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Friday 15 March 2002
Brownfield Housing Potential Mr M Robinson asked the Minister for Regional Development what guidance he has given to the Departmet of the Environment in order to maximise the brownfield housing potential within our cities and towns. (AQW 2157/01) The Minister for Regional Development (Mr P Robinson): Maximising the brownfield housing potential of our towns and cities is a key objective underpinning my Department's recently published Regional Development Strategy. The strategy, which was approved by the Assembly and supported by all Ministers, outlines the strategic and long-term framework for the future development of Northern Ireland up to the year 2025. Specifically, in relation to housing, the strategy provides guidance on managing housing growth and distribution, supporting urban renaissance, achieving balanced communities and sets an ambitious regional target for 60% of new urban housing growth to be within existing urban areas. Of critical importance to achieving this is the introduction of a plan, monitor and manage approach to the identification and release of development land. The strategy also commits my Department to prepare a regional Planning Policy Statement, to set out policy guidance on housing in settlements and how the Plan, Monitor and Manage approach will work. I hope to publish this policy statement by this summer. In the interim my officials have been working closely with officials in DOE, both in relation to the preparation of the Planning Policy Statement and Development Plan preparation. It is important that all policy and guidance provided by my Department incorporates the best practice adopted both within these islands and Europe more generally. To that end my officials along with those in DOE have recently held a series of best practice seminars on approaches to urban capacity studies, housing density, phasing and the sequential approach to site identification and release. These seminars were well attended by officials from both Departments and provided clear guidance on best practice approaches from United Kingdom and Europe. Strangford Lough Ferry Mr McCarthy asked the Minister for Regional Development to make a statement on the failure of the Strangford Ferry to operate between the evening of Friday 15 February 2002 and the afternoon of Saturday 16 February 2002. (AQW 2178/01) Mr P Robinson: My Department's Roads Service has advised me that, on Friday 15 February 2002, the new MV Portaferry II suffered an engine problem which resulted in the Strangford Lough ferry service being suspended from 5.00 pm for the rest of that evening. The fault was rectified at around 1.00 am on Saturday 16 February 2002. Regrettably, however, when the service recommenced on schedule at 8.15 am that morning, a further engine problem became apparent and the vessel was immediately taken out of service so that appropriate investigations could be carried out. A further fault, unrelated to the previous one, was repaired and normal service was restored at 2.30 pm on Saturday 16 February 2002. Unfortunately, during the periods the service was suspended, neither of the back-up ferry vessels were available for use. The standby vessel, the MV Strangford, was in dry dock for its annual refit and the passenger- only vessel, the MV Isla O'Valla, developed a fuel system problem. The situation was exacerbated because a private boat, with which there is a standing back-up arrangement, could not be launched because of the state of the tide and Roads Service was not able to use the MV Portaferry, the former standby vessel, as its passenger- carrying certificate had expired. Since these events, Roads Service is working closely with the suppliers of the new vessel to identify why the faults occurred. In addition, Roads Service has obtained a 3-week passenger-carrying certificate for the MV Portaferry so that it can be used as a temporary standby vessel during the remaining period of the MV Strangford refit. I have also asked senior Roads Service officials to ensure that, in future, back-up arrangements are regularly tested so that a vessel is always immediately available in the event of the main ferry vessel having to be taken out of service. Newry and Mourne: Winter Maintenance Mr Kennedy asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail (a) the private contractors currently employed and authorised to carry out winter maintenance, gritting and emergency call-out work in the Newry and Mourne Roads Service Agency depot; (b) if it is permissible to sub-let any or all of these contracts; and (c) if any of the existing contracts have been sub-let. (AQW 2205/01) Mr P Robinson: My Department's Roads Service lets an annual tender, for each of its 4 operational divisions, for the "provision of skilled and unskilled personnel for road maintenance works". This allows Roads Service to call-off drivers or labourers from the contract to assist when there is a shortfall in their own work force or to assist in dealing with an emergency situation. The current contract covering our Southern Division, which includes the area covered by the Newry and Mourne depot, was awarded to Colas (NI), 4a The Square, Ballynahinch. Under the conditions of this contract the contractor can assign, transfer or sub contract/sub-let the contract, or any portion, after seeking and receiving the Department's consent in writing. During the term of the present contract Colas (NI) made no request to the Department to sub-let their contract in the Southern Area. Newry and Mourne Roads Service: Overtime Mr Kennedy asked the Minister for Regional Development to provide a detailed breakdown on the overtime worked since 1 November 2001 by (a) foremen/ supervisors; and (b) industrial staff at the Newry and Mourne Roads Service Agency depot. (AQW 2206/01) Mr P Robinson: My Department's Roads