dheireadh Fómhair 2002. Tá sé mar rún agam an reachtaíocht riachtanach a thabhairt chun tosaigh gan mhoill, tríd an Bhille (Uimh.1) Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta Pearsanta molta, sa dóigh go gcuirfí an cinneadh seo i bhfeidhm. Chomhaontaigh an Feidhmeanas i Mí na Bealtaine go mbunófaí grúpa idir-rannach le costais agus le himpleachtaí thabhairt isteach chúraim shaoir phearsanta a scrúdú, ag glacadh na hoibre is déanaí coimisiúnaithe ag Feidhmeannas na hAlban san áireamh. Cinnteoidh an Grúpa idir-rannach a bhfuil oifigigh mo Roinne i gceannas air go ndéanfar mionscrúdú tuisceanach ar an cheist seo sular féidir bearta iomlána cuimsitheacha a dhéanamh. Professional Development : Nurses and Midwives Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans she has to facilitate qualified nurses and midwives to take time off for continuous professional development. (AQW 776/01) Ms de Brún: In order for nurses and midwives to meet their professional development requirements for UKCC they must have 5 days study in 3 years to maintain registration. HPSS employers are aware of their responsibilities to ensure the competency of qualified nurses and midwives and support this in a number of ways, including in-house training, mentorship and "shadowing" other trained staff. Continuous professional development does not necessarily require time off. Lena riachtanais ghairmiúla fhorbartha a chomhall don UKCC ní mór d'altraí agus do mhná cabhrach 5 lá bheith caite acu ag staidéar laistigh de thrí bliana lena gclárú a choinneáil. Cuirtear freagrachtaí na bhfostóirí SSSP le cumas altraí agus ban cáilithe cabhrach a chinntiú in iúl dóibh agus le tacú leis seo ar roinnt dhóigheanna, oiliúint inmheánach, comhairle agus maoirseacht na foirne eile oilte san áireamh. Ní gá am saor a bheith agat le forbairt ghairmiúil leanúnach a dhéanamh. Resources Available for Continuous Professional Development Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans she has to increase the resources available for continuous professional development for qualified nurses and midwives. (AQW 777/01) Ms de Brún: My Department currently provides in excess of £9 million annually to resource commissioning of post registration education and development for nurses and midwives. New commissioning arrangements for supporting identified post registration training needs of nurses and midwives are being developed and the resources required are kept under review. There are no indications that current resources are inadequate to meet identified training needs. Tugann an Roinn s'agamsa breis agus £9 milliún sa bhliain i láthair na huaire chun coimisiúnú oideachais iarchláraithe agus forbairt altraí agus bhan cabhrach a mhaoiniú. Tá socruithe nua coimisiúnaithe le tacú le riachtanais aitheanta oiliúna iarchláraithe altraí agus bhan cabhrach á bhforbairt agus coinnítear na hacmhainní atá de dhíth faoi athbhreithniú. Níl cosúlacht ar bith ann nach leor na hacmhainní atá ann faoi láthair le riar ar riachtanais aitheanta oiliúna. Occupied Beds Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the percentage of beds in the health service that were occupied by people over the age of (a) 65 and (b) 75 in each of the last five years. (AQW 778/01) Ms de Brún: Information is available on the percentage of occupied bed days in local hospitals accounted for by people aged 65 and over and 75 and over, and is detailed in the table below.
Tá eolas ar fáil ar chéatadán laethanta leapa sealbhaithe in otharlanna áitiúla ar chúis le daoine 65 agus níos sine agus 75 agus níos sine an sealbhaithe, agus mionsonraithe sa tábla thíos.
