(AQW 3739/01)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr P Robinson): I can advise that the expenditure on roads maintenance in West Tyrone represents 9.0 % of the total spend on roads maintenance in Northern Ireland during 2001/2002.

(AQW 3776/01)

Mr P Robinson: Water Service has 918 wastewater treatment works and sea outfalls. The treatment processes used are as follows:

• primary treatment which removes suspended solids in the wastewater prior to discharge to the receiving waters;

• secondary treatment which provides an additional stage of treatment involving some form of biological process which removes soluble and colloidal organic matter prior to discharge; and

• tertiary treatment which employs further processes designed to remove residual suspended solids and reduce ammonia, nitrogen or phosohorous.

Discharges from sea outfalls are normally provided with screened treatment to remove large floating solid material.

The treatment process used is determined by the effluent consent standards, which are set by the Environment and Heritage Service. The following table provides a breakdown of the number of wastewater treatment works by treatment process.

(AQW 3777/01)

Mr P Robinson: The provision of secondary treatment processes at the proposed North Coast Wastewater Treatment Works will ensure that wastewater discharges comply with the standards set by the Department of the Environment’s Environment and Heritage Service. These standards take account of European Community Directives and United Kingdom standards, together with local environmental requirements.

The site of the proposed works is large enough to permit the construction of tertiary treatment facilities, should standards be made more rigorous in the future. The additional capital cost would be in the order of £2 million and the additional running costs are estimated to be around £53,000 per anum.

Given the current underfunding of Water Service, and the pressures on its capital investment programme, I could not sanction spending an additional £2 million on treating wastewater to standards higher than those set by the regulatory authorities.

(AQW 3778/01)

Mr P Robinson: The proposed North Coast Wastewater Treatment Works is a substantial project. The works will be constructed at Craigtown More and treated effluent will be conveyed 1 kilometre out to sea through a submerged pipeline to be laid off Rinagree Point. This will enable existing wastewater treatment works at Coleraine to be downgraded, removing the present discharge of treated effluent to the River Bann. Wastewater from Castlerock and Articlave will be pumped to a storm water holding facility at the Coleraine site. New pumping stations, to be constructed at Portrush and Portstewart, will transfer flows to the new North Coast Works and permit the removal of effluent discharges to the Articlave River and the sea at Castlerock, Blackrock and Ramore Head. The project will accommodate future residential, tourist and commercial growth for the next 30 years.

Water Service recently applied for outline planning permission for the Works and the timetable for its construction is presently under review. The earliest possible date that the construction could commence would be 2003, however, the actual date will be subject to the availability of funding. It is estimated that construction of the works will take 4 years to complete.

(AQW 3779/01)

Mr P Robinson: The current estimate of the capital cost of the North Coast Wastewater Treatment Works project is in the region of £36 million. This comprises £18 million for the treatment works, £6 million for the sea outfall and £12 million for sewers and pumping stations.

(AQW 3790/01)

Mr P Robinson: I am answering Question numbers AQW 3790/01, and AQW 3791/01 together.

I should explain that in certain circumstances my Department’s Roads Service may provide salt bins on adopted roads, which are not included in the salting schedule. The salt bins are provided for use by local residents on a self-help basis during periods of icy weather conditions.

To qualify for consideration for the provision of a salt bin, the gradient of a road should be equal to, or greater than, 5% (i.e. 1in 20) and where a reasonable alternative route on the salting schedule is not available. Other criteria taken into account are the road geometry, residential and commercial usage and community welfare reasons. A point scoring system is then applied.

From November to March inclusive the salt boxes are inspected and filled as required. If necessary, during the summer months some boxes are removed in case they would be stolen or damaged. Normally the boxes would not be provided within 100 metres of one another.

I am advised that there are 25 salt boxes within the Carrickfergus area. Details of the locations are detailed on the table below.

(AQW 3791/01)

Mr P Robinson: I am answering Question numbers AQW 3790/01, and AQW 3791/01 together.

I should explain that in certain circumstances my Department’s Roads Service may provide salt bins on adopted roads, which are not included in the salting schedule. The salt bins are provided for use by local residents on a self-help basis during periods of icy weather conditions.

To qualify for consideration for the provision of a salt bin, the gradient of a road should be equal to, or greater than, 5% (i.e. 1in 20) and where a reasonable alternative route on the salting schedule is not available. Other criteria taken into account are the road geometry, residential and commercial usage and community welfare reasons. A point scoring system is then applied.

