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Friday 08 March 2002 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Castlebawn Limited Development, Newtownards
The Minister for Regional Development (Mr Robinson): I am pleased to report that progress is being made towards bringing about a satisfactory conclusion to the outline planning applications by Castlebawn Limited for its proposed development in Newtownards. Work on the Article 122 agreement and the negative condition to be included in the outline planning approvals regarding the provision of the necessary road works is now well advanced by my Department's Roads Service. Progress has also been made on the Environmental Statement necessary for the portion of road to be constructed by Roads Service.
Non-Departmental Public Bodies
Mr Robinson: I can confirm that the Northern Ireland Water Council is the only Non-Departmental Public Body sponsored by the Department for Regional Development. The Government Accounting procedures for dealing with fraud are followed by the Northern Ireland Water Council. Road Signage
Mr Robinson: My Department's Roads Service carries out regular inspections of all public roads and footways to ensure that essential response maintenance is identified and completed as necessary. During these inspections all defects are noted, including for example defective signs and road markings and signs requiring cleaning to improve their visibility. The frequency of these inspections depends on the type of road and the volume of vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Town centres and major traffic routes are inspected monthly, while all other roads and footways are inspected at either two or four-monthly intervals. Derg Treatment Works
Mr Robinson: Construction of the Derg Treatment Works is being carried out under a design and build contract and the initial tender total was £9.8 million. As a result of additional works, which have had to be specified by Water Service, the final contract price will be £10.3 million.
Knockmore Railway Line
Mr Robinson: I made a detailed presentation to the Regional Development Committee on 20th February 2002 outlining my assessment of the future of the Antrim-Knockmore railway line. Copies of that presentation are available in the library. Wastewater Treatment Facilities
Mr Robinson: Water Service's Capital Investment Programme includes a large number of schemes to upgrade wastewater treatment facilities at existing works. A substantial proportion of these are small works serving populations less than 2,000. In order to enhance the efficiency of the procurement process, Water Service proposes to group these schemes into a small number of multi-site contracts. This should ensure value for money is achieved through reduced tendering and evaluation costs, bulk purchasing, reduced construction and installation time and standardisation of equipment and spares. In order to standardise the treatment process to be specified in each of these multi-site contracts, Water Service is developing a wastewater treatment process matrix. This will take account of a range of key factors including site locations, populations served, required effluent standards and nature of receiving water. The draft treatment process matrix is currently being tested against a sample of schemes and should be finalised within the next few months. Killyman Road, Dungannon
Mr Robinson: My Department's Roads Service has advised me that, in the course of its routine maintenance inspection programme, the following numbers of structural defects were identified on the B34 Killyman Road, Dungannon during the last 5 years:-
As I explained in my answer to your earlier Written Assembly Question (AQW 1556/01), detailed information about personal injury road accidents is maintained by the police and officials in both Roads Service and the Department's Central Claims Unit monitor available information to identify roads or locations with patterns of accidents. The table below details the number of claims lodged with my Department and the number of offers of compensation made in respect of accidents involving damage to vehicles on Killyman Road, Dungannon in each of the last 5 years:
Since answering your earlier Written Assembly Question (AQW 1556/01), officials have advised me that 8 claims for damage to vehicles lodged in 2000/01, originally identified by claimants as being in respect of Killyman Road or Circular Road, Dungannon, have now been rightly attributed to Far Circular Road. All 8 claims were rejected by my Department. Non-Departmental Public Bodies
Mr Robinson: The annual Cabinet Office publication 'Public Bodies' provides a range of information including expenditure for NI Non-Departmental Public Bodies (NDPBs). Copies of these publications have been placed in the Assembly Library and are also available on the Cabinet Office website (www.cabinet-office.gov.uk/quango/index/qorg.htm).
