Northern Ireland Assembly

Friday 22 June 2007

Written Answers to Questions

Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
Agriculture and Rural Development
Culture, Arts and Leisure
Education
Employment and Learning
Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Environment
Finance and Personnel
Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Regional Development
Social Development

Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister

Planning Appeals Commission

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to provide figures for those waiting for a date to be set for a planning appeal to be taken in this calendar year; and to detail how many have been on the list for (a) 6 months, (b) 12 months, (c) 18 months, and (d) over 18 months. (AQW 269/07)

The First Minister and Deputy First Minister (Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness): The Planning Appeals Commission is a tribunal Non Departmental Public Body, and we understand the Chief Commissioner has written to the honourable member in the following terms:

"I have been asked to provide you with information requested in the above Assembly Question.

The Commission currently has 2848 appeals for determination. Appeals are allocated as Commissioners are available to determine them. There are 20 full-time Commissioners and 3 Panel Commissioners, though 9 of the full-time Commissioners are currently engaged in development plan work and are unavailable to undertake appeal work. I would expect that approximately 800 appeals would be determined in this calendar year.

I have set out, in the following table, the total number of valid appeals received, categorised by waiting periods, which have yet to be determined.

Period	More than 18 months	18 Months or less	12 Months or less	6 Months or less
Number of Appeals	16	2832	2584	1113

I would be happy to provide any further information you require arising out of this response or to meet with you to discuss the matter if that would be more suitable."

Eradicating Child Poverty

Mr Fred Cobain asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister what progress has been made towards achieving the UK-wide target of eradicating child poverty by 2020; and what meetings it has had on this issue. (AQW 316/07)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: The percentage of children in relative income poverty in 2002/2003 was approximately 26% (114,000).

The latest available figures for the number of children in relative income poverty for 2004/05 indicate approximately 24%(101,000).

During suspension, a Ministerial led Poverty and Social Inclusion Forum for Northern Ireland met for the first time on 8 March 2007 under the chairmanship of the Rt Hon David Hanson MP. An important aspect of the future work of this forum will be to monitor progress towards the eradication of child poverty. Any future meetings of this forum will be taken forward under Executive direction..

Targeting Social Need

Mr Simon Hamilton asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to list all wards in Northern Ireland that are presently designated with new Targeting Social Need status. (AQW 393/07)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: There is no designation of new Targeting Social Need status at ward level here.

The Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2005 (NIMDM 2005) identifies small area concentrations of multiple deprivation.

This information is available on the NISRA website at www.nisra.gov.uk

Children and Young People

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister how many consultation meetings were organised by the Children and Young Peoples Unit earlier this year, in relation to the Government's report on the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child; to detail the date and location of each meeting; and to give a list of the organisations invited to attend. (AQW 524/07)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness:

In keeping with recommendations by the UN Committee, consultations were held with both the NGO (Non Governmental Organisations) sector and with children and young people. Twenty-four meetings were carried out in total.

Consultation meetings were held with NGOs on the 14 February 2007 in the Glasshouse, Stormont Estate and on the 23 February 2007 in Castle Buildings.

A list of the organisations invited to attend is below.

Aware Defeat Depression

An Munia Tober

Ballymena & Larne Volunteer Bureau

Barnardo’s

Belfast Central Mission

Belfast City Council

Big Lottery Fund

British Association for Adoption & Fostering

Carew II
Family and Training Centre

Childline Northern Ireland

Children in Northern Ireland

Child Brain Injury Trust UK

Children’s Law Centre

Contact Youth

Derry Children’s Commission

District Childcare Partnership

Disability Action

Employers for Childcare

Extern

First Housing Aid

Family Caring Centre

Foyle Women’s Aid

Gingerbread Northern Ireland

Home-Start

Include Youth

Lifestart Foundation Ltd

Mencap

Multi-Cultural Resource Centre

National Deaf Children’s Society

NCH Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Childminding Association

Northern Ireland Council for Ethnic Minorities

Northern Ireland Music Therapy Trust

Northern Ireland Womens Aid Federation

Northern Ireland Association for the Care and Resettlement of Offenders

Northern Ireland Housing Executive

Northern Ireland Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Family Support Group

