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| Friday 12 April 2002 GCE O Level Passes : 1966-67 Mr Danny Kennedy asked the Minister of Education to detail the percentage of all Secondary School leavers who achieved 5 or more GCE O level passes in 1966-67. (AQW 2531/01) The Minister of Education (Mr McGuinness): In 1966-67, 21% of all Secondary (Grammar and Non-Grammar) School leavers achieved 5 or more GCE Ordinary Level Passes, or higher qualifications. GCSEs Mr Danny Kennedy asked the Minister of Education what percentage of all 15 year old pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs in 1999-00 at (i) Grades A* to A including GNVQ Intermediate Part I equivalent; and (ii) Grades A* to B including Intermediate Part I equivalent. (AQW 2532/01) Mr McGuinness: In 1999-00, 14% of 15 year old pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs at Grades A* to A, and 32% of 15 year old pupils achieved 5 or more GCSEs at Grades A* to B. GCSEs Mr Danny Kennedy asked the Minister of Education to detail the percentage of all year 12 pupils who achieved 5 plus GCSE Grades A* to C including GNVQ Intermediate Part I passes in 1998-99. (AQW 2546/01) Mr McGuinness: In 1998-99 56% of year 12 pupils achieved 5 plus GCSEs Grades A* to C including GNVQ Intermediate Part I passes. School Choice Mr Sammy Wilson asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of pupils who entered an integrated school but who had a grammar school as their first preference. (AQW 2557/01) Mr McGuinness: The number of pupils who entered an integrated school at Year 8 in September 2001 but who had a grammar school as their first preference was 88. Nursery Provision Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education what steps he is taking to address the financial difference for nursery provision between the voluntary/community sector and the maintained sector. (AQW 2569/01) Mr McGuinness: I have no plans to change the normal funding arrangements for the statutory and voluntary/private sectors. Computer Skills Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Education what action has been taken to ensure that all schoolchildren surpass the minimum standard in computer skills. (AQW 2570/01) Mr McGuinness: Information Technology (IT) is a Cross-Curricular Theme and as such is a compulsory element of the curriculum for all pupils. In addition, CCEA offers a Key Stage 3 IT Accreditation Scheme, which has been in place since 1997 and while the scheme is not mandatory it has attracted entries from almost 75% of all pupils in that age group. The scheme has now been extended to Key Stage 2. Six key skills were introduced from September 2000 as part of the Curriculum 2000 reforms and IT is one of three which are assessed both internally (through the building of a portfolio of evidence) and externally (through testing) leading to a key skills qualification at levels 1 to 4 of the National Qualifications Framework. As part of the current Curriculum Review, CCEA has identified ICT as a skill within each subject area, thus embedding it in the curriculum. Burns Report : Legislation Mr Jim Wells asked the Minister of Education to confirm that any change in post-primary education as a result of the implementation of the Burns Report will not proceed unless passed by a vote of the Northern Ireland Assembly.[R] (AQW 2595/01) Mr McGuinness: Decisions on new arrangements must await the outcome of the current consultation. I want to achieve high standards for all pupils through a modern, fair education system and will seek to build consensus on the best way forward. Any necessary legislative changes will be subject to Assembly approval. Drugs Education Dr Esmond Birnie asked the Minister of Education what opportunities he provides for young people and children to learn about the harm caused to the unborn child by misusing drugs during pregnancy. (AQW 2599/01) Mr McGuinness: There is a statutory requirement for school authorities to provide drugs education for all pupils throughout their compulsory schooling (age 4 – 16). This is delivered mainly though the cross-curricular theme of Health Education but also through programmes of study such as Science where, at key stages 3 and 4 pupils learn about the requirements to maintain healthy bodies and healthy babies during pregnancy, and the effects of alcohol, smoking and drugs. The topic has also been identified and explored in approximately half of the School Age Mothers Projects (SAMs) running this school year. GCSEs Mr Duncan Shipley Dalton asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of (a) grammar school pupils leaving school without GCSEs, A and As levels; and (b) non-grammar school pupils leaving school without GCSEs, A and As levels. (AQW 2607/01) Mr McGuinness: (A) GRAMMAR