Train Sets : Northern Ireland Railways
Mr Robinson: Translink has advised that Northern Ireland Railways currently has 31 train sets in its fleet comprising 9 three car Class 450 sets, 19 three car Class 80 sets, 1 eight car ex Gatwick Express Mark II plus the 2 seven car Enterprises used between Belfast and Dublin. Bus Purchases
Mr Robinson: It is one of my Department's stated aims that Translink should replace vehicles as they reach their target replacement age, of 12 years for coaches and 18 years for buses. However, due to declining passenger numbers, Ulsterbus has been unable in recent years to generate sufficient income to enable Translink to buy new vehicles to replace those which have reached their target replacement age. My Department provides Translink with grants of £1.7m per annum towards new bus purchases. This covers 50% of the cost of some 28 new buses per annum. However, this is insufficient to enable Translink to replace all vehicles which have reached their target replacement age. I intend to seek additional resources for bus purchase grants in this year's Spending Review. Regional Development Strategy
Mr Robinson: It is difficult at this stage to put an accurate figure on the additional costs, if any, associated with the implementation of the Regional Development Strategy. I would hope that the monitoring and tracking of progress can be achieved at minimum cost, as far as practicable, by using the existing datasets that departments have in monitoring their own supporting strategies. My Department is presently preparing a paper on implementation which I hope to present soon to the Regional Development Committee. That paper will highlight the need to assess fully the quantum of any additional costs that might fall to departments in fulfilling the strategic objectives contained in the Regional Development Strategy which was approved by the Assembly on 17 September 2001. Regional Development Strategy : Legislation
Mr Robinson: The Regional Development Strategy is a spatial framework which will influence the future distribution of activities throughout Northern Ireland. Of itself, it does not implicitly place specific obligations on a Department or Departments to introduce legislation as part of the implementation of the Strategy. Of course, it is a matter for individual Departments to determine what additional legislation, if any, is necessary to meet the strategic objectives contained in the Regional Development Strategy which was agreed by the Assembly on 17 September 2001. My Department is proposing to introduce a new Strategic Planning Bill. The purpose of the Bill is to amend the Strategic Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 in order to assist the Department of the Environment and the Department for Social Development carry out their respective statutory functions in respect of the implementation of the Regional Development Strategy. The consultation on the legislative proposals ended on 28 February. On current plans, I hope to introduce the draft Bill before the Summer recess. Regional Development Strategy : Cost of Implementation
Mr Robinson: First, in terms of the financial requirements necessary for the successful implementation of the Regional Development Strategy, I would refer the Member to my answer given in AQW 2240. On the second part of the question about the legislative programme needed to successfully implement the strategy, I would refer the Member to my answer given in AQW 2241. Outer Ring Road, Bangor
Mr Robinson: By 'Outer' Ring Road, I assume you are referring to the Rathgael and Balloo Roads. These roads, together with the established dual carriageway Bangor Ring Road, have been the subject of a recent extensive traffic study by my Department's Roads Service. Arising from this study the following traffic measures have been identified for the Rathgael Road and are scheduled to be carried out during 2002-03:
In addressing traffic management measures in this area, care must be taken to ensure that improvements to the Rathgael Road do not significantly increase the traffic flow using it; this would not be welcomed by local people. The strategy therefore, provides for improvements to the established Bangor Ring Road to make that route more attractive for through traffic. Maintenance Programme : Newry/Armagh
Mr Robinson: The maintenance programme for 2002/2003 has not yet been finalised but will be available early in the new financial year. However, I can advise that by the end of this financial year, Roads Service will have spent some £3.34 million on road maintenance in the Armagh and City District Council area and some £3.16 million in the Newry and Mourne District Council area. A4 at Eglish and Cabragh, Dungannon
Mr Robinson: I am pleased to inform you that my Department has been successful in securing £2.2 million of Executive Programme Funds for the proposed improvements on the A4 at Eglish and Cabragh. These funds will enable the proposed improvement scheme to proceed as soon as the necessary statutory procedures are completed. Rolling Stock for NI Railways
Mr Robinson: After an intensive and rigorous tendering process for the provision of 23 new three car trains to Northern Ireland Railways the contract has been awarded to CAF, a Spanish Company that has previous experience of building similar trains that are in operation in Great Britain, with Northern Spirit and the Heathrow Express. The first train should be delivered to Northern Ireland Railways by December 2003 and delivery of all 23 trains should be complete one year later in December 2004. Each new train should enter into scheduled passenger service 3 to 4 months after delivery, following a commissioning period by Northern Ireland Railways. This new rolling stock should provide much greater passenger comfort and reliability as well as reducing journey times. A7 Between Doran's Rock and Saintfield