Northern Ireland Youth Forum

NIPPA

NSPCC

Opportunity Youth

Parent’s Advice Centre

PlayBoard

Probation Board Northern Ireland

Royal National Institute of Blind People

Royal College of Nursing

Save the Children

Sure-Start

Sustrans

The Fostering Network

Ulster Quaker Service Committee

Voice of Young People in Care

Whiterock Creche Association

Youth Com

Youth Council for Northern Ireland

Youth Justice Agency

Youth Net

A number of consultations also took place with children and young people throughout the month of February. An initial meeting was held with a consultant to discuss the children and young people’s perceptions about children’s rights in Northern Ireland, the draft UNCRC report and any changes they thought should be made. A second meeting was then held at which the children and young people discussed their key messages for Government with civil servants. Details of these consultations can be found below.

Organisation	Date of first meeting	Date of second meeting
Youth@CLC Children’s Law Centre Philip House 3rd Floor 123-137 York St, Belfast, BT15 1AB	Thursday 15th February, 5-7pm, CLC, Belfast	Thursday 22nd February, 5-7pm, CLC, Belfast
GLYNI (Gay and Lesbian Youth Northern Ireland) 64 Donegall Street, Belfast, BT1 2GT	Monday 5th February, 7-8pm, GLYNI	Monday 12th February, 7-8pm, GLYNI
Leaving Care Project Somerset House, 234 Ormeau Rd, Belfast, BT7 2FZ	Wednesday 7th February, 6-8pm, 7 Annadale Avenue, Belfast	Wednesday 14th February 4-5pm with DH, 5-6pm with civil servant, 7 Annadale Avenue, Belfast
6th Sense Project The Children and Young People’s Centre, Dobbin St, Armagh, BT61 7QQ	Saturday 20th January, 10-12pm, Children and Young People’s Centre, Dobbin St, Armagh	Saturday 10th February, 10-11am with DH, 11-1pm with civil servants, Children and Young People’s Centre, Dobbin St, Armagh
Generation Y Chinese Welfare Association, 133-135 University Street, Belfast, BT7 1HQ	Saturday 3rd February, 10.30-12.30pm, Great Victoria Street Church, Belfast	Saturday 17th February, 10.30-11.30am (10-14s); 11.30-12.30pm (15-18s), Great Victoria Church, Great Victoria St, Belfast
NewStart Alternative Education Project, Newstart Education Centre, Unit 13/1, Blackstaff Mill Complex, 77 Springfield Rd, Belfast, BT12 7AE	Friday 2nd February, 10.45-12.30pm, New Start, Belfast	Thursday 22nd February, 10.45-11.30am with DH, 11.30-12.30pm with civil servants, New Start, Belfast
School Age Mothers Project Education Welfare Service, 93 Cliftonville Rd, Belfast, BT14 6JQ	Tuesday 6th February, 11.15-12.45pm, Loughshore Educational Resource Centre, Shore Rd, Belfast	Tuesday 13th February, 11.15-11.45am with DH, 11.45-12.45pm with civil servants, Loughshore Educational Resource Centre
Young Voices Project Include Youth Alpha House, 3 Rosemary St, Belfast, BT1 1QA	Thursday 8th February, 1-3pm, Include Youth, Belfast	Thursday 15th February, 2-4pm, Include Youth, Belfast
Oakgrove Integrated Primary School - Share Project, 19 Limavady Road, Londonderry Foyle View Special School - Share Project (met at Oakgrove School) Troy College, Belmont House Special School, 17 Racecourse Road, Londonderry Traveller After School Group, 141 Racecourse Road, Ballyarnett Park, Londonderry Organised through: Derry Children’s Commission, 26-28 Bishop Street, Londonderry, BT48 6PP	Tuesday 30thJanuary 11-12pm ‘Share’ Project: Foyleview Special School & Oakgrove Integrated Primary School Wednesday 31st January 1.15-2.15pm Troy College, Belmont House Special School Wednesday 31st January 5.45-7.00pm, Traveller’s After School Group	Wednesday 21st February 11-12pm ‘Share’ Project, Oakgrove School Wednesday 21st February 1.15-2.15pm, Troy College Wednesday 21st February 5.45-7.00pm, Traveller’s After School Group

We understand the Member has already raised the issue of the Ulster-Scots community taking part in consultations. Officials have offered to forward a submission from him to DFES for consideration in the UK composite report.

