(AQW 4278/01)

Mr Nesbitt: The Waste Management Grant Scheme was first introduced in the 2001/02 financial year. A total of £2.2m was available for distribution to District Councils, on the basis of weighted population percentage. This included funding available for storage of fridges pending the availability of disposal technology that meets EC Regulation standards. The 11 District Councils which make up the Arc 21 Partnership Group for waste management indicated that they were unable to take up their full allocation in 2001/02. This will be taken into account in distributing funds under the 2002/03 Scheme, to ensure that the Arc 21 Councils are not disadvantaged in the long term.

The £2.2m available in 2001/02 was distributed as follows:

(AQW 4301/01)

Mr Nesbitt: I can confirm that my Department retains records on all listed thatched properties in Northern Ireland. These records are included on the statutory lists of listed buildings. This information can be inspected at Environment and Heritage Service’s (EHS) Monuments and Buildings Record, 5-33 Hill Street, Belfast or on EHS’s web site www.ehsni.gov.uk

More detailed information including architectural and historical details is provided on those thatched buildings which have been covered in the ongoing second survey of all buildings in Northern Ireland.

Records containing information relating to, among other things, grant aided works and any scheme of repair or maintenance carried out with my Department’s statutory approval, is held on Departmental files. This is held in confidence and is not accessible to the public.

(AQW 4327/01)

Mr Nesbitt: Information on the number of planning applications that have received retrospective planning permission in the North Down area in each of the last three years, is not available from the Department’s computer records and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

(AQW 4337/01)

1. 

2. The second survey of buildings, currently underway on a ward-by-ward basis, will identify any potential new listings of thatched buildings.

3. With regard to (a), (b) & (c), this information is not available to me at this time. A survey of all listed thatched properties is underway and is expected to be finished later this year. The information sought will be published as part of the findings of the survey.

4. Leaks in listed thatched buildings do not fall within my Department’s responsibilities. Maintenance and repair of a listed building is a matter for the owner/ occupier.

(AQW 4343/01)

1. 

2. The second survey of buildings, currently underway on a ward-by-ward basis, will identify any potential new listings of thatched buildings.

3. With regard to (a), (b) & (c), this information is not available to me at this time. A survey of all listed thatched properties is underway and is expected to be finished later this year. The information sought will be published as part of the findings of the survey.

4. Leaks in listed thatched buildings do not fall within my Department’s responsibilities. Maintenance and repair of a listed building is a matter for the owner/ occupier.

(AQW 4344/01)

1. 

2. The second survey of buildings, currently underway on a ward-by-ward basis, will identify any potential new listings of thatched buildings.

3. With regard to (a), (b) & (c), this information is not available to me at this time. A survey of all listed thatched properties is underway and is expected to be finished later this year. The information sought will be published as part of the findings of the survey.

4. Leaks in listed thatched buildings do not fall within my Department’s responsibilities. Maintenance and repair of a listed building is a matter for the owner/ occupier.

(AQW 4346/01)

1. 

2. The second survey of buildings, currently underway on a ward-by-ward basis, will identify any potential new listings of thatched buildings.

3. With regard to (a), (b) & (c), this information is not available to me at this time. A survey of all listed thatched properties is underway and is expected to be finished later this year. The information sought will be published as part of the findings of the survey.

4. Leaks in listed thatched buildings do not fall within my Department’s responsibilities. Maintenance and repair of a listed building is a matter for the owner/ occupier.

(AQW 4360/01)

Mr Nesbitt: My Department has not incurred any expenditure for this purpose.

(AQW 4387/01)

Mr Nesbitt: The Department is not aware of any requests made by members of the public for sampling of soil or water along the Antrim Coast between Larne and Carnlough.

The Department does not monitor metals in either soil or water samples adjacent to watercourses in the East Antrim Coastal area between Larne and Carnlough.

(AQW 4389/01)

Mr Nesbitt: The Department is not aware of any requests made by members of the public for sampling of soil or water along the Antrim Coast between Larne and Carnlough.

The Department does not monitor metals in either soil or water samples adjacent to watercourses in the East Antrim Coastal area between Larne and Carnlough.

(AQW 4131/01)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Dr Farren): Information is not held in precisely the form requested. Based on information prepared by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency the numbers of civil servants in the Department of Finance and Personnel who are known to live in (a) the constituency of West Tyrone and (b) the constituencies of Foyle and East Londonderry who work in one of the 4 Belfast constituencies as at January 2002 are 16 and 43 respectively.