Service has advised me that during the period 1 November 2001 to 20 February 2002 the number of hours of overtime worked by foremen/supervisors and industrial staff at the Newry and Mourne Section Office was 745.5 hours and 135 hours respectively. Roads Service Southern Division: Mr Kennedy asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail (a) the nature of training and expertise expected from private contractors employed and responsible for work such as winter maintenance; gritting, bitmac patching; and (b) if all issues of health and safety and good working practice are fully adhered to at the Newry and Mourne Roads Service Agency depot as part of private contracts. (AQW 2207/01) Mr P Robinson: Roads Service Southern Division has appointed a contractor to assist in carrying out after hours gritting duties. Before being employed in this activity, the contractor's drivers received training in the use of Roads service equipment and instruction on and experience of the salted network routes. Contractors employed by my Department's Roads Service to carry out bitmac patching and emergency call-out work are generally employed under the terms of the Roads Service measured term contract for small scale and responsive works. There is no requirement under this form of contract for contractors to provide details of the nature of training given to their staff or the level of expertise of their staff. Contractors are expected to employ staff who are sufficiently competent to carry out the works for which they (the contractors) have tendered. Under the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 all contractors are required to complete health and safety questionnaires to demonstrate their ability to carry out work safely. The measured term contracts also set out in detail steps to be taken by contractors to ensure health and safety when dealing with hazards such as traffic management, work in the vicinity of electric cables, hazardous materials etc. In managing these contracts, Roads Service staff carry out regular inspections during the works to ensure that health and safety requirements are being met. Newry and Mourne Roads Service: Services Mr Kennedy asked the Minister for Regional Development if there are any plans to upgrade and expand the services currently provided by the Newry and Mourne Roads Service Agency depot. (AQW 2208/01) Mr P Robinson: My Department's Roads Service has no plans to upgrade or expand the services currently provided by its Newry and Mourne Section Office. Roads Service Southern Division: Mr Kennedy asked the Minister for Regional Development what action he intends to take to resolve the ongoing dispute between DRD management and the relevant staff and trade unions in the Roads Service Southern Division. (AQW 2234/01) Mr P Robinson: There are established procedures in place, agreed between the Department and Trade Union Side, to resolve industrial disputes. My Private Secretary outlined these procedures to you in his letter dated 19 December 2001. It would not therefore be appropriate for me to intervene in what is essentially an operational matter within the Department. I understand that discussions are continuing to take place between Roads Service management and Trade Union Side officials regarding this particular matter. Coleraine Harbour: Mr Dallat asked the Minister for Regional Development if he has had sight of development plans costing £1 million involving port and non-port work at Coleraine Harbour Estate for Coleraine Harbour Commissioners; and to make a statement. (AQW 2235/01) Mr P Robinson: I have seen an outline plan for the proposed development, which I understand is at a very early stage. Coleraine Harbour is an independent statutory body whose board is charged with the stewardship of the Port. Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding dated 1 March 2002 between the Department and the Harbour, the Commissioners are required to give written notice to the Department and obtain its consent to any proposals involving the sale, lease or licence of any part of port land, or if they should wish to use port operational land for non port purposes. I am advised however that the proposed development is port related and will only proceed if found to be commercially viable. Liscurry Gardens: Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Regional Development, pursuant to AQW 159/01, to detail progress on the road works within Liscurry Gardens, Artigarvan, Strabane since 1 October 2001. (AQW 2237/01) Mr P Robinson: Subsequent to my answer to your earlier Written Assembly Question AQW 56/01, the developer of Liscurry Gardens did not honour the commitment which he gave to my Department's Roads Service to begin remedial and outstanding road works in October 2001. To date, no road works have commenced. Roads Service has written to the developer on a further 3 occasions (ie, 11 times to date) and has tried to contact him by telephone. The developer has not responded to these letters and telephone calls. In its latest letter to the developer dated 28 February 2002, Roads Service advised that, unless the developer commences work immediately, Roads Service will issue the necessary statutory notice and will carry out all necessary works on his behalf. If this proves necessary, Roads Service will take steps to recover its costs from the developer. Water Service: Consultancy Costs Dr O'Hagan asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the total expenditure paid to consultants in relation to competitive tendering within the Water Service in each of the past five financial years. (AQW 2339/01) Mr P Robinson: Water Service has paid a total of £26,000 to consultants in relation to competitive tendering over the past 5 financial years, excluding payments to consultants involved in the capital investment programme. The amount paid each year is set out below.
