(AQW 3516/01)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Dr Farren): The information you requested is as follows:

(a) the Department of Finance and Personnel has no plans to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure is the lead Department for Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

(b) the NICS has awarded the additional Bank Holiday set for Monday, 3 June 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

(AQW 3526/01)

Dr Farren: The Rate Collection Agency is responsible for the collection of rates in Northern Ireland.

Under rating legislation, vacant unoccupied properties do not normally attract liability for payment of rates. Rates on vacant properties are considered as rates foregone. The total amount of rates foregone in the year ended 31 March 2002 was just over £48m.

A schedule showing the amount of rates foregone in each district council area on vacant property in the commercial and residential sectors, for the year ended 31 March 2002, is attached at Appendix 1. Amounts have been rounded to the nearest thousand pounds.

(AQW 3703/01)

Dr Farren: The table below details the number of flights booked through the Northern Ireland Civil Service Travel Agent’s (Business travel Management) by the Department of Finance and Personnel for the last two financial years.

Data for 1999-2000 is not available from the Travel Agent’s computer system nor is it possible to identify individual journeys.

It should also be noted that these figures do not include any journeys undertaken which were booked through other channels.

(AQW 3749/01)

Dr Farren: The table below shows the number of cases in each Health Board area, in each of the last 5 years, where Bowel Cancer was recorded as the main cause of death.

Coding of deaths registered in 2001 is not yet finalized.

(AQW 3765/01)

(a) The Northern Ireland public sector encompasses a diverse range of organisations of varying sizes, many of which have been pursuing energy efficiency programmes for several years. The Government’s Climate Change Programme introduced new targets based on appraising individual buildings. This requires a more detailed approach to energy reporting, to which some organisations did not give sufficient priority. However, I am satisfied that, given the necessary co-operation, the appropriate structures are in place to take this important work forward.

(b) Performance targets are already in place, having been laid down under the Government’s Climate Change Programme, as set out in the report.

(AQW 3766/01)

Dr Farren: For the purposes of the 1st Public Sector Energy Committee Report for 1999 - 2000, Government Departments and their associated agencies, boards, trusts etc returned information on the buildings which they occupy as set out in the table below. However, not all this information was usable. (Figures relate to the year ending 31 March 2000; in some cases information was supplied for earlier years.)

(AQW 3767/01)

Dr Farren: The following organisations failed to return information or provided data which was incomplete, unusable or returned too late for inclusion in the Public Sector Energy Committee’s 1st Annual Energy Report 1999 – 2000. (These failures relate to year ending 31 March 2000; in some cases information was supplied for earlier years.)

(AQW 3801/01)

Dr Farren: To date a total of 5 Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) have been completed in the Department of Finance and Personnel. Unfortunately it has not been possible to provide a breakdown of costs as requested. The information available to me in respect of each EIA is shown on the following page.

(AQW 3819/01)

Dr Farren: Discussions with Treasury are continuing at an official level on how the effects of the tax could be reduced within Northern Ireland. I will be writing shortly to the Financial Secretary to Treasury to outline the outcome of these discussions and to determine whether a significant discount from the Aggregates Tax for Northern Ireland is achievable based on the environmental objectives of the tax being met through alternative means. An impact assessment on the damage to roads caused by the introduction of the Aggregates Tax may constitute further evidence as to the negative and disproportionate impact of the tax in Northern Ireland but the current focus must be on securing a version of the tax that better reflects the needs of the local quarrying industry.

(AQW 3839/01)

Dr Farren: In addition to its programme of annual maintenance to hedging and soft landscape the Department proposes to:

(i) treat and power-wash the steps and hard standing areas around the tomb;

(ii) regrout the paving;

(iii) repair and repaint the gates; and

(iv) clean the plinth.

The Department will also be consulting with the Environment and Heritage Agency on whether the inscription on the tomb should be re-cut to improve its definition.

(AQW 3979/01)

Dr Farren: I have considered the findings of the report into the first stage of the quinquennial review, together with the replies to the consultation, and I have decided to proceed with the main recommendations. In particular, I have decided that a Public Private Partnership procurement project to support rate collection services should be initiated with the aim of securing a strategic business partner to help implement and manage the RCA’s replacement IT systems and processes.

(AQW 2709/01)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): On Friday 15th March the Food Standards Agency, which has responsibility for food safety and related public health protection matters, issued a statement advising against the consumption of particular batches of prawns and shrimps from South East Asia and also calling for them to be withdrawn from sale because of the detection of residues of nitrofurans, a potential carcinogen, in some of the samples.

I am satisfied that the action taken by the Food Standards Agency was appropriate and commensurate with the problem.