(B) SECONDARY
A and AS Levels Mr Duncan Shipley Dalton asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of (a) grammar school pupils achieving A and As levels, by grade, since 1998; and (b) non-grammar school pupils achieving A and As levels, by grade, since 1998. (AQW 2608/01) Mr McGuinness: The number of passes at each grade is as follows: GRAMMAR A LEVEL
AS LEVEL
Advanced Supplementary qualifications. Does not include Advanced Subsidiary qualifications. NON-GRAMMAR A LEVEL
AS LEVEL
#: denotes number less than 5 Advanced Supplementary qualifications. Does not include Advanced Subsidiary qualifications. GCSEs Mr Duncan Shipley Dalton asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of (a) grammar school pupils achieving GCSEs, by grade, since 1998; and (b) non-grammar school pupils achieving GCSEs, by grade, since 1998. (AQW 2609/01) Mr McGuinness: The number of passes at each grade is as follows: GRAMMAR
NON-GRAMMAR
Youth Organisations : Funding Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education what financial assistance is available to youth organisations to enable them to obtain premises in general and, specifically, in the Strangford constituency. (AQW 2614/01) Mr McGuinness: Youth organisations can seek financial assistance for capital works from the Executive Programme Capital/Infrastructure Renewal Fund and the Department’s major and minor works programmes. In certain areas, funding is available from the Belfast Regeneration Office and the Londonderry Regeneration Initiative. Youth organisations in the Strangford constituency can make application to the Department’s Youth Service Branch. Youth Organisations : Funding Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education to detail (a) the level of funding set aside for youth organisations within the Strangford constituency in 2000-01; and (b) the actual level of funding that was provided. (AQW 2615/01) Mr McGuinness: The Department does not specify the level of funding for youth organisations by Parliamentary constituency. It was a matter for the South-Eastern Education and Library Board to distribute the funding of £2.9 million which was allocated for the youth service in its area from its 2000/01 budget. A breakdown of the funding is not available in the format requested. Pre-School Nursery Places : Strangford Constituency Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of fully funded pre-school nursery places available in the Strangford constituency in the last 3 years. (AQW 2616/01) Mr McGuinness: The number of funded pre-school places in the Strangford constituency in each of the last 3 years is as follows:-
Pre-School Nursery Places : Strangford Constituency Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education how many groups applied for fully funded pre-school nursery places in the Strangford constituency in each of the last 3 years. (AQW 2626/01) Mr McGuinness: The number of private and voluntary settings in the Strangford constituency who applied for funded pre-school places under the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme in each of the last 3 years is as follows:-
Common Funding Formula Dr Esmond Birnie asked the Minister of Education to give his assessment of the Common Funding Formula's adequacy in providing for pupils whose first language is Chinese. (AQW 2636/01) Mr McGuinness: The consultation document on the common funding formula included a proposal that schools should be allocated an additional £750 for each pupil designated as having English as an additional language. This proposal was made on the basis that the need for support for these pupils will arise within, and generally be provided by, the school. Education and Library Boards may continue to offer centralised support. At present only one Board has a specific factor within its formula to take account of pupils for whom English is an additional language and the proposal to include a similar factor within the common formula will ensure that all schools with such pupils will receive additional funding in recognition of the additional costs incurred. As with all factors within the formula the operation of this factor will be subject to ongoing review by the Department and our education partners. Cost of Vandalism Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Education to detail, by Education and Library Board area, the costs of repairing vandalism on school buildings and school buses in each of the last 5 years. (AQW 2646/01) Mr McGuinness: The costs incurred by Education and Library Boards on repairing vandalism on controlled and maintained school buildings and school buses are set out below. The cost of repairs in other schools is not available.