Children Aged 0-4 : Ulster Community & Hospitals HSS Trust Area Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of children aged 0-4 years within the Ulster Community & Hospitals HSS Trust area. (AQW 780/01) Ms de Brún: The latest available information indicates that there are 7,030 children aged 0-4 years in the Ulster Community & Hospitals Trust catchment area. Léiríonn an t-eolas is déanai atá ar fáil go bhfuil 7,030 páiste idir 0-4 bliain d'aois ann i limistéar Iontaobhas Pobail Uladh agus Otharlann. New Cancer Centre : Belfast City Hospital Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what is the proposed completion date for the new cancer centre at Belfast City Hospital. (AQW 781/01) Ms de Brún: The completion date cannot be specified at this time. The business case for the Regional Cancer Centre is currently being considered as a matter of urgency by DFP. It is hoped that it will be cleared shortly which will allow the PFI process to be concluded and decisions taken on the funding and timetable of the project. Ní féidir an dáta críche a shonrú ag an am seo. Tá machnamh á dhéanamh ar chás gnó don Ionad Ailse Réigiúnach faoi láthair mar ábhar práinne ag RAP. Táthar ag súil go socrófar é gan mhoill agus go gcuirfidh seo deireadh le próiseas TFP agus le cinní déanta ar mhaoiniú agus ar chlár ama an tionscadail. Live Births : Ulster Community & Hospitals HSS Trust Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of live births within the Ulster Community & Hospitals HSS Trust in each of the last three years. (AQW 782/01) Ms de Brún: This information is detailed in the table below.
Tá an t-eolas seo léirithe sa tábla thíos.
Break-Even Criteria Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what steps she is taking to remove the break-even criteria that has been set for the Ulster Community & Hospitals HSS Trust. (AQW 796/01) Ms de Brún: The Ulster Community and Hospitals HSS Trust, in line with other HSS Trusts, has a statutory duty to break-even and ensure that it lives within its available resources. Furthermore, all Trusts must break even in year since all expenditure incurred by the HPSS now comes within the Department's public expenditure limits. Accordingly, the statutory duty to break-even must remain in place, for the Ulster and all other Trusts, so that our public expenditure limits are not breached. Tá dualgas reachtúil ar Iontaobhas SSS Pobail Uladh agus Otharlann de réir Iontaobhas SSS eile bheith gan gnóthú gan cailleadh agus le cinntiú nach bhfuil a mhála níos mó ná a sholáthar. Chomh maith leis sin, ní mór do na hIontaobhais go léir bheith gan gnóthú gan cailleadh sa bhliain mar go gcuimsítear an caiteachas iomlán tarraingthe ar na SSSP i gcailceanna poiblí caiteachais na Roinne anois. Mar sin de, ní mór d'Iontaobhas Uladh agus do na hIontaobhais eile go léir an dualgas reachtúil atá orthu le bheith gan gnóthú gan cailleadh bheith i bhfeidhm go fóill sa dóigh nach sárófar cailceanna poiblí caiteachais s'againn. Nursing and Residential Care Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the number of elderly people in hospital or at home, who having been assessed for nursing or residential care, died before securing a placement, in each year from 1996-00. (AQW 797/01) Ms de Brún: This information is not collected centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Ní bhailítear an t-eolas seo go lárnach agus ní féidir é a fháil ach ar chostas díréireach. Response Times for Emergency Ambulances Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the response times for emergency ambulances serving Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus and Larne taking patients to (a) Antrim Area Hospital and (b) Belfast Hospitals. (AQW 799/01) Ms de Brún: For the month of October 2001, the average times for an ambulance in the Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus and Larne area, to take a patient to the following receiving hospitals in Antrim and Belfast, in response to an emergency call were as follows: Hospital Time Antrim 20min 47sec Belfast City 18min 51sec Mater 13min 07sec Royal Maternity 17min 04sec Royal Sick Children 20min 40sec Royal Victoria 20min 31sec I mí na Samhna 2001, is iad a leanas na gnáthamanna a bhain sé as otharcharr i mBaile na Mainistreach , Carraig Fhearghais agus ceantar Latharna, le hothar a thabhairt chuig na hotharlanna a bhí ag glacadh isteach in Aontroim agus i mBéal Feirste mar fhreagairt ar ghlaoch éigeandála: Otharlann Am Aontroim 20 bom 47 soic Cathair Bhéal Feirste 18 bom 51 soic Otharlann Mater 13 bom 07 soic Otharlann Ríoga Máithreachais 17 bom 04 soic Otharlann Ríoga do Pháistí Tinne 20 bom 40 soic Otharlann Ríoga Victeoiria 20 bom 31 soic Fire Authority : Response Times Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail the average response times for Fire Authority vehicles to attend emergency call outs to (a) Newtownabbey (b) Carrickfergus and (c) Larne and to assess if these times can be maintained given the traffic congestion in East Antrim. (AQW 802/01) Ms de Brún: The Fire Brigade here use Department of Transport, Local Government and Regions (DTLR) standards in relation to response times, which apply to all Brigades. For the period 01 April - 30 September 2001, the following average response times have been recorded: Glengormley Fire Station (Newtownabbey) - 5.31 minutes Carrickfergus Fire Station - 6.20 minutes Larne Fire Station - 6.50 minutes
There is no indication that the response times of these Fire Stations have been affected by the amount of traffic on the roads in East Antrim.