Consultants involved in the capital investment programme carried out appraisal studies, competitive tendering, project management, detailed design and site supervision. It is difficult to separate out payments relating to consultancy work devoted solely to competitive tendering since all of these are intrinsically linked. Such information could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Water Service: Dr O'Hagan asked the Minister for Regional Development to detail the total financial savings made by the Water Service as a result of competitive tendering over the past five years. (AQW 2340/01) Mr P Robinson: Water Service uses competitive tendering as the principal means of securing value for money in the procurement of goods, services, and capital works. Over the past 5 years Water Service has achieved savings of £9,900,000 as a result of competitive tendering. The amount of financial savings each year is set out below.
"Towards a Shared Agenda": Progress Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development to detail progress against each of the 36 recommendations as outlined in the Housing Executive's action plan for delivery of its housing and health strategy 'Towards a Shared Agenda'. (AQW 2258/01) The Minister for Social Development (Mr Dodds): I have provided this information to the Member and placed a copy in the Assembly Library. Housing Executive: Land Mr Beggs asked the Minister for Social Development to outline, by district council area, the quantity of land owned by the NI Housing Executive which is zoned by planners for new housing development. (AQW 2303/01) Mr Dodds: The Housing Executive's land assets records are not disaggregated to District Council level. The Housing Executive does not generally have surplus land, that is, land for which there is no operational use within a 5 year period. Land acquired and zoned for housing is transferred to housing associations on a phased basis to facilitate the new build programme. In broad terms, approximately one third of the housing associations' programme is provided on land owned by the Housing Executive. Housing Executive: Land Mr Beggs asked the Minister for Social Development if he has any plans to review the quantity of development land owned by the NI Housing Executive in order to improve existing housing stock and support new housing where under-provision exists. (AQW 2304/01) Mr Dodds: Improvements to existing housing stock are carried out through maintenance programmes. Where the Housing Executive owns insufficient land with which to meet identified demand, it works closely with housing associations to find suitable sites for further new social housing. Where local programme planners indicate that sites should be held to meet needs, the Housing Executive will hold these until funding is available for a housing association to develop the land. Housing Executive: Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister for Social Development what NIHE multi element improvement schemes are on schedule to commence in the next financial year in (a) Ballymena; (b) Ballymoney; and (c) Ballycastle districts. (AQW 2328/01) Mr Dodds: The position is as follows: a. Three Multi-Element improvement schemes will start in Ballymena. They are:
b. There are no Multi-Element improvement schemes scheduled to start in Ballymoney during 2002/03. However, 3 contracts commenced during 2001/02 in Ballymoney, Dervock, and Townparks/Hillcrest. c. One Multi-Element improvement scheme will start in Ballycastle:
Housing Executive Estates in Ballymena: Expenditure Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister for Social Development to detail (a) the level of expenditure allocated to NIHE estates in Ballymena; and (b) the breakdown of expenditure per estate. (AQW 2329/01) Mr Dodds: The information is as follows: The total expenditure on Housing Executive dwellings in Ballymena in the current financial year is £4,971,000. The Housing Executive does not set individual budgets for its estates, however the undernoted expenditure can be attributed to certain estates for the financial year 2001/02:
The balance of £3,044,000 is allocated to individual dwellings across the whole District Council area to cover Response Maintenance requests, maintenance of grounds, communal lights and roomheaters. Ballykeel Estate, Ballymena Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister for Social Development what are the NIHE plans for the future of Ballykeel estate in Ballymena. (AQW 2330/01) Mr Dodds: The Housing Executive's Board approved an overall strategy for the future of Ballykeel estate (Area 2) in Ballymena, in November 2000. The strategy proposed environmental improvements and selective demolition in the upper end of the estate, towards the Crebilly Road, and the demolition of 265 dwellings, mainly in the lower