* Estimated costs to February 2002. Academy Primary School, Saintfield Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Education to explain what steps he has taken to ensure that Academy Primary School has the capacity to extend its premises to cope with the increasing population of Saintfield. (AQW 2670/01) Mr McGuinness: Academy Primary School is a controlled school, which is the responsibility of the South-Eastern Education and Library Board (SEELB). Any consideration about the future needs for extending the school’s premises is a matter in the first instance for the Board. The Board has been in contact with the Planning Service and the Roads Service to register its objection to the proposed development beside Academy Primary School and will be pursuing this further with those agencies. Academy School, Saintfield Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Education if his Department has made any representations to the Planning Service in respect of the proposals for the planned development beside the Academy School, Listooder Road in Saintfield. (AQW 2671/01) Mr McGuinness: My Department has not made any representations to the Planning Service in respect of the proposals for the planned development beside the Academy School, Listooder Road in Saintfield. That would be a matter for South-Eastern Education and Library Board, which I understand has already been in contact with the Planning and Roads Services to lodge an objection to the proposed development. Discipline Strategy Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister of Education what guidance has been given to local authorities regarding educating children who have been permanently excluded from school. (AQW 2710/01) Mr McGuinness: No specific guidance has been given to the Education and Library Boards. The Discipline Strategy published in 1998 contains the framework for service development in respect of pupils whose behaviour is a concern and this provides the basis for educational arrangements for pupils who have been expelled from school. New services have been developed since 1998 and further improvements will depend on the availability of resources. Exclusion of Disruptive Pupils Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister of Education to detail his current policy on the exclusion of disruptive pupils from school. (AQW 2736/01) Mr McGuinness: The decision on whether to expel or suspend a pupil rests with a school and is made in line with its own discipline policy which will describe unacceptable behaviour. Any decision to suspend or expel a pupil must follow the procedures which are prescribed in legislation. My Department has issued guidance to schools on promoting positive behaviour and this contains approaches which schools can use in the management of poorly behaved pupils. Sure Start Strategy Mr Séamus Close asked the Minister of Education what plans he has to implement the Sure Start strategy. (AQW 2765/01) Mr McGuinness: Responsibility for the implementation of the Sure Start strategy falls within the remit of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Castle Gardens Primary School, Newtownards Mr Tom Hamilton asked the Minister of Education what plans he has for the use or disposal of the property which formerly housed Castle Gardens Primary School, Newtownards. (AQW 2766/01) Mr McGuinness: The future use of the former Castle Gardens Primary School building is a matter for consideration by the South-Eastern Education and Library Board. The Board is awaiting legal advice concerning the site and cannot proceed further until the position is clarified. Ministerial Visits Outside Northern Ireland Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the total expenditure for Ministerial visits outside Northern Ireland in each of the last 3 years. (AQW 2153/01) The Minister for Employment and Learning (Ms Hanna): The total expenditure for such visits is as follows: Financial Year Total 1999/2000 - £ 1,312.00 2000/2001 - £53,256.00 2001/2002* - £ 5,720.00 (*covers the period up to February 2002). These costs include all supporting officials. Building Maintenance Budget Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what is the building maintenance budget for her department in each of the last 3 years. (AQW 2412/01) Ms Hanna: Accommodation and Construction Division (ACD) within the Department of Finance and Personnel hold the maintenance budget for office buildings and will respond in respect of these buildings. The maintenance budget for specialised buildings held by my Department in each of the last 3 years is detailed below;
Part-Time Work : Students Mr David Hilditch asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what assessment can she make in relation to part-time work available to students attending the proposed Hotel and Tourism degree course at Portrush Catering College during the off-season months, compared to the outlets surrounding the Jordanstown Campus and Greater Belfast area. (AQW 2534/01) Ms Hanna: In the off-season months students are likely to take up part-time work opportunities all over Northern Ireland and indeed beyond. My Department does not collect information on this aspect of student life. Relocation of the Hotel and Tourism Degree Mr David Hilditch asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what assessment can she make in relation to the proposed relocation of the Hotel and Tourism degree course to Portrush Catering College. (AQW 2535/01) Ms Hanna: The location of provision within a university or a college of further education is a matter for the relevant institution to decide. Training Providers Dr Esmond Birnie asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what guidelines does she issue to training providers regarding the provision of completion bonuses in NVQII courses. (AQW 2689/01) Ms Hanna: Training providers were informed by a Jobskills Memo