Mr Robinson: I can assure you that, subject to the availability of resources, my Department's Roads Service remains committed to improving the A7 Belfast to Downpatrick road. As you will know, however, a scheme to improve the stretch of road between Doran's Rock and Saintfield has been identified but is not included in the current Roads Service Major Works Preparation Pool. The proposed improvements could nevertheless be completed as minor works improvements over a period of time in the same way that other improvements on the A7 route have been undertaken in recent years. Regrettably, as the minor works programmes in the Down District Council area for the next 2 years are fully committed, the earliest possible start date for the proposed improvements would be 2004/2005. Bus Lanes
Mr Robinson: My Department's Roads Service proposes to extend the use of nearside with-flow bus lanes in Belfast by:
Decisions concerning which vehicle types are admitted to individual bus lanes are based on traffic and transportation needs, with road safety being a major contributing factor. My Department is in consultation with the Assembly Committee on the issue and I would hope to be in a position to provide you with further information before too long. Sewage Treatment : Larne Lough Area
Mr Robinson: Water Service is progressing two projects which will upgrade and rationalise wastewater treatment facilities in the Larne Lough area to meet modern standards. The larger of two projects is the provision of a new treatment works to service Larne and communities in the surrounding area including Glynn and Magheramorne. A planning application for this works has been submitted to Planning Service and I understand that a decision is expected soon. Subject to planning approval, construction on site is programmed to start in the incoming financial year and take approximately 2 years to complete. The estimated cost involved is £10 million. The second project has involved a strategic assessment of all the sewer catchments on the Islandmagee Peninsula, including those discharging to Larne Lough. Measures identified include transferring wastewater from Ballystrudder to Ballycarry for treatment and the provision of a sewer system and treatment works for Millbay. The project also includes for improvements to coastal discharges. Implementation of these proposals will commence on a phased basis this year at a total cost of almost £3million. Water Resource Strategy
Mr Robinson: Water Service is carrying out a major review of its Water Resource Strategy for the period up to 2030. The review is now nearing completion. I expect the draft strategy to be published for public consultation before the Summer but I am unable to give a more precise date at this stage. Consultation will be wide ranging and all interested parties will be given the opportunity to comment on the proposed strategy. Greyabbey and Kircubbin Wastewater Treatment Works
Mr Robinson: I am pleased to confirm that a contract for the replacement of the Greyabbey and the Kircubbin wastewater treatment works has been awarded. Work on both schemes is programmed to commence immediately after the Easter holidays. It is expected that it will take 15 months to complete both schemes at an estimated cost of £4.9 million. Concessionary Fares Scheme
Mr Robinson: It is my intention, as resources permit, to extend the Concessionary Fares Scheme to more categories of people with disabilities. I will be seeking additional resources for this purpose in the forthcoming Spending Review.
TransEuropean Network
Mr Robinson: It is widely accepted that significant improvement is needed to develop all of Northern Ireland's transportation infrastructure to meet our needs for the twenty-first century. As the Member will be aware, on Monday 4 February 2002, I laid before the Assembly, a Consultation Paper on my Department's proposed Regional Transportation Strategy. The Strategy aims to identify strategic transport investment priorities and consider new funding sources.
SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT Ministerial Visits Outside Northern Ireland : Cost Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the total amount spent on Ministerial visits outside Northern Ireland in each of the last 3 years.
The Minister for Social Development (Mr Dodds): The information is as follows:
The information relates to a visit by the then Minister, Maurice Morrow MLA, on 7 February 2001, to the Minister of State in the Department of Social Security and to the Energy Savings Trust in London and attendance at an evening event organised by the Chartered Institute of Housing. The amount shown includes the expenses of officials who accompanied the Minister. Townland Names
Mr Dodds: My officials are encouraged to reply to correspondence using the address supplied by correspondents together with the proper postcodes. Jobseeker's Allowance
Mr Dodds: The customer based count of unemployment is derived from the number of people in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance, meaning that only people in receipt of the benefit are included in the unemployment figures. Supporting Women's Aid
Mr Dodds: Supporting People is being introduced to provide a replacement method for funding the costs of housing support services for vulnerable persons in supported accommodation which will not qualify as an eligible charge for Housing Benefit when new GB wide changes are introduced in April 2003. I will endeavour to ensure that appropriate funding is made available so that these very worthwhile schemes will continue to receive the level of funding which they require to provide their vital housing support services. Cost of Vandalism to the Housing Executive
Mr Dodds: The table below details costs incurred in the past 5 years under the heading of Vandalism, within the Housing Executive's repairs system.