end of the estate. The implementation of the strategy is now under way, with 96 dwellings demolished so far. Tenant consultation on the first phase of the environmental improvements to part of the estate is nearing completion, the detailed design of which will be considered by the Housing Executive's Board in April 2002. In Ballykeel (Area 1), the Housing Executive recently demolished flats at Barra Drive and Shona Green and the site will be redeveloped by a Housing Association. Proposals are currently being developed for the Kintyre bedsits, which are to be considered by the Executive's Board in March 2002. St Patrick's Barracks, Mr Paisley Jnr asked the Minister for Social Development to make it his policy that land belonging to the NIHE in front of St Patrick's Barracks, Ballymena will not be used for development purposes but will remain as an amenity and green space facility. (AQW 2334/01) Mr Dodds: There are no plans to develop this land at present. The Housing Executive recognises the amenity value of the land and it will consult with local residents should any land use issues arise. Rural Cottages: Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development, pursuant to AQO 878/01, to outline his timetable for assessment of the remaining 3 rural cottages in Omagh District Council area and 23 rural cottages in Strabane District Council area for inclusion in the ongoing programme for refurbishment or replacement. (AQW 2368/01) Mr Dodds: The Housing Executive intends to start work on all the cottages in the Strabane and Omagh areas within the next 2 years. In terms of its assessment, the Housing Executive took into account a number of factors in determining the timetable for the work. The houses are spread out over a wide area and the Housing Executive has tried, in the interests of value for money, to carry out the work in clusters. Some of the sites are more difficult than others in terms of the infrastructure improvements required, for example septic tank replacements, and the Housing Executive has therefore programmed the work so that the more straightforward schemes can progress quickly and will not be compromised by the more difficult sites. Rural Cottages: Strabane and Omagh Mr Hussey asked the Minister for Social Development, pursuant to AQO 878/01, to detail the number of rural cottages that have been sold in (i) Strabane; and (ii) Omagh District Council areas. (AQW 2369/01) Mr Dodds: The Housing Executive has sold: i. 91 rural cottages in Strabane District Council area; and ii. 11 rural cottages in Omagh District Council area. Housing Executive: Labour Squads Mr Hilditch asked the Minister for Social Development if the NIHE has any plans to increase the number of directly employed labour squads as a means of obtaining best value. (AQW 2371/01) Mr Dodds: The Housing Executive currently has no plans to expand its Direct Labour Organisation (DLO). Any increase in DLO numbers would depend on an assessment under Best Value principles, showing that better value would be achieved by increasing DLO numbers with a consequent reduction in the use of external contractors. An annual assessment of DLO performance indicates that Best Value is being achieved with the current number of directly employed labour squads. Social Security Benefits: Fraudulent Claims Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development to detail the criteria set out to identify those who are defrauding the welfare systems by making fraudulent claims for social security benefits. (AQW 2372/01) Mr Dodds: There are no set criteria. Counter fraud work is carried forward on 2 fronts, proactive and reactive. Proactive fraud prevention drives are carried out in a number of high-risk areas of the informal economy. In addition, extensive data matching is carried out across various systems to identify fraudulent claims. Reactive investigative work is carried out in response to allegations of fraud which are received from a wide variety of sources. All of these allegations are examined and investigated. The Social Security Agency also co-operates with other organisations such as Inland Revenue and the Housing Executive to identify and investigate discrepancies in information held by these bodies in order to detect fraud. Jobseeker's Allowance: Fraudulent Claims Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development to detail, by District Council area, the number of claimants in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance who were found to be claiming fraudulently in each of the last 5 years. (AQW 2373/01) Mr Dodds: A breakdown by District Council area is unavailable for each of the last 5 years. Breakdown, by Social Security Office, of the number of confirmed cases of customers claiming Jobseeker's Allowance fraudulently in each of the last 2 years is shown in the table below.