Úsáideann an Bhriogáid Dóiteáin abhus anseo caighdeáin na Roinne Iompair, Rialaithe Áitiúil agus Réigiún (RIRR) a bhaineann leis na Briogáidí go léir i dtaca le hamanna freagartha.
Seo a leanas na meánamanna freagartha a cláraíodh le linn na tréimhse 1 Aibreán - 30 Meán Fómhair 2001: Stáisiún Dóiteáin Ghleann Ghormlaithe (Baile na Mainstreach) 5.31 nóiméad Stáisiún Dóiteáin Charraig Fhearghais - 6.20 nóiméad Stáisiún Dóiteáin Latharna - 6.50 nóiméad
Níl aon chosúlacht ann go raibh tionchar ag an mhéid tráchta ar na bóithre in Aontroim Thoir ar amanna freagartha na Stáisiún Dóiteáin seo. Radiotherapy : Waiting Times Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail (a) the recommended optimum waiting time for radiotherapy and (b) the current average waiting time. (AQW 806/01) Ms de Brún: The recommended optimum waiting time for urgent cases requiring palliative treatment is 1-2 days. This target is being achieved by Belvoir Park Hospital. In the case of curative and post-operative radiotherapy, the recommended waiting time, from the Consultant's decision to treat a patient, is 2 weeks. The current average waiting time at Belvoir Park Hospital is 4 - 6 weeks. As much of the radiotherapy equipment at Belvoir Park is nearing the end of its useful life, funding has been secured for two new linear accelerators, the provision of which should improve waiting time significantly. Is é an t-uas-am feithimh molta do chásanna práinneacha a mbíonn cóireáil mhaolaitheach de dhíth orthu ná 1-2 lá. Tá an sprioc sin á bhaint amach ag Otharlann Pháirc Belvoir. I gcás raiditeiripe iarobráide agus íocshláinte is é an tréímhse feithimh, ó thráth chinneadh an tSainchomhairleora cóireáil a chur ar othar, ná 2 sheachtain. Is é an meán am feithimh faoi láthair ag Otharlann Pháirc Belvoir ná 4-6 seachtain. De bharr go bhfuil go leor den trealamh raiditeiripe in Otharlann Pháirc Belvoir ag teacht chuig deireadh ré oibre tá maoiniú aimsithe do dhá luasghéaraitheoir, soláthar a chuideoidh go mór le feabhas a chur ar an liosta feithimh. Anti-Smoking Initiatives Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail those anti-smoking initiatives that have been introduced and any future initiatives she plans to launch. (AQW 808/01) Ms de Brún: Current anti-smoking initiatives include a public information campaign aimed at increasing public awareness about the dangers of smoking and the development of comprehensive smoking cessation services in each Health Board area. The public information campaign has, to date, included television advertisements, a website and a magazine aimed at discouraging smoking among young people. Two advertisements, aimed at second and third year pupils, have already been broadcast and the next phase of the campaign, beginning in early January, will include a hard-hitting television advertisement, supported by a telephone helpline service, aimed mainly at disadvantaged adult smokers. Earlier this year I established an inter-sectoral Working Group on Tobacco to develop and oversee the implementation of a comprehensive action plan to tackle smoking. The plan is still being developed and will be issued for consultation early in the New Year. It will address issues such as changing the public's perception of tobacco use, helping smokers to quit and protecting the public from tobacco smoke. In addition a regional training framework for the delivery of smoking cessation services is being prepared and will be available in the New Year. I measc na dtionscnamh frithchaithe tobac atá ann tá feachtas eolais phoiblí a bhfuil sé mar aidhm aige níos mó daoine a chur ar an eolas faoi chontúirtí caitheamh tobac agus faoi fhorbairt sheirbhísí cuimsitheacha le stop a chur le caitheamh tobac i ngach ceantar Bord Sláinte. Cuireadh san áireamh san fheachtas eolais phoiblí, rinneadh úsáid as fógraí teilifíse, líonláithreán agus as iris go dtí seo chun daoine óga a athchomhairliú ar chaitheamh tobac. Craoladh dhá fhógra cheana féin, dírithe ar dhaltaí scoile sa dara agus sa tríú bliain, agus sa chéad chéim eile den fheachtas, a thosóidh i mí Eanáir, craolfar fógra tromchúiseach teilifíse, tacaithe ag seirbhís líne cabhrach, dírithe ar chaiteoirí fásta tobac atá ar an anás den mhórchuid. Ní ba luaithe sa bhliain, bhunaigh mé Grúpa idir-rannógach Oibre ar Thobac le cur i bhfeidhm gníomhaíochta chuimsitheach le tabhairt faoi chaitheamh tobac a fhorbairt agus a stiúradh. Tá an plean á fhorbairt go fóill agus eiseofar é le haghaidh comhairlithe go luath san Athbhliain. Rachaidh sé i ngleic le ceisteanna amhail barúil an phobail ar úsáid tobac a athrú, ag