(AQW 3176/01)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): In response to the first part of your question, I can advise that while on-farm burial has been a permitted method of disposal of fallen stock this option may be significantly constrained when the EU Animal By-Product Regulation comes into force, probably in the first half of 2003. The introduction of the Regulation will have significant implications for Northern Ireland in that it will ban on farm burial except in remote areas. At best only very limited parts of Northern Ireland could qualify as being remote. You will appreciate that this is a UK-wide issue, which will need to be addressed by key stakeholders.

In relation to the second part of your question, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), together with the devolved administrations, held a meeting in London on 3 April 2002, of key stakeholders to discuss options for the disposal of fallen animals and various funding mechanisms. The Ulster Farmers’ Union was represented.

Following discussion of the issues there was general agreement that, recognising that various factors had changed which impacted on the issue, there was a need for a new system or approach to the collection and disposal of fallen animals. It was also agreed that any system should be national rather than regional in its approach, although, given the geographical separation Northern Ireland will likely have to implement its own system. You will not be surprised to learn that funding was the critical issue identified.

On funding it was agreed that there was a need to quantify the cost likely to be involved taking account of the numbers of the different species, start up costs for any new facilities required to fill in the gaps in the coverage of the existing network of disposal facilities and the sources of the necessary funds. These issues are to be taken forward by a smaller stakeholder group which DEFRA will convene.

My officials will obviously be keeping in close touch with DEFRA developments, especially on funding, and will seek to be actively involved in the stakeholder group.

You will appreciate that I will wish to await the outcome of any discussions of the stakeholder group before formulating a sustainable solution to the problem of fallen animals in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 3267/01)

Ms Rodgers: The Rivers Agency’s scheme to upgrade drainage infrastructure at Glenkeen Avenue/Jordanstown Road, Newtownabbey is now complete. In my response to your earlier question I explained that remaining site reinstatement works were affected by concurrent private development, and would be done with the agreement of the property owners concerned. The agreement with the two property owners, whose garden reinstatement was to be completed in Spring 2002, has now been waived, as the property developer who purchased both properties has commenced building operations on the site. As a result it is no longer necessary for Rivers Agency to complete the reinstatement.

(AQO 1348/01)

Ms Rodgers: I am conscious of growing concerns about the implications of climate change although the effects are difficult to measure with any certainty at the present time. I can assure you that my Department’s Rivers Agency has an ongoing programme of flood and sea defence projects to protect areas currently prone to flooding, where it is economically viable to do so. The Agency is actively monitoring the results of research on climate change in its area of responsibility and is taking account of the potential effects on its design standards for flood defences, and for designated sea defences which it maintains.

(AQW 3035/01)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): It is anticipated that a network of football development centres will be established at football clubs across Northern Ireland over the next two-three years using the monies available under the youth football development programme. Each development centre is expected to house a full time development officer who will be responsible for leading the programme on behalf of his or her respective club. It is envisaged that development officers will be in post by September 2002. The Sports Council ultimately hopes to bring 10,000 children and young people into the programme on an annual basis.

(AQW 3037/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The Northern Ireland Events Company plays a crucial role in contributing to the Programme for Government and to DCAL’s corporate strategy commitment to contribute to a positive image of Northern Ireland at home and abroad.

Every application for funding is assessed for economic benefit, social cohesion, and the projection of a positive image through media coverage. The company is also required to secure private sector sponsorship to a level of at least 50% of total Events Company spending on events.

(AQW 3085/01)

Mr McGimpsey: This information is not available as the education and library boards do not keep separate accounting records for these categories of materials.

A new library management system is being procured under the Electronic Libraries for Northern Ireland project and it will then be possible to obtain information on the amount spent by the education and library boards on books by Irish authors and on items purchased in the Irish language. It is intended that all libraries will be linked to this system by July 2003.

(AQW 3086/01)

Mr McGimpsey: There has been no direct Sports Council funding awarded in respect of the Milk Cup during the last five years. However, I understand that as a condition of grant from the Sports Council, the Irish Football Association provided financial support of £5,000 per annum for the tournament from its own funds up to 2001. In addition, the Northern Ireland Events Company has provided funding of £90,000 for the tournament in 2001 and is currently assessing an application for funding in 2002.