Benefit Fraud: Prevention and Detection Mr Hilditch asked the Minister for Social Development to detail any measures that have been taken to reduce benefit fraud since April 2001. (AQW 2388/01) Mr Dodds: The Social Security Agency has a comprehensive strategy to prevent and detect fraud. It contains an extensive programme of initiatives to ensure that:
Measures include proactive use of intelligence, rigorous checks and case management, the sharing and matching of information and robust investigation and detection. Public Housing Stock Mr Gibson asked the Minister for Social Development what plans he has to provide assistance to increase the stock of public housing in Northern Ireland. (AQW 2429/01) Mr Dodds: I recognise the importance of providing good quality affordable housing, particularly in the context of promoting social inclusion and meeting our commitments under the Programme for Government. I will continue therefore to bid for sufficient funds to meet housing need and to explore ways of maximising the resources available to me. Some examples which contribute either directly or indirectly to the social housing stock include:
In addition, another important element in the affordable housing equation is the role of the Co-ownership Housing Scheme. Under the scheme prospective house purchasers may part rent, part buy a property of their choice with help from the Northern Ireland Co-ownership Housing Association (NICHA). By inputting around £10m in grant to NICHA for low cost home ownership my Department expects some £20m to be invested by participants in the form of mortgages in addition to almost £9m from NICHA's own resources generated from the proceeds of previous sales. In total this will permit around 610 participants to take the first step to home ownership in the current year. It is likely that some of these persons may otherwise have been unable to afford to purchase a home of their own and they may therefore have had no alternative but to seek social housing. I am also mindful of the valuable role which the private rented sector plays in meeting housing need and current reviews of this sector will help identify what further contribution it might make. Building Maintenance Budget Mr Shannon asked the Minister for Social Development what is the building maintenance budget for his Department in each of the last 3 years. (AQW 2482/01) Mr Dodds: The following are the maintenance budgets for the Specialised Buildings maintained by the Department for Social Development since devolution:
Rental Allowance for Constituency Offices Mr Ford asked the Assembly Commission what plans it has to bring the Assembly into line with the new House of Commons' rules regarding rental allowance for constituency offices. (AQW 2261/01) The Representative of the Assembly Commission (Mr Fee): It is the Commission's intention to discuss the House of Commons' revised guidance on the arrangements for Members' offices and surgeries outside Westminster at an early Commission meeting. However, the Commission will not want to make any changes to our existing guidance until it has also had time to consider the Senior Salaries Review Body's (SSBR) report on Members' Salaries, Allowances and Pension arrangements, due at the end of April. A key element of the SSRB review has been to look at ways of building in greater accountability to the allowances arrangements. This is designed to protect the public interest and to safeguard Members against allegations that the allowances are being diverted to other purposes. Job Advertisements Mr Ford asked the Assembly Commission to detail (a) those publications it uses to advertise job vacancies; and (b) if it uses Irish Medium publications to advertise vacancies requiring use of the Irish language. (AQW 2262/01) Mr Fee: (a) Vacancies up to and including middle management level (equivalent to Assistant Assembly Clerk) are advertised in the Belfast Telegraph, Irish News, Newsletter and also on the Assembly's website. For more senior positions, in addition to the three main Northern Ireland daily newspapers and the Assembly's website, advertisements are placed in the Irish Times and London Times. Additionally, where senior posts require a particular specialism or parliamentary expertise, advertisements are placed in the relevant specialist publications, eg the House of Commons and the Scottish Parliament house magazines. (b) To date Irish Medium publications have not been used to advertise vacancies requiring the use of the Irish language, however, the use of specialist publications will continue to be considered as and when the need arises. |
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