Ar an Aoine 15 Márta d’eisigh an Ghníomhaireacht um Chaighdeáin Bia, atá freagrach as sábháilteacht bia agus ábhair bhainteacha chosaint sláinte poiblí, ráiteas ag comhairliú i gcoinne chaitheamh baisceanna áirithe cloicheán agus ribí róibéis ó Oirdheisceart na hÁise agus d’éiligh sí go n-aistarraingeofaí ón margadh iad mar gur aimsíodh iarmhair nítreafúráin, carcanaigin fhéideartha, i gcuid de na samplaí.

Táim sásta go raibh an gníomh a ghlac an Ghníomhaireacht um Chaighdeáin Bia cuí agus ag teacht le tromchúise na faidhbe.

(AQW 3363/01)

Ms de Brún: I do not use either the DFP Centralised Transport Unit or a contracted-in service. The Department initially rented and subsequently purchased, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel, a car for use by me on official business. The normal tendering procedures were followed in the purchase of the car. The hourly rate paid in respect of the driver is based on the rate paid to drivers in the DFP Centralised Transport Unit.

Ní bhainim úsáid as Aonad Lárnaithe Iompair an DFP ná as seirbhís ar conradh. Fuair an Roinn carr ar cíos ar dtús, agus ceannaíodh ina dhiaidh sin é, le cead na Roinne Airgeadais agus Pearsanra, do m’úsáidse ar ghnó oifigiúil. Leanadh na gnáthnósanna imeachta tairisceana i gceannach an chairr. Is mar seo a leanas an costas iomlán, lena n-áirítear tiománaithe, i ngach bliain airgeadais. Tá an ráta in aghaidh na huaire a íoctar maidir leis an tiománaí bunaithe ar an ráta a íoctar le tiománaithe Aonad Lárnaithe Iompair an DFP.

(AQW 3364/01)

Ms de Brún: Epilepsy is treated as a neurological condition and it is not possible to disaggregate the amount of staff time within this specialty which is spent specifically on treating patients suffering from epilepsy. No neurology services are provided by Trusts within the Northern HSS Board area and residents of this Board’s area receive their services from the Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust.

My Department provides financial support for research through the HPSS Research & Development Office for implementation of the HPSS Research & Development Strategy. There is currently one fellowship with the title "Clinical and molecular genetic investigation in familial idiopathic epilepsy".

Tugtar cóireáil ar eipileipse mar bhail néareolaíoch agus tá sé dodhéanta scagadh a dhéanamh ar am a chaitheann foirne laistigh den speisialtóireacht sin go sonrach ar choireáil othair a bhfuil eipileipse orthu. Ní chuireann Iontaobhais laistigh de cheantar Bhord SSS an Tuaiscirt aon seirbhísí néareolaíocha ar fáil agus faigheann áitritheoirí i gceantar an Bhoird sin a gcuid seirbhísí ón Grúpa Ríoga Ospidéal Iontaobhas SSS.

Cuireann mo Roinnse tacaíocht airgeadais ar fáil to thaighde trí Oifig Forbartha agus Taighde SSSP d’fheidhmiú Straitéis Forbartha agus Taighde SSSP. Faoi láthair tá comhaltacht amháin ann leis an teideal "Clinical and molecular genetic investigation in familial idiopathic epilepsy".

(AQW 3469/01)

Ms de Brún: I have submitted a bid for Executive Programme Funds as the major element of my funding strategy for the Regional Cancer Centre. I cannot be specific on the start date for the work until the outcome of that bid is known. The Executive has yet to take decisions on these funds, including the enhanced funds under the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative, but, as I have said previously, I hope to make an announcement before the Summer Recess.

Tá tairiscint curtha isteach agam ar Chistí Chlár an Fheidhmeannais mar phríomhghné de mo straitéis maoinithe don Ionad Réigiúnach Ailse. Ní féidir liom a bheith sonrach faoi dháta tosaigh na hoibre go dtí go mbeadh toradh na tairisceana sin ar eolas agam. Tá cinneadh le déanamh ag an bhFeidhmeannas maidir leis na cistí sin go fóill, lena n-áirítear na cistí feabhsaithe faoin Tionsnamh Athinfheistíochta agus Leasaithe, ach, mar a dúirt mé cheana, tá mé ag súil le fógra a dhéanamh roimh Bhriseadh an tSamhraidh.

(AQW 3483/01)

Ms de Brún: Adoption is the care plan for 162 children who are currently looked after by HSS Trusts. A total of 140 adoption orders were made in 2001 compared with 172 in 2000, 144 in 1999, 121 in 1998 and 150 in 1997. Priorities for Action places an increased emphasis on adoption as a means of securing permanency for children in care and has set a target for 4% of looked after children to be adopted in 2002/03.