The Sports Council has provided Exchequer funding to the Foyle Cup as follows:

An application for funding to the Northern Ireland Events Company for 2002/03 is currently being assessed.

I am aware that the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) provided a total of £21,750 from its Events Support Scheme to both events between 1998 to 2001. This is detailed in the table below. The NITB contribution to the 2002 events has still to be confirmed. In addition the NITB co-hosts and presents 2 trophies at a Welcome Reception in conjunction with Coleraine Borough Council. The NITB contribution to the 2001 reception totalled £1,404.40.

(AQW 3087/01)

Mr McGimpsey: It is not possible to provide an absolute assurance in the terms requested. I am satisfied that my Department operates a rigorous policy of ensuring that public funds are not misused through the normal requirements of financial accountability, control and audit. The agencies which are the responsibility of my Department take all reasonable steps to prevent the activities in question, including clear and detailed policies and procedures on child protection. Child sexual abuse and the distribution of pornographic material are most likely to be detected by co-workers of the perpetrator and by the families, friends, teachers and others who know the victim or victims of such abuse. I would strongly urge anyone in possession of information regarding this kind of activity to bring it to the immediate attention of the appropriate authorities.

(AQW 3088/01)

Mr McGimpsey: As I outlined in my response to AQW 1719/01 the Sports Council for Northern Ireland has been working with the Irish Football Association on its community relations programme ‘Football for All’.

I also informed you that the issue of community relations was one of those identified as being central to the development of a soccer strategy for Northern Ireland. I would refer you to chapter 10 of the report ‘Creating a Soccer Strategy for Northern Ireland’. I hope to be in a position to publish a draft strategy as soon as possible.

Although there is much work to be done, I believe that the ‘Football for All’ programme, along with the proposed soccer strategy and the broader equality agenda, has the potential to contribute to an improvement in community relations in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 3099/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The introduction of the Sportsmatch scheme is a matter in the first instance for the Sports Council for Northern Ireland. When the scheme was introduced in England and Wales, the Sports Council considered that there were insufficient sponsorship opportunities in Northern Ireland to ensure the success of the scheme. The Council will, however, be reviewing the matter and other potential avenues for private sector funding.

(AQW 3100/01)

Mr McGimpsey: I have not carried out such an assessment. I understand, however, that since 1992 when the scheme was introduced, Sportsmatch has distributed some £28m to over 3,400 projects in 72 sports throughout England. The projects which attract sponsorship include one of the following elements:

• increased participation at grass roots and/or improved skills;

• new activities or extended/enhanced existing activities;

• links to the local community;

• long term benefits.

(AQW 3149/01)

Mr McGimpsey: I am unaware of the existence of any report called the MAGNI Report, but I assume that you are referring to the Wilson Report, which led to the establishment of MAGNI. The Wilson Report was completed under Direct Rule, and it has no direct relevance for museums in the Foyle constituency as it deals in the main with Northern Ireland’s national collections.

However, the Wilson Report recommended a review of local authority museum provision, and this was taken forward through the Local Museum and Heritage Review. My Department has now completed a first draft of a response to the Review, which has to be agreed by the DOE before discussion with key stakeholders. The document will then be published for consultation.

(AQW 3186/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The Safe Sports Grounds Scheme has been in existence for two years and details of the funding awarded to football, rugby and Gaelic games are attached. The Scheme will continue for a further year and while there is still a long way to go before all the major sports grounds are up to a satisfactory standard, I am pleased to report that all venues requiring immediate and urgent works have now been dealt with.

Mr Hilditch asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the amount of grant received by (a) rugby stadiums; and (b) Gaelic grounds, in each of the last 4 years, through the Safe Sports Grounds Programme.

(AQW 3209/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The Safe Sports Grounds Scheme has been in existence for two years and details of the funding awarded to football, rugby and Gaelic games are attached. The Scheme will continue for a further year and while there is still a long way to go before all the major sports grounds are up to a satisfactory standard, I am pleased to report that all venues requiring immediate and urgent works have now been dealt with.

(AQW 3106/01)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): Parent governors are not required by law to resign from a Board of Governors when their child ceases to attend the school. They may serve out the remainder of their term of office and no procedures have therefore been established for the removal of parent governors in these circumstances.