(AQW 4147/01)

Dr Farren: In line with the requirements of the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Code, it is the responsibility of the selection panel to determine eligibility criteria which are justifiable against the requirements of the job. The criteria set for this competition reflect the high level of skills and experience which the panel believe are necessary for this demanding post, which includes a major leadership role in a large, diverse organisation of some 29,000 people.

(AQW 4150/01)

Dr Farren: The eligibility criteria were determined by the selection panel in line with the requirement in the Civil Service Commissioners’ Recruitment Code that these must be justifiable against the requirements of the job. The panel’s definition of a major organisation took into account the size of significant public and private sector organisations in Northern Ireland, including Northern Ireland Government Departments. In making this judgement the panel was aware of the challenges the post holder will face, including offering leadership to some 29,000 civil servants. The panel’s role is to establish objective job related criteria: it does not assess how these may impact on a potential applicant.

(AQW 4179/01)

Dr Farren: All technical assistance and administrative costs for Intermediary Funding Bodies (IFBs) are funded from the PEACE II Programme Budget. The Programme, in Priority six contains a discrete allocation for Technical Assistance costs. In addition it was envisaged that a proportion of the resources within other Measures would be required for costs associated with implementation and development, as was the case under PEACE I. The European Commission have now indicated that these development costs may have to be defined as Technical Assistance which would require them to be separately identified and reallocated to Priority six. The SEUPB has established a Working Group under the auspices of the PEACE II Monitoring Committee to consider the most practical options for taking this issue forward. The outcome will be presented to the Monitoring Committee for approval. The Special EU Programmes Body, as Managing Authority for the Programme, is responsible for ensuring that administrative costs are kept to a minimum level, consistent with the effective implementation of the Programme.

(AQW 4187/01)

Dr Farren: PEACE II funds are administered by a range of Implementing Bodies: Government Departments, the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), Intermediary Funding Bodies (IFBs) and Local Strategy Partnerships (LSPs). In accordance with Government Accounting rules and regulations for Northern Ireland, Government Departments do not carry their own insurance. The Special EU Programmes Body is currently in negotiations with the Department of Finance and Personnel in respect of their insurance requirements.

For IFBs, it is stipulated in their individual contract with the SEUPB, which is the Managing Authority for PEACE II, that they must maintain such insurance as is necessary to cover all liabilities of the Intermediary to the SEUPB and the Accountable Department arising under the terms and conditions of their contracts. The SEUPB can require IFBs to produce for inspection such documentary evidence as it feels is necessary to satisfy itself that insurance is being properly maintained. A similar condition has been included in the contracts between the SEUPB and LSPs.

(AQW 4188/01)

Dr Farren: The Ex-post Evaluation of PEACE I will be conducted alongside the Mid-term Evaluation of PEACE II. Both studies will cover the North and the South and use the same methodology and the same independent evaluator, with a view to assessing the extent to which targets for PEACE II have been achieved and whether the lessons of PEACE I are being addressed in PEACE II.

The SEUPB is currently working towards producing the Terms of Reference for this joint evaluation. It is expected that the selection of the evaluator will take place in September 2002 and the study completed by June 2003.

(AQW 4202/01)

Dr Farren: The table below details the infant and maternal death rates for each of the last 3 years.

(AQW 4221/01)

Dr Farren: The attached tables provide details on the number of applications and the total EU grant applied for by projects/ organisations based in each electoral ward in Northern Ireland. The information is provided by Priority in section A for the BSP Programme and in section B for the PEACE II Programme.

The detail of the amount applied for is provided by the project applicant in Part B of the application form. Implementing Bodies are currently concentrating their efforts on getting applications through the assessment process as quickly as possible. They do not, therefore, typically register all the details included in Part B until after a funding decision has been taken. Thus the information provided in this response is currently based on details provided for 530 applications to the BSP Programme and 364 applications to the PEACE II Programme.

A copy of the attached table will be made available to the Member and a copy placed in the Assembly Library.

(AQW 4222/01)

Dr Farren: The total number of applications currently registered on the EU Structural Funds Applications Database is detailed in the table below:

Some 202 PEACE II applications were made by projects or organisations based in the Border Counties of Ireland and a further 151 PEACE and 65 BSP applications do not contain sufficient address details to enable a Northern Ireland electoral ward to be derived. For the remaining 2,558 applications the following two sections contain detailed figures showing the number submitted to (a) BSP; and (b) PEACE II by electoral ward and district council.

A copy of the attached table will be made available to the Member and a copy placed in the Assembly Library.

(AQW 3019/01)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): A Health Education Board does not exist here.

Ní ann do Bhord Oideachas Sláinte anseo.