cuidiú le caiteoirí tobac éirí as agus an pobal a chosaint ar an tobac. Ina theannta seo táthar ag ullmhú creatlach reigiúnach treanála chun seirbhísí le héirí as tobac agus beidh sé ar fáil san Athbhliain. Law Relating to the Placement of Children Mrs Annie Courtney asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to detail any plans she has to change the rules governing children in need of care being placed with a relative. (AQW 815/01) Ms de Brún: I have no plans at present to change the law relating to the placement of children looked after by Health and Social Services Trusts. Níl pleananna agam faoi láthair an dlí a bhaineann le socrúchán páistí a bhíonn faoi chúram Iontaobhais Sheirbhísí Sláinte agus Sóisialta a athrú. Cost of Hearing Aids Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQW 506/01, to detail the number, type and cost of each type of analogue hearing aid provided by the health service in each of the last three years. (AQW 816/01) Ms de Brún: This information is not collected centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. Ní bhailítear an t-eolas seo go lárnach agus ní féidir é a fháil ach ar chostas díréireach. Tyrone County Hospital : Staffing Levels & Financial Situation Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQO 411/01 and AQO 375/01, to detail (a) the distribution of allocations made in monitoring rounds in order to make good some of the pressures manifested as a result of previous decisions in relation to the South Tyrone Hospital and (b) those pressures still to be addressed. (AQW 817/01) Ms de Brún: (a) I can confirm that, in June Monitoring, the Executive made available £3.8 million to address the additional costs associated with the temporary closure of South Tyrone Hospital. In addition, the SHSSB has allocated additional funds to Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust as set out in AQO 285/01. (b) Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust is currently experiencing pressures caused by additional activity in the following specialties: Surgery and Medical, including Cardiology, Gynaecology, Obstetrics and Paediatrics. The Trust has however agreed a recovery plan with the WHSSB which will allow it to achieve a break even position in 2001/02 and future years. The Department has provided some £1.2 million to the WHSSB to help finance the recovery plan and address a number of service issues in year. (a) Is féidir liom deimhniú gur chuir, le Monatóireacht na Bealtaine, an Feidhmeannas £3.8 milliún ar fáil le dul i ngleic leis na costais bhreise a bhain le druidim shealadach Otharlann Thír Eoghain Theas. Ar a bharr, chuir an BSSSD maoiniú breise ar fáil d'Iontaobhas SSS Speirín Tír na Lochanna de réir mar atá leagtha amach in AQO 285/01. (b) Tá Iontaobhas SSS Speirín Tír na Lochanna faoi bhrú i láthair na huaire de thairbhe gníomhaíochta breise sna sainfheidhmeanna a leanas: Mainliacht agus Míochaine, Cairdeolaíocht, Gínéiceolaíocht, Cnáimhseachas agus Péidiatraic. Shocraigh an tIontaobhas plean gnóthaithe leis an BSSSI a cheadóidh dó pointe meá ar mheá a bhaint amach i 2001/02 agus sna blianta romhainn. Chuir an Roinn £1.2 milliún ar fáil don BSSSI chun cuidiú leis an phlean gnóthaithe a mhaoiniú agus dul i ngleic le roinnt ceisteanna seirbhíse i mbliana. Therapy for Children Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, pursuant to AQO 377/01, what boards and trusts benefited from the allocation of an additional £400,000 of recurrent funding to provide extra therapy for children of pre-school and school age. (AQW 818/01) Ms de Brún: The additional £400,000 was allocated, on a capitation basis, to each of the four Health and Social Services Boards, which in turn distributed the funding to each community Trust in their area according to identified need. Dáileadh an £400,000 breise, ar bhonn caipitíochta, do gach ceann de na ceithre Bhord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta, a dháil ina dhiaidh sin an maoiniú ar gach Iontaobhas pobail ina gceantar de réir riachtanais aimsithe. TOPSpeed Restrictions : Larne/Belfast Railway Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to AQW 518/01, to advise of any speed restrictions that applied between each railway station on the Larne/Belfast railway line during each of the past three years. (AQW 690/01) The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Robinson): The information requested, that has been supplied by Translink, is as follows:-