From November to March inclusive the salt boxes are inspected and filled as required. If necessary, during the summer months some boxes are removed in case they would be stolen or damaged. Normally the boxes would not be provided within 100 metres of one another.

I am advised that there are 25 salt boxes within the Carrickfergus area. Details of the locations are detailed on the table below.

(AQW 3813/01)

Mr P Robinson: My Department has published one final EIA and issued a further one for consultation. The costs (including staff costs) are detailed below:

(AQW 3879/01)

Mr P Robinson: A dedicated unit has been established within my Department to take forward the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, of which the Publication Scheme is one element. Work on the Scheme is well advanced and it is anticipated that it will be sent to the Information Commissioner for approval in September.

(AQO 1522/01)

Mr P Robinson: I have currently no plans to introduce a scheme that will offer additional compensation to farmers and landowners who have small parcels of land acquired for road development. The Department of Finance and Personnel, Valuation and Lands Agency is responsible for the agreeing of compensation in such cases and I am informed by that Agency that compensation is based on open market value.

(AQO 1528/01)

Mr P Robinson: My Department entered a total of 38 bids under the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative amounting to £277 million of which £99 million relates to 2002/03 and £178 million to 2003/04.

The detailed list of bids was made available to the Regional Development Committee and I have arranged for a copy to be put in the Assembly Library. The list includes 15 projects put forward in April for support under the Infrastructure Executive Programme Fund. The schemes include strategic road improvements on major routes throughout Northern Ireland, upgrading the Eastern Seaboard Corridor – i.e. the A8, Westlink, the M1 and various schemes on the A1 including the dualling of the road between Newry and the Border – Skeoge Link and the final stage of the Omagh throughpass. I have also sought significant investment in new buses and have bid for the funds necessary to continue work on the railways including the Antrim – Knockmore railway line. In respect of water and sewerage I am seeking resources to replace defective water mains and sewers, to reduce leakage, to improve water quality and enhance environmental protection measures.

(AQO 1535/01)

Mr P Robinson: The A8 Belfast to Larne Road forms a key link in Northern Ireland’s Strategic Transportation Network and is part of the Trans European Network. My Department’s Roads Service intends to carry out a package of improvements costing some £12 million to the A8 Belfast to Larne road.

The current position on each of the 5 components is as follows:

• 2 climbing lanes at Ballynure – the climbing lanes are under construction and should be complete by October 2002;

• Doagh Road to Coleman’s Corner dualling – all statutory procedures will be completed when the Vesting Order becomes operative on 24 June 2002. It is expected that the tender documents will issue in July 2002 and that the contract will be awarded in the autumn, with work commencing before the end of this year;

• New roundabouts at Millbrook and Antiville – this scheme has already completed the Environmental Assessment and Planning Approval (Direction Order) stages of the statutory procedures. I am pleased to be able to announce today that the single objection to the Vesting Order is being set aside without recourse to a Public Inquiry; this will allow the land acquisition phase to be completed shortly. Roads Service has already initiated the tender process with a view to making a start on site later this year.

• Link road and roundabout scheme at the A57 junction, Ballynure – the Notice of Intention to Make a Vesting Order is being prepared and should be published this summer;

• Traffic calming measures at Ballynure – these will be implemented as part of the new link road and roundabout scheme at the A57 junction, Ballynure.

(AQO 1510/01)

Mr P Robinson: Officials of Water Service and Environment and Heritage Service met recently to discuss Environmental and Heritage Service’s concerns about the pollution of waterways in the Downpatrick area, and the operation of the Downpatrick Wastewater Treatment Works.

In addition to installing new inlet screens, Water Service intends to carry out some modifications at the Works which will address Environment and Heritage Service’s concerns. This work is due to be completed before the July holidays and Environment and Heritage Service has advised that it will enable the present restrictions on development, in the area served by the Works, to be lifted.

Water Service has a major ongoing and planned programme of detailed investigations into the sewerage networks across Northern Ireland. The aim of these investigations, which are known as drainage area studies, is to determine the improvements necessary to enable the sewerage networks to meet future capacity and environmental requirements.