Civil Service Bonuses

Mr Mervyn Storey asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to outline how many non-pensionable bonuses were paid to staff in each of the last three years; and what steps it has taken to ensure that such bonuses are not used as a cheaper alternative to an appropriate salary increase. (AQW 641/07)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: Non-pensionable bonuses can be awarded to staff in two ways: (a) as part of the annual pay round and (b) under the special bonus scheme. The number of payments made in the last three financial years is as follows:

year	performance-related bonus	special bonus scheme
2004/2005	257	9
2005/2006	282	32
2006/2007	338	39

Performance-related bonuses are an important and integral element of the Northern Ireland Civil Service reward strategy and are used as part of the annual pay round to acknowledge and reward higher performing staff;

The special bonus scheme is designed to reward members of staff for exceptional performance in particularly demanding tasks.

The award of bonuses is therefore regarded as being complementary to, rather than a substitute for, the award of consolidated pay increases.

Please note that information can be provided only in relation to staff currently employed by the Department.

Agriculture and Rural Development

Agri-environment Schemes

Mr Billy Armstrong asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what measures are in place to increase uptake of agri-environment schemes among the farming community; and what further strategies are in place to increase diversity and population numbers of local wildlife, and to protect natural habitats on farms. (AQW 438/07)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Gildernew): The agri-environment programme, which has over 13,000 participants, will re-open to further applications after the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme ("NIRDP") (2007–2013) is approved by the European Commission and the appropriate local legislation is made.

The goal of the DOE-sponsored Northern Ireland Biodiversity Strategy is to increase and protect local wildlife. This is achieved through the Strategy’s Habitat and Species Action Plans. The NIRDP has been aligned with these Action Plans and is recognised as a key delivery mechanism.

Civil Service Bonuses

Mr Mervyn Storey asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline how many non-pensionable bonuses were paid to staff in her department in each of the last three years; and what steps she has taken to ensure that such bonuses are not used as a cheaper alternative to an appropriate salary increase. (AQW 642/07)

Ms Gildernew: Non-pensionable bonuses can be awarded to staff at all grades to reward performance in two ways: (a) as part of the annual pay round and (b) under the NICS special bonus scheme.

Performance related bonuses are an important and integral element of the NICS reward strategy, and as such are used as part of the annual pay round to acknowledge and reward higher performing staff.

The special bonus scheme is designed to reward staff for exceptional performance in particularly demanding tasks.

The award of bonuses is therefore regarded as being complementary to, rather than as a substitute for, the award of consolidated pay increases.

The number of payments made in the last three financial years is as follows:

Year	Performance-related	Special Bonus Scheme
2004/2005	3577	224
2005/2006	2515	224
2006/2007*	74	135

* The pay award including performance-related bonus for this year was not paid until the 2007/2008 year.

Rural Divisions Payments

Mr Dominic Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the reasons for centralising the Rural Division Payments processing, currently being undertaken at the three district offices in Newry, Ballymena and Omagh, to Dundonald House, and the implications for the staff currently carrying out that work in these district offices. (AQW 683/07)

Ms Gildernew: There is currently a duplication of effort and resources with regard to payments processing across the local Rural Development Offices. Utilisation of a Central Payment Unit will provide a speedier more effective service for the rural customer. This will mean a small reduction in posts in Newry, Ballymena and Omagh. There will be no job losses. Staff concerned will be redeployed to other Civil Service offices.

Organic Production

Dr William McCrea asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline what assistance is provided for farmers seeking to convert to organic production. (AQW 684/07)

Ms Gildernew: Subject to the European Commission’s approval of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, I hope to offer a new Organic Farming Scheme to assist farmers who wish to convert from conventional to organic production. This new Scheme will offer conversion support to the organic cereal and horticulture sectors as well as to the organic livestock sector.

Capital Grant Programme

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will detail any available grants for the construction, or conversion of, a shed for agricultural use. (AQW 706/07)

Ms Gildernew: There may be scope for capital grant support within the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (NIRDP). However, negotiations are ongoing with the European Commission and I hope to announce more detailed information after the NIRDP has been approved.