Railway Line Between Belfast & Larne Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development what steps he is taking to ensure that the status of the rail line between Belfast and Larne harbour as a Trans European network route is not endangered. (AQW 700/01) Mr Robinson: The railway line between Belfast and Larne is part of the trans - European Rail Network running between Cork, Dublin, Belfast, Larne and Stranraer and was adopted by the European Council in 1994. The European Commission recently revised the trans - European Network Guidelines but there were no alterations to Northern Ireland's trans - European Rail Network nor to the status of the Belfast to Larne railway line. I recognise the importance of the railway line between Belfast and Larne in the overall context of the trans - European Rail Network in improving West to East connections to Great Britain and onto continental Europe. In its December 2000 Budget the Assembly allocated resources to upgrade the section of track between Belfast and Whitehead and I am looking forward to receiving shortly from Translink its proposals for this project. However, the Assembly has not yet allocated resources to upgrade the section of track beyond Whitehead. The future of that section of track will need to be considered in the context of the ten - year Regional Transportation Strategy. Personal Safety of Staff and Passengers Mr Duncan Shipley Dalton asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans he has to ensure the personal safety of staff and passengers on public transport in view of recent attacks in the Antrim area. (AQW 742/01) Mr Robinson: I deplore all attacks on Translink staff, passengers and vehicles. The personal safety and well being of staff and passengers on public transport is paramount and continues to be a priority for Translink. Translink has advised that it is working very closely with the Police and the local community to overcome the problem of stone throwing attacks on buses in the Antrim area. Translink has identified younger children as being a significant part of the problem and is actively seeking to educate primary school children to all the dangers of this unacceptable behaviour through an Education Package, entitled The Voyager Railway Services Between Whitehead & Larne Harbour Mr Ken Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development what plans he has for the maintenance of the rail services between Whitehead and Larne Harbour. (AQW 761/01) Mr Robinson: The budget approved by the Assembly in December 2000 did not provide resources to upgrade railway tracks outside the core railway network of the most heavily used lines. The section of track between Whitehead and Larne Harbour is outside of this core network and, as a result, there are currently no resources available to upgrade it. However, Translink considers that services can continue to operate safely to and from Larne Harbour for the time being and it intends to maintain its current level of services. I hope that the Assembly will in due course and in the context of the ten-year Regional Transportation Strategy allocate sufficient resources to my Department to enable this stretch of track to be upgraded. Road Improvement at Lower Main Street, Greyabbey Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the initial budget set aside for the road improvement scheme at Lower Main Street, Greyabbey. (AQW 783/01) Mr Robinson: My Department's Roads Service has advised me that a total budget of £97k was set aside for the improvement scheme at Lower Main Street, Greyabbey. This included a contribution of £47k from the Department of the Environment's Planning Service to cover the cost of overhead BT cables being relocated underground and the enhancement of surface and street furniture. The final cost of the scheme is expected to be in the region of £105k. The scheme was substantially completed by 23 November 2001, some 18 weeks longer than anticipated. Some outstanding works should be completed within the next 2 weeks. Road Improvement at Lower Main Street, Greyabbey Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Regional Development to outline (a) the final cost of the road improvement scheme at Lower Main Street, Greyabbey and (b) the length of time it ran over its proposed completion date. (AQW 784/01) Mr Robinson: My Department's Roads Service has advised me that a total budget of £97k was set aside for the improvement scheme at Lower Main Street, Greyabbey. This included a contribution of £47k from the Department of the Environment's Planning Service to cover the cost of overhead BT cables being relocated underground and the enhancement of surface and street furniture. The final cost of the