(AQW 3758/01)

Ms de Brún: The number of additional foster homes created in each of the last three years for which complete information is available is shown in the following table.

Léirítear sa tábla thíos líon na n-áras altrama sa bhreis a cruthaíodh i ngach ceann de na trí bliana deireanacha a bhfuil eolas iomlán ar fáil dóibh.

(AQW 3806/01)

Ms de Brún: The number of children under the age of 16 years admitted to psychiatric units across all trusts in the last two years, either on a voluntary basis or detained under the Mental Health Order, is shown in the table below.

Tá líon na bpáistí faoi 16 bliain d’aois glactha isteach in ionaid shíciatracha ar fud na nIontaobhas go léir sa dá bhliain deireanacha, go deonach nó coinneáilte istigh de réir an Oird Sláinte Meabhrach, léirithe sa tábla thíos.

(AQW 3894/01)

Ms de Brún: The Investing for Health Strategy was published and launched on 27th March 2002. It contains a framework for action to improve health and well -being and reduce health inequalities which is based on partnership working across Government and across all sectors. Action is being implemented on all of these issues and, in the near future, as part of the outworking of Investing for Health, I will be publishing strategies on Smoking, Promotion of Mental Health and Teenage Pregnancy. In addition multi-sectoral Investing for Health Partnerships are being established at Health and Social Services Board level, which will develop by 31 March 2003 long term, local cross-sectoral health improvement plans to address the identified health and well-being needs of their local populations to meet the strategic aims and objectives of Investing for Health.

Foilsíodh agus lainseáladh an Straitéis Infheistíocht sa tSláinte ar 27 Márta 2002. Inti tá creatlach le haghaidh gnímh chun sláinte agus leas a fheabhsú agus chun éagothromaíochtaí i sláinte a laghdú, atá bunaithe ar chomhpháirtíocht trasna an Rialtais agus na n-earnálacha go léir. Tá gníomh á chur i bhfeidhm ar gach ceann de na ceisteanna seo agus, gan mhoill, foilseoidh mé, mar pháirt den obair le bheith curtha i gcrích d’Infheistíocht sa tSláinte, straitéisí ar chaitheamh tobac, cur chun cinn Sláinte Meabhrach agus Toircheas Déagóra. Ina theannta tá Páirtíochtaí trasroinne ilearnálach Infheistíocht sa tSláinte á mbunú ar leibhéal Boird Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta, a fhorbróidh pleananna fadtéarmacha, áitiúla tras-earnála feabhsúcháin faoi 31 Márta 2003 le tabhairt faoi riachtanais aitheanta shláinte agus leasa a ndaonraí áitiúla agus le haidhmeanna agus le cuspóirí straitéiseacha Infheistíocht sa tSláinte a chomhlíonadh.

(AQW 3903/01)

Ms de Brún: No HPSS funds have been spent recently on the refurbishment of the main building of the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital. HPSS expenditure on this building has been limited to essential maintenance.

As well as being used by staff from Sperrin Lakeland HSS Trust, the building is leased to Drumragh Integrated College and Western Education and Library Board.

Níor caitheadh aon chistí SSSP le déanaí ar athchóiriú phríomhfhoirgneamh Ospideál Thír Eoghain agus Fhear Manach. Tá caiteachas SSSP ar an bhfoirgneamh sin teoranta do chothabháil riachtanach.

Tá an foirgneamh ar léas ag Coláiste Imeasctha Dhroim Ratha agus Bord Oideachais agus Leabharlainne an Iarthair agus baineann foireann ó Iontaobhas SSS Speirín, Tír na Lochanna úsáid as chomh maith.

(AQW 3904/01)

Ms de Brún: No HPSS funds have been spent on the refurbishment of the Omagh General Hospital after it ceased to be used for the direct provision of health services. The main part of the building has been leased to Omagh Early Years Project (OEYP) for a 25 year period which commenced in August 2000. Any refurbishment will be at the expense of OEYP.

Níor caitheadh aon chistí SSSP ar athchóiriú Ospideál Ginearálta na hÓmaí nuair a stopadh á úsáid i gcomhair soláthair dhírigh seirbhísí sláinte. Tá an phríomhchuid den fhoirgneamh ligthe ar léas le Tionscadal na Luathbhlianta in Ómaí do thréimhse 25 bliana a thosaigh i mí Lúnasa 2000. Déanfar aon athchóiriú ar chostas OEYP.