Homelessness : Those With Mental Health Problems
Mr Dodds: A number of supported housing schemes for persons with mental problems have been provided through the housing association movement. This reflects joint working on the "Housing and Health" agenda between the Housing Executive and the Health & Social Services Boards as well as joint planning exercises with individual Trusts.
Pensioner Poverty
Mr Dodds: A number of steps have already been taken to tackle pensioner poverty, such as the Minimum Income Guarantee Campaign and the Winter Fuel Payment Scheme. These initiatives have resulted in just over 7,500 additional Pensioners receiving the Minimum Income Guarantee and in the last financial year Winter Fuel payments totalling £43 million were paid to Pensioners. The new State Pension Credit, when introduced in April 2003, will also form a key part of the overall strategy for tackling pensioner poverty. State Pension Credit
Mr Dodds: A target has been set of half of all pensioner households to be eligible for State Pension Credit. This would result in 82,500 households (equating to about 120,000 people) benefiting from the credit. The estimated weekly payment is £29 Condensing Boilers
Mr Dodds: The financial and technical implications of introducing condensing boilers are prohibitive, as both radiators and hot water cylinders would require modification to achieve operational effectiveness. The Housing Executive has therefore no plans to install condensing boilers. Warm Homes Schemes
Mr Dodds: This information is not available in precisely the format requested, as work under the Warm Homes scheme is categorised by postal code areas. However, the table below is an indication to numbers of individuals aged over 60 that have availed of the central heating replacement programme.
Carrickfergus Town Centre Regeneration
Mr Dodds: An official from my Department is working closely with the Carrickfergus Town Centre Regeneration Committee who are preparing plans for the future regeneration of the town. My Department is also working, as agent for the International Fund for Ireland, to encourage owners of vacant premises in the town centre to avail of the financial assistance which is available through the Fund's Urban Development Programme. Two UDP schemes are currently in progress in the town and a further application for assistance is under consideration by the Fund.
Integrated Housing Research
Mr Dodds: Approximately 30% of the Housing Executive's comprehensive integrated housing research programme is delivered by its own research unit, the remainder is commissioned externally. Replacement Grants Approved
Mr Dodds: The information requested for the last 5 full financial years (April to March) is as follows:
Gambling
Mr Dodds: I have no plans for any significant changes in the existing statutory controls on gambling in Northern Ireland contained in the Betting, Gaming, Lotteries and Amusements (Northern Ireland) Order 1985 and its associated subordinate legislation. These controls aim to discourage socially damaging excesses, protect the vulnerable and prevent the incursion of crime, while interfering as little as possible with personal freedoms. ASSEMBLY COMMISSION Postal Delivery Services
The Representative of the Assembly Commission (Rev Coulter): A key objective for the Northern Ireland Assembly Commission is to ensure that it achieves best value for money in relation to any of the services it requires. Whilst the Commission has no immediate plans to consider other providers of postal delivery services the newly appointed Head of Procurement will, in the medium term, be considering all of the Assembly's current service contracts with a view to ensuring continued best value for money.
The Representative of the Assembly Commission (Rev Coulter): The criteria used is entirely job related and is detailed as follows: 1. One or more years experience, gained within the last 5 years, in reception duties including receiving visitors to premises; and a knowledge of, or experience in, 3 or more of the following areas:-
2.
The recruitment of all Assembly staff including doorkeepers is based on the merit principle and carried out in accordance with equality standards stipulated by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. For all recruitment competitions the Assembly Commission has adopted the procedures of the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) with all posts being publicly advertised and filled through a competence based selection process. The NICS recruitment procedures are regularly audited by an independent body, most recently on 25 and 26 February 2002, which confirmed that the procedures meet equality standards in respect of gender and community background. The job advertisement for the most recent doorkeeper competition stated that the Assembly Commission is : "committed to equality of opportunity in employment and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified candidates irrespective of religious belief, gender, disability, race, political opinion, age, marital status, sexual orientation or whether or not they have dependants." The Commission will continue to monitor the makeup of its workforce to ensure that the principles of equality of opportunity and fair treatment are being achieved. External Link Disclaimer: The Northern Ireland Assembly does not exercise any editorial control over the websites listed above and therefore cannot be held responsible for the information, products or services contained therein. |