scheme is expected to be in the region of £105k. The scheme was substantially completed by 23 November 2001, some 18 weeks longer than anticipated. Some outstanding works should be completed within the next 2 weeks. Public Transport & the Visually Impaired Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail plans he has to help people with visual impairment to increase their use of public transport. (AQW 807/01) Mr Robinson: My Department has a number of measures in place to assist those who are visually impaired to increase their use of Public transport. Under the Northern Ireland Concessionary Fares Scheme all persons who are registered blind can avail of free travel on all public transport in Northern Ireland. My Department also supports with grant aid Translink's efforts to improve the infrastructure of bus and rail stations including the installation of audio equipment and better lighting designed to assist visually impaired passengers. Passenger Awareness Cards have been introduced to enable Translink staff to discreetly identify passengers with a variety of disabilities and thereby offer appropriate assistance. This particular innovation was the winner of a National Bus Industry Award announced on 15th November 2001. Financial support is provided under the Transport for Disabled People Programme for specialised services on a door to door or group hire basis for disabled persons including those who are visually impaired. Strabane Industrial Estate Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister for Regional Development who has responsibility for the road infrastructure in Strabane Industrial Estate. (AQO 486/01) Mr Robinson: My Department's Roads Service has advised me that the Industrial Estate was developed in the 1970s and 1980s by the Industrial Development Board of the then Department of Commerce. None of the roads within the site was adopted by Roads Service. I understand that the Industrial Development Board sold the entire site, including access roads, to Heron Brothers of Draperstown in 1994. Responsibility for the roads within the Industrial Estate is therefore a matter for Heron Brothers. TOPChild Support Scheme Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister for Social Development if he has any plans to reinstate the first eight weeks of maintenance payments by absent parents under the child support regulations; and to make a statement. (AQW 787/01) The Minister for Social Development (Mr Dodds): The Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act (Northern Ireland) 2000 provides for major reform of the Child Support scheme. One of the main aims of the reform is to have maintenance assessed and collected within a few weeks of receiving an application. I can confirm that the current 8-week deferral provision whereby child support liability can be deferred in certain circumstances will, therefore, not be carried forward to the reformed scheme. Modernisation of Social Welfare Services Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister for Social Development what plans he has to improve co-ordination between the benefits system and those agencies responsible for helping the unemployed back into work. (AQW 788/01) Mr Dodds: My Department in conjunction with the Department of Employment and Learning has developed a major programme to modernise social welfare services. This programme includes two major projects designed to improve co-ordination between the benefit system and those agencies responsible for helping the unemployed back to work. A joint project between the Social Security Agency and Training and Employment Agency has been set up to co-locate the 2 agencies. Joint offices have already been set up and further offices will be introduced starting early next year. In addition, the new benefit and work-focused service known as ONE was introduced in Dungannon to provide a streamlined approach for people of working age claiming benefits. Assisting Mothers from Welfare to Work Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister for Social Development what plans he has to assist mothers with young children in the transition from welfare to work programmes. (AQW 790/01) Mr Dodds: A wide range of help for mothers with young children making the move from welfare to work has already been introduced. A large percentage of the participants in the new deals for partners and lone parents are women, benefiting from advice and support in looking for work, training and childcare. To help with the transition to full-time work extended payments of Housing Benefit and mortgage interest