The study into the Downpatrick sewerage network had been scheduled to commence in 2003. However, it has been agreed with Environment and Heritage Service, that it will be brought forward and will now commence in the Autumn of 2002. The study will take 2 years to complete.

(AQO 1518/01)

Mr P Robinson: Translink has advised that it is currently considering options for the upgrading of the East Antrim Line. The extent of the upgrading will depend on the availability of funding.

Among the options being considered is the conversion of two level crossings at Jordanstown and Troopers Lane from automatic half-barrier to a manually controlled barrier with CCTV, and the re-lay of the line.

Translink has advised that work planned is in line with ongoing improvements. During the past 12 months, over £1m was spent on sea defences; Carrickfergus station was refurbished and new Park and Ride facilities were built at Whitehead station.

(AQO 1526/01)

Mr P Robinson: The Regional Development Strategy (RDS) designates sea and air ports as regional gateways and highlights the need to develop the Regional Strategic Transport Network, based on Key Transport Corridors, to connect a number of towns and provide links to the major regional gateways. The Regional Transportation Strategy, which I will bring to the Assembly before the summer recess, will identify the transportation priorities and level of investment required, including that for the Regional Strategic Transport Network, over the next 10 years to progress significantly towards that vision.

(AQO 1553/01)

Mr P Robinson: To achieve the longer-term transportation vision for Northern Ireland, set out in the Regional Development Strategy, would require additional investment of around £2.5 billion over the next 25 years. The Regional Transportation Strategy, which I will bring to the Assembly before the summer recess, will identify the transportation priorities and level of investment required, including that for the Regional Strategic Transport Network (which includes the KTCs), over the next 10 years to progress significantly towards achievement of the vision.

(AQO 1509/01)

Mr P Robinson: My Department’s Roads Service has advised me that currently this £5.5M scheme is 4 weeks ahead of schedule and is due for completion in September 2002.

The Tillysburn Bridge carries the Sydenham Bypass over the Bangor to Belfast railway line. It carries 56,000 vehicles per day and is being replaced as part of Roads Service’s bridge strengthening programme. One element of the scheme is the provision of an underpass to service Belfast City Airport part-funded by the airport authorities. It will allow vehicles leaving the airport and intending to turn right, to pass under the Sydenham Bypass before joining the Belfast-bound carriageway via a slip road.

I hope the Member will agree that this project has been managed very efficiently and, due to considerable traffic management arrangements put in place by Roads Service and the contractor, disruption to road and rail users has been kept to a minimum.

(AQO 1544/01)

Mr P Robinson: Roads Service expenditure in West Tyrone, which comprises the Omagh and Strabane District Council areas, was just over £15million in the 2001/2002 financial year. This includes some £4.5 million on major road improvement schemes, £1.5 million on other improvements including accident remedial and traffic calming schemes and £9 million on road maintenance including winter service, grass cutting and street lighting.

In the current financial year Water Service proposes to invest £14 million on upgrading water and sewerage infrastructure in the Omagh and Strabane District Council areas. Some £12 million of this is to be spent on the upgrading of Lough Macrory Water Treatment Works, Strabane Wastewater Treatment Works and Omagh Wastewater Treatment Works.

Water Service operational expenditure, which includes items such as wages, salaries, materials, hired and contract services, is not available on an Assembly constituency or District Council basis. However, operational expenditure in the Service’s Western Division, which includes the West Tyrone area, was almost £22 million in the 2001/2002 financial year. It is envisaged that a similar amount will be spent in the current financial year.

(AQO 1561/01)

Mr P Robinson: My Department’s Roads Service has taken several steps to address the traffic situation in Kilkeel. Traffic calming works at Knockchree Avenue and Rooney Road, Kilkeel, have recently been carried out in response to public requests to reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety on these roads. The effectiveness and impact of this scheme will be monitored over the coming months.

A number of dropped kerbs have also been provided in Kilkeel during the last financial year to facilitate the movement of pedestrians and my engineers have made further provision within this year’s programme for similar work to be carried out at sites which will be selected in consultation with representative groups in the area.

In regard to traffic congestion in the town centre, a recent survey did not indicate significant delays during weekdays. It was noted, however, that inappropriate parking and delivery vehicles had an adverse affect on traffic flows particularly during peak times. I am pleased to inform you that where necessary Roads Service plan to refurbish the markings and signage associated with existing waiting restrictions in order to assist enforcement and improve traffic progression. This work will be completed within the next quarter.