(AQW 3107/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The following figures set out the net expenditure per primary school pupil for 2000/01 and have been taken from the latest available out-turn statements.

The figures include –

Amounts made available under LMS Formulae

Centre funds held by Boards and the Department and distributed to schools in the course of the year to meet certain costs arising from items of expenditure such as teacher substitution, contingency funds and initiatives funded by both the ELBs and the Department.

Integrated figures include both controlled integrated and grant maintained integrated schools

The figures exclude centrally held resources, such as Home to School Transport, CASS, School Meals and Central Administration, as these are not costed to individual schools.

(AQW 3135/01)

Mr M McGuinness: I have been advised that there were 4, 843 classroom assistants employed in schools in Northern Ireland in 2001/02.

(AQW 3136/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The future of controlled grammar schools in the Western Education and Library Board area is a matter in the first instance for that Board. However, my Department is aware that the Board is actively considering the future of Strabane Grammar School. Discussions with school representatives are, however, at a very early stage. The Board is not, therefore, in a position at present to make any proposals for the future of the school to my Department.

(AQW 3138/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The figures below set out the net expenditure per secondary school pupil for 2000/01 and have been taken from the latest available out-turn statements.

The figures include –

Amounts made available under LMS Formulae

Centre funds held by Boards and the Department and distributed to schools in the course of the year to meet certain costs arising from items of expenditure such as teacher substitution, contingency funds and initiatives funded by both the ELBs and the Department.

Integrated figures include both controlled integrated and grant maintained integrated schools

The figures exclude centrally held resources, such as Home to School Transport, CASS, School Meals and Central Administration, as these are not costed to individual schools.

(AQW 3187/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The above table sets out the number of appeals and the number of successful appeals against primary school admissions in each Education and Library Board area over the past 5 years.

(AQW 3188/01)

Mr M McGuinness: There have been no claims lodged against the Department resulting from school trips undertaken by pupils. I understand that the number of claims lodged against the Boards is as follows.

(AQW 3189/01)

(a) The number of teachers employed in controlled and maintained primary schools is currently 8,416.

(b) The number of male teachers employed in the primary sector, as indicated by the numbers paid in October of each of the past 10 years, is as follows:

(c) I refer the Member to my answer to AQW 2164/01.

(AQW 3190/01)

Mr M McGuinness: I have been advised that the information requested is as follows:

(a) The categories are -

• General Classroom Assistants;
  

• Classroom Assistants employed as a result of the Department’s ‘Making a Good Start P1 Initiative’
  

• Special Needs Classroom Assistants.

(b) Number of classroom assistants in each Board area:

(AQW 3195/01)

Mr M McGuinness: A draft of an economic appraisal prepared by the South-Eastern Education and Library Board which examines various options for improving the accommodation at Newtownards Model Primary School has just been received in my Department. When this document has been examined and agreed with the Board, a scheme will be planned and considered, along with others, for inclusion in a future school capital programme. However, given the number of schemes competing for a place in the programme and the limited available financial resources, it is not possible to state when the school will be included in any future capital funding announcement.

(AQW 3211/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The following table sets out the number of appeals and the number of successful appeals against primary school admissions in each Education and Library Board area over the past 5 years.

(AQW 3221/01)

Mr M McGuinness: There is a statutory requirement for all school authorities to provide drugs (including alcohol) education for all pupils throughout their compulsory schooling (age 4-16). This is delivered mainly through 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 is also being explored in approximately half of the School Age Mothers (SAMs) projects running this school year. Within the Personal and Social Education element of the SAMs programme, the current emphasis is on the effects of alcohol and smoking during the antenatal stage.

(AQW 3271/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The Department of Education’s expenditure on external consultancy firms/consultants within these categories was as follows:

* Period 2 December 1999-31 March 2000.

(AQW 3295/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The number of pupils in P1-P7 with dyspraxia in their statement of special educational needs is 29.

(AQW 3362/01)

Mr M McGuinness: I do not use either the DFP Centralised Transport Unit or a contracted-out Service. My Department provides me with a car for Ministerial use. It does not have an in-house chauffeur service nor does it contract-out this service.