issued on 18 May 1998 that bonus payments in respect of qualification achievement, would "no longer be paid to young people who enter or re-enter the programme on or after 1 June 1998." Dyslexia Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what steps have been taken to support further and higher education students who suffer from dyslexia. (AQW 2750/01) Ms Hanna: Students suffering from dyslexia attract extra funding for Colleges and Universities under the Department’s funding mechanisms. FE Colleges receive further assistance through the Additional Support Fund which helps with the costs of providing technical support. Students in Higher Education are eligible for the Disabled Students’ Allowance which can be used to finance the purchase of equipment and the assistance of non-medical helpers to support their studies. My Department is also providing funding towards the establishment of a Register of Support Workers for Students with Specific Learning Difficulties. The project will create a secure internet database of professional and non-professional support workers who can be accessed quickly to act as part-time non-medical helpers. Teacher Training Courses Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the number of students recruited to (a) primary; and (b) secondary teacher training courses in each year since 1995. (AQW 2751/01) Ms Hanna: The table below sets out information on the number of students recruited to the first year of teacher training courses at Northern Ireland Institutions since 1995/96 academic year. Number of Students recruited to the first year of teacher training courses1 at Northern Ireland higher education institutions by teaching qualification sought over a six year period
Note: This is defined by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) as ‘On initial or pre-service teacher training course leading to qualified teacher status’ Higher Education Institutions in Northern Ireland were not required in this year to identify the education sector of the teaching qualification sought. Rates of Support Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail any changes to the rates of support for further and higher education students which will apply in the academic year 2002-03. (AQW 2752/01) Ms Hanna: The increased rates for loans, grants and tuition fees for higher and further education students are detailed in tables which I have placed in the Assembly library. Further Education Colleges : A Levels Mr Mark Robinson asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the number of secondary school students enrolled at further education colleges in each of the last 3 years in order to sit 'A' levels. (AQW 2753/01) Ms Hanna: In the1998-99 academic year there were a total of 396 recorded ‘Link’ enrolments on A-level courses at NI Further Education Institutions. This figure increased to 438 in 1999-00, but then decreased to 294 in 2000-01. (Link students are defined as full-time school pupils attending an FE College during school hours to undertake a programme of study.) New Deal for Disabled People Mr Oliver Gibson asked the Minister for Employment and Learning, pursuant to AQW 281/01, to provide an update on the support she is giving to help those with disabilities back into work. (AQW 2755/01) Ms Hanna: My Department and the Department for Social Development continue to provide New Deal for Disabled People (NDDP) to assist people who are on incapacity benefits to gain employment. NDDP was enhanced in July 2001 with the introduction of a Job Broking service. In addition to NDDP, my Department through the Disablement Advisory Service and Careers Service provides a comprehensive range of support to assist people with disabilities to gain employment. External Quality Assurance Regime Dr Esmond Birnie asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to outline (a) if there will be any impact on higher education in light of the Quality Assurance Agency's review for higher education in England, published March 2002; and (b) if she was consulted by The Rt Hon Margaret Hodge, Minister of State for Lifelong Learning and Higher Education about this matter. (AQW 2767/01) Ms Hanna: The new external quality assurance regime, announced recently by the Rt Hon Margaret Hodge, applies to England only. Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales had Observer status on the Task Group charged with developing the new method and the NI universities were included in each consultation exercise with the sector. It is now for each jurisdiction to develop its own quality assurance method taking account, in particular, of the need for a degree of consistency in quality assurance throughout the UK to enable benchmarking of provision. My Department will shortly be discussing the implications for Northern Ireland with the local universities. Cultural Diversity Working Group Mr Alex Maskey asked the Minister for Employment and Learning if she has any plans to introduce anti-racism into the course-work of Further Education Colleges. (AQO 1085/01) Ms Hanna: My Department is committed to the promotion of community relations, on a broad basis, in colleges. It has established the Cultural Diversity Working Group, which is tasked with addressing and advancing cultural diversity issues, including anti-racism, within the sector. The outcomes from the work of this group will inform provision in colleges. I am very aware of the need to include anti-racism within the consideration of this group given the number of ethnic communities and the need to set Northern Ireland issues in a wider international context. Burns Report Mr John Fee asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what response she has made to the Burns Report. (AQO 1090/01) Ms Hanna: I will have an opportunity later this month to discuss the Report with Mr McGuinness. Meanwhile, my officials are liaising closely with