(AQW 3930/01)

Ms de Brún: This is not my Department’s direct responsibility, although the Department does provide some financial assistance to the Child Accident Prevention Trust and the Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents. These voluntary organisations provide safety information and advice and support accident prevention initiatives including highlighting the dangers of swimming in dangerous locations. I understand also that the Quarry Products Association recently launched their annual summer children’s safety campaign ‘Play Safe… Stay Safe’ in England, Wales, Scotland and here. This campaign aims to raise awareness about the dangers of playing in quarries among children and teenagers and their parents, teachers and other responsible parties.

Ní freagracht dhíreach de chuid mo é sin, cé go soláthraíonn an Roinn roinnt cúnaimh airgeadais don Iontaobhas um Roinne Thaismí do Pháistí a Chosc agus don Chumann Ríoga um Thaismí a Chosc. Cuireann na heagraíochtaí deonacha sin eolas sábháilteachta agus comhairle ar fáil, agus tugann siad tacaíocht do thionscnaimh seachanta timpistí lena n-áirítear béim a chur ar an mbaol a bhaineann le bheith ag snámh in áiteanna contúirteacha. Tá a fhios agam, chomh maith, gur sheol an Cumann na dTáirgí Cairéil a fheachtas bliantúil sábháilteachta samhraidh do pháistí ‘Imir go Sábháilte... Fan go Sábháilte’ i Sasana, sa Bhreatain Bheag, in Albain agus anseo. Tá sé mar aidhm ag an bhfeachtas sin, níos mó eolais a thabhairt do pháistí agus déagóirí mar aon lena dtuismitheoirí, múinteoirí agus aon pháirtí freagrach eile faoi na contúirtí a bhaineann le bheith ag súgradh i gcairéil.

(AQW 3939/01)

Ms de Brún: My Department has developed a Regional Action Plan to ensure that the objectives set out in the Drug and Alcohol strategies are achieved. Among the targets contained in the Regional Action Plan are training audits, which will identify the training needs of health and social care workers working with substance misusers. Appropriate training in preventative drug and alcohol education techniques will also be provided for those who deliver and/or are responsible for delivering education programmes.

With the range of measures currently being put in place, it is intended that if specific training for health care staff working in the Health Service to enable them to identify alcohol related problems in women is identified, then appropriate training will be provided to cover that target area.

D’fhorbair mo Roinn Plean Réigiúnach Gnímh le cinntiú go mbainfear amach na cuspóirí leagtha amach sna straitéisí Drugaí agus Alcóil. I measc na spriocanna sa Phlean Áitiúil Gnímh tá iniúchtaí oiliúna, a aimseoidh riachtanais oiliúna na n-oibrithe sláinte agus cúraim shóisialta ag obair le mí-úsáideoirí substaintí. Soláthrófar oiliúint chuí ar mhodhanna coisctheacha oideachais ar dhrugaí agus ar alcól dóibh siúd a sholáthraíonn cláir oideachais agus/nó atá freagrach as a soláthar.

Leis an réimse beart atá á gcur i bhfeidhm faoi láthair tá sé ceaptha má aimsítear oiliúint ar leith d’oibrithe cúraim sláinte ag obair sa tSeirbhís Sláinte chun cur ar a gcumas na fadhbanna bainteach le halcól atá ag mná a aithint, ansin soláthrófar oiliúint chuí leis an spriocábhar sin a chlúdach.

(AQW 3942/01)

Ms de Brún: Asthma affects 1 in 7 children and 1 in 25 adults to a greater or lesser extent. It is also given as a cause of death in approximately 35 deaths per year here. Overall the prevalence of asthma is increasing in the developed world, especially among children.

Asthma is a symptom as well as a diagnosis and may reflect a range of underlying conditions ranging from allergic reactions to household dusts to chronic respiratory disorders such as bronchitis or cardiac asthma due to cardiological disorders. Treatment should reflect the underlying cause in all instances. Asthma related to allergic reactions, which is the variety predominating in children, relies on life-style and environmental changes as well as specific medications. The life-style changes are based on the identification of the provoking allergens to ensure their reduction or elimination. This might involve such factors as removal of soft furnishings, avoidance of certain animals or smoking cessation including exposure to passive smoking from third parties.

In relation to prevention, while there is a need for further research environmental factors which are known are being tackled through "Investing for Health" with action on air quality and housing. The Tobacco Action Plan will increase awareness of the dangers of environmental tobacco smoke and so benefit children and vulnerable adults with asthma.

In relation to medications some of these are designed to block allergic reactions and some to symptom control. While there are specialist hospital clinics for both adults and children the vast majority of patients are currently treated through the primary care services where general practitioners are increasingly providing chronic disease management clinics. Effective therapeutic measures are all available on prescription and the annual expenditure on asthma specific medications here is in the region of £25 million.