Is é uchtú an plean cúraim do 162 páiste atá ag fáil cúnaimh ó na hIontaoibh SSS faoi láthair. Rinneadh 140 ordú uchtaithe ar an iomlán sa bhliain 2001 i gcomparáid le 172 sa bhliain 2000, 144 sa bhliain 1999, 121 sa bhliain 1998 agus 150 sa bhliain 1997. Cuireann Tosaíochtaí do Ghníomh béim níos treise ar uchtú mar mheán le haghaidh buaine a bhaint amach do pháistí atá faoi chúram agus tá sprioc leagtha síos acu go mbeadh 4% de pháistí atá faoi chúram uchtaithe sa bhliain 2002/03.

(AQW 3522/01)

Ms de Brún: The mental health targets which Boards have been asked to deliver on this year are those set out in Priorities for Action.

I have required Health and Social Services Boards to set out clearly and transparently the services they intend to secure to meet the needs of their local population and deliver on the actions set out in Priorities for Action and have introduced quarterly monitoring to track progress towards achieving the targets.

The quarterly monitoring reports will be followed up by meetings between my officials and the Boards to tackle areas of underperformance.

Information on the range of improvements in mental health services since 1997 could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Is iad na spriocanna meabharshláinte ar iarradh ar na Boird gníomhnú orthu na cinn atá leagtha amach in Tosaíochtaí do Gníomh.

D’iarr mé ar na Boird Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta na seirbhísí atá ar intinn acu a dhaingniú chun freastal ar riachtanais an phobail áitiúil a leagan amach go soiléir agus go follasach agus na gníomhartha atá leagtha amach in Tosaíochtaí do Ghníomh a thabhairt i gcrích chomh maith le monatóireacht ráithiúil a thabhairt isteach chun cuntas a choinneail ar an dul chun cinn i mbaint amach na spriocanna.

Leanfaidh cruinnithe idir m’oifigigh agus na Boird na tuarascálacha monatóireachta ráithiúla chun dul i ngleic le réimsí de thearcfheidhmíocht.

Ba ar chostas díréireach a fuarthas tuairisc ar aon fhorbairt ar sheirbhísí meabhairsláinte ó 1997.

(AQW 3531/01)

Ms de Brún: Introductory workshops have already been held for management board members of the two Local Health and Social Care Groups based in the Western Health and Social Services Board area. The other three Boards have plans for similar type workshops for their Groups. Work is progressing well on the development of a training and development strategy for the Groups which will encompass both local and regional training needs.

Training and development will be an important feature of the new Groups’ first year. They will be learning organisations and will be encouraged and assisted to develop to their full potential. This means shared development, multidisciplinary training and team building. Those involved in the Groups will be given opportunities to develop the appropriate skills, and identifying their training and development needs will be one of the early priorities. In developing training and development programmes, Health and Social Services Boards will work closely with Local Health and Social Groups in their areas as well as linking with others who may be able to make a contribution.

Rinneadh réamhcheardlanna cheana do bhaill ar an bhord bainisteoirí den dá Ghrúpa Cúram Sláinte agus Cúraim Shóisialta Aitiúil lonnaithe i gceantar Bhord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Iarthair. Tá pleananna ag na trí Bhord eile faoi choinne ceardlann dá macasamhail dá nGrúpaí. Tá ag éirí go maith leis an obair ar straitéis oiliúna agus forbartha do na Grúpaí a chuirfidh riachtanais áitiúla agus reigiúnacha araon san áireamh.

Beidh oiliúint agus forbairt mar ghné thábhachtach de chéad bhliain na nGrúpaí nua. Eagraíochtaí foghlama a bheidh iontu agus spreagfar iad agus cuideofar leo lena lánacmhainneacht a fhorbairt. Ciallaíonn sé seo comhfhorbairt, oiliúint ildhisciplíneach agus tógáil foirne. Tabharfar deiseanna dóibh siúd a bheidh páirteach sna Grúpaí na scileanna cuí a fhorbairt, agus beidh aimsiú a riachtanais oiliúna agus forbartha ar cheann de na tosaíochtaí luatha. Leis na cláir oiliúna agus forbartha a chur chun cinn, oibreoidh Boird Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta go dlúth le Grúpaí Áitiúla Sláinte agus Sóisialta ina gceantair chomh maith le nasc a dhéanamh le grúpaí eile a d’fhéadfadh cuidiú leo.

(AQW 3594/01)

Ms de Brún: It is not clear how these figures were derived. The calculations made in respect of Scotland, Wales and here were not, presumably, drawn from OECD data since the Organisation does not hold expenditure disaggregated in this way. Nor does it seem that the figures are up to date.

Apart from their precision or currency, however, there is a more fundamental point to be made about figures that express health spending as a percentage of GDP. An important determinant of the need for health care is deprivation. All things being equal, regions of greater deprivation will have to spend more on health care. Given that such regions have (by definition) lower than average GDP, their expenditure on health will account for a higher than average percentage of their local GDP.