(AQO 1516/01)

Mr P Robinson: The level of expenditure on consultant fees on Roads Service projects in each of the past 3 years is as follows:

This includes road and bridge schemes, and work associated with Area Planning and Development Control.

(AQO 1525/01)

Mr P Robinson: My colleague Gregory Campbell and I have both had correspondence with members of the Scottish Executive to emphasize the importance to the Northern Ireland economy of upgrading the network of roads linking with the Scottish Ferry ports. I also took the opportunity to raise this issue with my counterpart in the Scottish Executive during a meeting earlier this year on another matter.

A planned meeting to discuss a range of issues including the upgrade of the Scottish roads network was subsequently postponed and as a result of changes within the Scottish Executive has not yet been reinstated.

(AQO 1512/01)

Mr P Robinson: Over the last few months there has been a spate of attacks from bridges and all such attacks must be condemned by the whole community. Unfortunately they are not new, nor are they confined to bridges over the M2 such as Arthur’s Bridge. There is also a widespread problem of stone throwing from the roadside, which can have equally serious consequences for those using the roads.

My Department’s Roads Service and the police treat these incidents very seriously and the matter is kept under constant review. A protective covering for Arthur’s Bridge to try to deter such attacks would be a very large structure, requiring a headroom of some 5.3. metres high. Setting aside issues of cost, such engineering measures will only reduce but not eliminate the risk of this particular type of attack. They will be seen as a challenge to vandals who will find other modes of attack, possibly from the roads running beside the motorway.

There are also serious reservations about the visual amenity of such fortifications, with signals being sent of a community in decline. In particular, the M2 downhill approach is one of the most attractive gateways into Belfast and to fortify bridges along this route would not be conducive to the image we would like to portray for such a major entrance into our capital city.

Our conclusion at present, therefore, is that engineering measures such as the erection of screens on bridges should only be implemented as a last resort. This is also the view of our counterparts in Great Britain where similar problems have existed in various locations for some time.

Essentially the throwing of objects from bridges is a matter for the Police and enhanced enforcement together with strong community leadership may well be the best way forward. I therefore welcome the recent announcements by the Security Minister, Jane Kennedy, that Arthur’s Bridge will be one of the locations where a CCTV camera will be erected as part of the overall NIO CCTV initiative for North Belfast.

(AQW 3723/01)

The Minister for Social Development (Mr Dodds): The information is as follows:

(AQW 3725/01)

Mr Dodds: Local government boundaries are not major influencing factors in improving the housing situation, either by programmed improvement schemes or in assessing housing need for new build.

The social newbuild programme is determined by housing need, primarily based on an analysis of waiting lists, which again are not constrained by local government boundaries. When assessing housing need, recognition is given to both the local and wider housing markets in North Belfast and Newtownabbey, including those which straddle local government boundaries.

The Department has recently changed the method for determining the threshold levels for Co-ownership participants. These are no longer based on local government boundaries but are now calculated on the basis of broader area bands which reflect, more accurately, house price fluctuations. This means that there is an opportunity for participants to purchase housing in areas where house prices have risen markedly over the past few years.

(AQW 3793/01)

Mr Dodds: There are no plans for the private sector to become involved in the direct delivery of social security benefits in Northern Ireland. A significant investment programme is currently taking place in all Social Security Offices across Northern Ireland which will result in major improvements in the range and quality of services available to the public. I can therefore confirm that no plans exist to reduce the number of Social Security Offices.

In common with other government departments, the private sector is engaged by the Social Security Agency to provide specific technical support. The use of the private sector in such circumstances does not have any impact on the number of civil service jobs in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 3814/01)

Mr Dodds: Since the introduction of Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Department for Social Development has issued five equality impact assessments for consultation. These are:

• Provision of relevant, accurate and timely information and advice about social security benefits

• Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill

• Child Support Agency Northern Ireland Field Operations

• Private Sector Grants

• Partners for Change – Government’s strategy for the support of the Voluntary and Community Sector.

The table below sets out the cost for each equality impact assessment (EQIA).

(AQW 3833/01)

Mr Dodds: The current procedure for deciding a customers entitlement to Disability Living Allowance is set to ensure that all decisions are made in accordance with Social Security legislation. The processes for making awards are constantly being reviewed and it is intended to introduce a new computerised process in the Autumn.