Department of Education officials on progress with the consultation process. Taskforce on Long-Term Employability Mr Eugene McMenamin asked the Minister for Employment and Learning when she anticipates the work of the Taskforce on Long-Term Employability to be completed. (AQO 1088/01) Ms Hanna: Bi-lateral meetings with other Government Departments are still underway and the body of the report is being drafted. The Taskforce will take a view as to when the report will be finalised at its next meeting on 11 April. West Belfast and Greater Shankill Task Forces Mr Alex Attwood asked the Minister for Employment and Learning how she proposes to respond to the recommendations of the two West Belfast and Greater Shankill Taskforce Reports. (AQO 1095/01) Ms Hanna: The reports of the West Belfast and Greater Shankill Task Forces have made many wide-ranging recommendations which merit careful examination and which are relevant to the work of the Taskforce on Employability and Long-term Unemployment which I chair. I shall ensure that the matters relevant to the work of my Department are addressed and incorporated in the formal reply which the two sponsoring Departments, DETI and DSD, will issue to the Taskforces. Enterprise, Trade and Investment State Aid : Electricity Mr Derek Hussey asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to make a statement on the European Commission decision that measures determined by the UK in favour of Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) constitutes no state aid within the meaning of the EC Treaty (IP/02/322); and to give his assessment of the implications of this decision for energy costs. (AQW 2549/01) The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): The Commission’s decision relates to the State aid clearance of any levy on electricity consumers that might be introduced to recover any costs arising from the long term contracts between Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) and the generators which became stranded as a result of the further opening of the electricity market in Northern Ireland to competition. Stranded costs could arise in these circumstances since NIE’s payment obligations to the generators under the contracts would remain unchanged even if those customers who were eligible to purchase electricity in the competitive market no longer obtained their supplies from NIE. In the absence of the introduction of a levy, across all customers, these costs would have to be borne by NIE’s reduced customer base which would lead to an increase in prices for those customers. The Department is exploring ways in which the market opening might be expanded so as to avoid or minimise any stranded costs. It is not possible to provide a more detailed assessment of the implications of the Commission’s decision for energy costs, at this stage. The size of any stranded cost levy would depend upon, for example, the extent of further market opening, the level of migration by eligible customers to the competitive market, and the effect of any measures aimed at the alleviation of stranded costs. Ionising Radiation Dr Esmond Birnie asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail (a) any research his Department has on the effects of exposure to ionising radiation on unborn children in the workplace; and (b) the advice his Department gives to employers in workplaces where pregnant employees may be exposed to ionising radiation. (AQW 2637/01) Sir Reg Empey: [a] The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI), one of the Department’s NDPB’s, is part sponsoring with the Health and Safety Executive in Great Britain (HSEGB) research into the effects of ionising radiations, entitled "Dose Constraints For Comforters and Carers". This research, which includes some aspects of the effects of ionising radiation on unborn children, is to be completed by July 2002. [b] It is a statutory requirement under the Ionising Radiations Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 for an employer to give advice to female employees who work with ionising radiation of the possible risks to the foetus. Additional guidance is given in the Approved Code of Practice "Work with Ionising Radiation" which accompanies these regulations and also in two other guidance documents published by HSEGB, i.e. "Working safely with ionising radiation - Guidelines for expectant or breastfeeding mothers" and "New and expectant mothers at work - a guide for employers". Cross-Border Business Park Mr Eugene McMenamin asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he would consider the setting up of a cross-border business park in West Tyrone/Strabane/Lifford through the IDB/IDA and include tax-free incentives to encourage inward investment. (AQO 1084/01) Sir Reg Empey: A cross- border business park is one of the actions being considered under the Invest Northern Ireland / IDA pilot initiative, Invest Northwest, which is marketing the council areas of Derry City, Limavady, Strabane and Donegal as a single location for inward investment. Discussions are continuing about the feasibility of such a park and no decision has been taken on its location. However, Invest NI is also working with a private developer who is providing 30,000 sq ft of new business space at Orchard Road, Strabane to be ready by September this year. In relation to incentives, some grants from Invest NI are already more tax beneficial than from the IDA eg capital grants. Communications with Barbour Threads Ms Patricia Lewsley asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what communication he has had recently with the management of Barbour Threads. (AQO 1081/01) Sir Reg Empey: Although I have had no direct communication with the company my officials at Invest Northern Ireland continue to maintain contact with the management of the company. 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. |