Níl sé soiléir faoin dóigh ar thangthas ar na figiúirí seo. Níor tarraingíodh na háirimh maidir le hAlbain, leis an Bhreatain Bheag agus thall anseo, is dócha, ó dháta an OECD (Foras um Chomhoibrithe Eacnamaíoch agus Forbartha) mar ní choinníonn an Foras caiteachas neamhthathagaithe ar an dóigh seo. Níl an chuma air go bhfuil na figiúirí cothrom le dáta ach oiread.

Taobh amuigh dá bheachtas nó dá mbainteacht, áfach, tá pointe níos suntasaí le déanamh faoi fhigiúirí a léiríonn caiteachas ar shláinte mar chéatadán den GDP (Olltáirgeacht Intíre OTI). Is deitéarmanant tábhachtach den ghá le cúram sláinte an díth. Agus gach ní eile mar a gcéanna, beidh ar réigiúin faoi mhórdhíth níos mó a chaitheamh ar chúram sláinte. Ós rud é go bhfuil olltáirgeacht intíre níos lú ná an meán ag a leithéid de réigiúin (de réir sainmhínithe), is amhlaidh go mbeidh a gcaiteachas ar shláinte ina chéatadán dá n-olltáirgeacht intíre áitiúil níos airde ná an meán.

(AQW 3606/01)

Ms de Brún: The known position to date is as follows. Seven members of staff who were previously employed by GP fundholding practices to carry out fund management work have been made redundant. Two of these staff are understood to have already found other jobs. In addition, a further 31 staff have been issued with redundancy notices. The majority of these staff have registered with the Redeployment Unit and it is anticipated that there will be new employment opportunities of some 30 posts in the Local Health and Social Care Groups in the coming weeks, for which these staff will be able to apply.

Seo a leanas cúrsaí mar is eol go dtí seo. Rinneadh seachtar oibrithe, a bhí fostaithe ag cleachtais chistesheilbhe GDanna roimhe sin le hobair stiúrtha maoinithe a dhéanamh, iomarcach. Tuigtear go bhfuair beirt de na hoibrithe seo poist eile cheana féin. Ina theannta sin, tugadh fógraí iomarcachta do 31 oibrí eile. Chláraigh bunús na n-oibrithe seo leis an Ionad Athlonnaithe agus táthar ag súil go mbeidh deiseanna nua fostaíochta ann le 30 post ar fáil sna Grúpaí Áitiúla Sláinte agus Cúráim Shóisialta sna seachtainí atá le teacht, a mbeidh na hoibrithe seo in inmhe iarratas a chur isteach dóibh.

(AQW 3624/01)

Ms de Brún: The targets, which have been set for 2002/2003, are based on the corporate aims and objectives of the Agency as set out in Section 5 of its Corporate and Business Plan. These have been placed in the Assembly library.

Tá na spriocanna, atá leagtha amach do 2002/03, bunaithe ar na haidhmeanna agus cuspóirí na Gníomhaíochta mar atá leagtha amach i gCuid 5 dá Plean Gnó agus Corparáide. Cuireadh iad siúd i leabharlann an Tionóil.

(AQW 3654/01)

(i) A specific target has not been set in regard to waiting time for a neurological examination by a consultant neurologist. The Charter standard for outpatient treatment is that patients should have their first outpatient appointment within three months.

(ii) The number of people waiting for their first outpatient appointment in the Neurology specialty in each HSS Board area is broken down into time bands and is detailed in the table on the following page. The latest figures relate to the quarter ending 31 December 2001.

(i) Níor leagadh sprioc áirithe maidir le hagaí feithimh i dtaca le scrúdúchán néareolaíoch ag néareolaí comhairleach. Is é atá sa chaighdeán Cairte maidir le cóireáil othar seachtarach ná gur chóir an chéad choinne othar seachtarach a bheith acu laistigh de thrí mhí.

(ii) Tá líon na ndaoine ag fanacht ar a gcéad choinne othar seachtarach i sainfheidhm na Néareolaíochta i ngach Bord SSS breactha síos i sealanna ama agus tá sé léirithe sa tábla thíos. Baineann na figiúirí is déanaí leis an cheathrú a fhad le 31 Nollaig 2001.

(AQW 3674/01)

Ms de Brún: There are currently five temporary Fire Control Operators employed in the Control Room, one since September 1996 and four since October 1998. One of the Operators is currently on temporary promotion to Leading Fire Control Operator.

Tá cúigear Oibritheoir Rialaithe Dóiteáin sealadacha fostaithe sa Seomra Rialaithe faoi láthair, duine amháin acu ó Mhéan Fómhair 1996 agus ceathrar ó Dheireadh Fómhair 1998. Tá duine de na hOibritheoirí ar ardú céime sealadach mar Phríomh-Oibritheoir Rialaithe Dóitéan.