payments have been introduced. For lone parents there are also extended payments of Income Support. For those participating in employment and training programmes while remaining on benefit there is the disregard of training premiums and childcare costs which have been reimbursed. These measures are supported by the Northern Ireland Childcare Strategy and the introduction of the Working Families Tax Credit. Anti-Social Behaviour Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development to outline the Housing Executive's procedure for dealing with anti-social behaviour by tenants, in particular, those tenants who continually misbehave. (AQW 873/01) Mr Dodds: The Housing Executive normally attempts to deal with anti-social behaviour through mediation, using its Neighbourhood Dispute system. However, it has a range of options available where mediation does not produce the desired result and/or incidences are repeated. Housing Executive tenancies are normally "secure" tenancies, which means that the tenancy can only be brought to an end by a court order. While eviction is very much a last resort when all other methods have failed, the Housing Executive can seek an order for possession (ie eviction) against one of its own tenants where the tenant's behaviour provides grounds for the court to make such an order. The grounds for possession, which are set out in legislation, include certain forms of anti-social behaviour such as causing nuisance or annoyance to neighbours and using a house for illegal or immoral purposes. The Housing Executive can also seek an injunction against one of its own tenants, where the tenant has breached, or threatens to breach, his tenancy agreement (such a breach could include anti-social behaviour such as causing nuisance to neighbours). Where the court has granted such an injunction, and the tenant breaches or continues to breach the tenancy agreement, the tenant can be held to be in contempt of court. The Housing Executive has developed a wider approach to the problems of anti- social behaviour in the context of community safety. It has set up a Central Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, that includes a Police Officer, which will examine the options and advise the local district office on the most appropriate course of action. In addition it has developed seminars with staff from other bodies to promote closer working relationships, introduced Neighbourhood Wardens and provided for the imposition of sanctions against those on the Waiting Lists who have a history of anti- social behaviour. The forthcoming Housing Bill will strengthen the existing legislation streamlining the legal process for eviction and provide new and extended grounds for possession for evicting tenants for anti-social behaviour by their visitors and guests. It will also introduce new measures such as power for the courts to grant injunctions, power for social landlords to offer introductory tenancies and a power for the Housing Executive to decide not to assist applicants under the homelessness legislation if they have a history of anti-social behaviour. Households Awaiting Home Adaptations Mr Wilson Clyde asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the number of householders currently awaiting home adaptations in the borough of Antrim. (AQW 890/01) Mr Dodds: At 30 November 2001 the information requested is as follows:
Notes: Major Adaptations include lifts, extensions and heating. Minor Adaptations include showers, handrails and ramps. DFG - Disabled Facilities Grant. Appeals Against Housing Decisions Mr Danny O'Connor asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the number of appeals against housing decisions that were made in (a) the last year and (b) in the last three years. (AQO 457/01) Mr Dodds: I understand that the question refers to appeals against decisions on tenancy allocations. Currently, the system used by the Housing Executive does not categorise appeals under the heading of tenancy allocations. Consequently, information could only be gathered and made available at disproportionate cost. A computerised complaints management system is under development which will allow such information to be extracted more easily in the future. My Department provides an independent appeals mechanism for customers of Registered Housing Associations. During the period November 1998 to November 2001, three complaints about allocation decisions were received from tenants of or applicants to, Registered Housing Associations. One of these complaints was received in the last year. Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance : Community Care Grants Mr Eamonn ONeill asked the Minister for Social Development under what circumstances would an individual in receipt of Income Support and Job Seekers Allowance be precluded from accessing Community Care Grants. (AQO 459/01) Mr Dodds: A person who is getting Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance is eligible to apply for a community care grant. Community care grants are available under the discretionary part of the Social Fund and are aimed mainly at helping certain particularly vulnerable people to establish themselves in the community, and at families under exceptional stress. Community care grants can cover a wide range of personal circumstances and the award of a grant depends on all of the conditions being met and whether the needs of the applicant are of sufficient priority to warrant a payment from the funds available. All applications for grants are decided by Decision Makers, taking account of, among other things, directions and guidance issued by my Department. Rural Communities : Benefits and Grants Mr Billy Armstrong asked the Minister for Social Development what plans he has to increase awareness within rural communities in respect of their entitlement to benefits and other grants that may be available. (AQO 451/01) Mr Dodds: I am very conscious of the needs within rural communities and my Department, including the Social Security Agency and the Northern Ireland Housing Executive, has already implemented a number of measures to increase awareness within rural areas of entitlement to benefits and other grants that might be available. The Social Security Agency is working jointly with the Family Farm Development Organisation to identify specific needs and develop a comprehensive guide to public services for the agricultural community and has plans to improve the delivery of social security services to, among others, people in isolated areas by March 2003. The Housing Executive promotes its activities in rural areas, including the availability of grant-aid through its newsletter, Rural Matters. My Department has also publicised a Small Grants Programme, under the Active Community Initiative, to help in areas of weak community infrastructure. Sale of Stock of Registered Housing Associations Mr George Savage asked the Minister for Social Development what proportion of the total stock of NI Housing Associations has been sold off to former tenants. (AQO 472/01) Mr Dodds: Just under 2% of the total stock of Registered Housing Associations was sold to tenants during the period 1 April 1995 to 23 November 2001. However, as the member will no doubt be aware, much of the stock of housing associations is ineligible for sale having been provided for the elderly or people with special needs and therefore falls outside the scope of the sales scheme. Anti-Social Behaviour : Housing Executive Tenants Mr Eugene McMenamin asked the Minister for Social Development, taking into consideration the introduction of the Housing Bill, what assurances can he give that anti social behaviour among Housing Executive tenants will be addressed effectively in the intervening period. (AQO 490/01) Mr Dodds: The Housing Executive has a range of measures at its disposal for dealing with anti-social behaviour, including its Neighbourhood Dispute system and, in more serious cases, legal remedies such as injunction and eviction. The forthcoming Housing Bill will reinforce the existing measures and provide new options. Initiatives being taken forward in advance of the introduction of the Bill include a specialised Anti-Social Behaviour Unit, formal contacts with other bodies to promote closer working relationships, Neighbourhood Wardens and sanctions against Waiting List applicants who have a history of anti- social behaviour. I can assure the Member that the Housing Executive will continue to develop these strategies pending the introduction of the new legislation. Housing Executive Adaptations Mr Kieran McCarthy asked the Minister for Social Development how many Housing Executive properties have been adapted to meet the needs of the disabled and elderly in the last two years. (AQO 460/01) Mr Dodds: Over the last 2 years to 31 March 2001 the Housing Executive has carried out 4,782 major adaptations. These include alterations such as extensions, on 415 of its properties, 313 lifts for disabled tenants, and the changing of heating systems in 4,054 of its properties. In addition, over 5,000 minor works have been carried out. |
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