Goilleann plúchadh ar 1 i 7 páiste agus ar 1 i 25 duine fásta a bheag nó a mhór. Tugtar mar chúis bháis é i dtimpeall is 35 bás an bhliain anseo. San iomlán, tá teagmhais an phlúchta ag méadú sa domhan forbartha, go háirithe i measc páistí.

Is airí chomh maith le fáthmheas é plúchadh agus is féidir leis bheith ina chúis le bunriochtaí ó fhrithghníomhartha ailléirge a bheith ar dhaoine le deannach tí, go neamhoird ainsealacha riospráide amhail broincíteas nó plúchadh cairdiach de dheasca neamhord cairdeolaíochta. Ba chóir don chóireáil bheith oiriúnach don bhunchúis i ngach uile chás. Braitheann an plúchadh bainteach le frithghníomhartha ailléirge, an cineál atá níos coitianta ar pháistí, ar athruithe i stíl bheatha agus timpeallachta agus ar chógais ar leith. Tá na hathruithe i stíl bheatha bunaithe ar aimsiú na n-ailléirginí griogtha lena laghdú nó scrios a chinntiú. D’fhéadfaí fachtóirí amhail aistriú feisteas bog, seachaint ainmhithe ar leith nó éirí as tobac chomh maith le nochtadh do chaitheamh éigníomhach ó thríú páirtithe bheith i gceist leis seo.

Maidir le cosc, cé go bhfuil gá le tuilleadh taighde a dhéanamh, táthar ag tabhairt faoi fhachtóirí timpeallachta a bhfuiltear ar an eolas fúthu trí "Infheistíocht sa tSláinte" le beart a dhéanamh ar cháilíocht an aeir agus ar thithíocht. Cuirfidh an Plean Gnímh ar Thobac níos mó eolais ar dhaoine faoi na baoil ó thoit timpeallachta tobac agus mar sin de, rachaidh sé chun sochair do pháistí agus do dhaoine leochaileacha a bhfuil plúchadh orthu.

Maidir le cógais, is é cuspóir roinnt díobh cosc a chur ar fhrithghníomhartha ailléirge agus ar roinnt eile airíonna a chur faoi smacht. Cé go bhfuil sainchlinicí otharlainne ann do pháistí agus do dhaoine fásta araon, tá bunús mór na n-othar á gcóireáil faoi láthair tríd na seirbhísí príomhchúraim áit a bhfuil Gnáthdhochtúirí ag soláthar níos mó clinicí smachtú galar ainsealach. Tá gach uile oideas éifeachtach teiripeach ar fáil le hordú agus is é timpeall is £25 milliún an méid atá caite go bliantúil ar shainchógais phlúchta anseo.

(AQW 3943/01)

Ms de Brún: Myalgic encephalomyelitis is a very complex disorder which produces a broad range of symptoms and disabilities. The treatment for an individual patient therefore often involves medical, psychological and social care and support which, as with other chronic conditions, should be determined according to the individual’s assessed needs.

Professional staff here keep abreast of developments in other countries, including Australia. Although many treatments have been suggested, and research is ongoing worldwide, recent reviews of treatment interventions would suggest that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and graded exercise are the most effective.

Tá oibrithe gairmiúla anseo a gcoinneáil féin ar an eolas faoi fhorbairtí i dtíortha eile, san Astráil san áireamh. Cé gur moladh cuid mhór cineálacha cóireála, agus go bhfuil taighde ag dul ar aghaidh faoi láthair ar fud an domhain, mholfadh athbhreithnithe déanacha déanta ar idirghabhálacha cóireála gurb iad teiripe chognaíoch iompraíochta (TCI) agus aclaíocht ghrádaithe na cinn is éifeachtaí.

(AQW 3944/01)

Ms de Brún: Decisions in relation to which hospital a patient should be referred to are a matter for general practitioners to decide in consultation with their patients. General practitioners have always had the right to refer patients to any hospital for treatment, but a decision on whether or not the treatment should be publicly funded is a matter for the appropriate Health and Social Services Board.

Baineann cinneadh é maidir le cén otharlann ar chóir othar a atreorú chuici le ghnáthdhochtúir i gcomhairle lena n-othair. Bhí an ceart i gcónaí ag gnáthdhochtúir a n-othair a atreorú chuig otharlann ar bith le haghaidh cóireála ach is ceist í don Bhord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta cuí cé acu ba chóir an chóireáil bheith maoinithe le hairgead poiblí nó nár chóir.