Loop River

Mr Robin Newton asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail how often the Loop River and its tributaries within East Belfast are cleaned. (AQW 726/07)

Ms Gildernew: Designated open watercourse sections of the Loop River and its tributaries are routinely inspected and maintained on an annual basis, or more frequently if necessary, to ensure free flow. The culverted sections have manhole inspections every 3 years to ensure free flow. The grille structures at the inlet to these culverted sections are inspected and maintained on a weekly or monthly basis depending on their criticality in the context of the risk to life and property in the event of a flood.

Culture, Arts and Leisure

Maps Produced by Waterways Ireland

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if he will take steps to ensure that the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland is clearly visible on all maps and graphics produced by Waterways Ireland. (AQW 293/07)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr Poots): Waterways Ireland advise me that the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland has been marked on all mapping produced by them with the exception of their angling guides where the function of the map is to provide directions to a particular site from the major access points on the island.

I have asked Waterways Ireland to ensure that all future maps and graphics produced by them have the border clearly marked.

Funding for North West 200

Mr David Burnside asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to state what support, including financial support, has been given to the North West 200 over the past five years; and what financial support it will receive from his department in 2007. (AQW 399/07)

Mr Poots: Over the last five years the North West 200 (NW200) has received financial support as follows:

Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB)

2002

£43,904.90

2003

£37,016.70

2004

£2,257.30

2005

£8,302.87

2006

Nil

Northern Ireland Events Company (NIEC)

2002

Nil

2003

£42,000

2004

£50,000

2005

£78,179.60

2006

Nil

Sport Northern Ireland (SNI)

In 2003, SNI made available to the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland £73,784 towards venue improvements at four circuits in Northern Ireland, including the NW200.

These figures do not include financial assistance obtained by the NW200 through private sponsorship deals or directly from the governing body, the 2&4 Wheel Motorsport Steering Group Limited (2&4 Wheel MSG).

In 2007, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, through SNI, provided an additional £150,000 funding to the 2&4 Wheel MSG. Of this, approximately £40,000 went directly to the NW200 event for the upgrading of health and safety at the site. £100,000 was used to purchase safety equipment such as bales, pole protectors and safety fencing which is available for use by any of the motorsport organisations. SNI is currently assisting 2&4 Wheel MSG with the preparation of a business case setting out further funding requirements.

Funding for the Ulster Grand Prix

Mr David Burnside asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to state what support, including financial support, has been given to the Ulster Grand Prix over the past five years; and what financial support it will receive from his department in 2007. (AQW 400/07)

Mr Poots: Over the last five years the Ulster Grand Prix (UGP) has received financial support as follows:

Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB)

2002

£5,000.00

2003

£3,500.00

2004

£3,514.56

2005

Nil

2006

Nil

Northern Ireland Events Company (NIEC)

2002/03

Nil

2003/04

£30,000

2004/05

£40,000

2005/06

£50,000

2006/07

Nil

Sport Northern Ireland (SNI)

In 2003, SNI made available to the Motor Cycle Union of Ireland £73,784 towards venue improvements at four circuits in Northern Ireland, including the UGP.

These figures do not include financial assistance obtained by the UGP through private sponsorship deals or directly from the governing body, the 2&4 Wheel Motorsport Steering Group Limited (2&4 Wheel MSG).

In 2007, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, through Sport Northern Ireland (SNI), provided an additional £150,000 funding to the 2&4 Wheel MSG. Of this, approximately £100,000 was used to purchase safety equipment such as bales, pole protectors and safety fencing which is available for use by any of the motorsport organisations. SNI is currently assisting 2&4 Wheel MSG with the preparation of a business case setting out further funding requirements.

Funding for Arts and Culture

Mrs Naomi Long asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what steps will be taken to ensure that investment in arts and culture in Northern Ireland is increased to a more sustainable level; and whether consideration will be given to funding parity with neighbouring regions. (AQW 486/07)

Mr Poots: I recognise that funding, for the arts in particular, in Northern Ireland lags behind the rest of the UK and the Republic of Ireland. This deficit has accumulated over many years.

I will be considering funding for arts and culture along with other priorities as I negotiate the Department’s budget for the period 2008/09 to 2010/11 in the Comprehensive Spending Review

Antrim Library

Mr David Burnside asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if he will give a timescale for the commencement of the new build Antrim Library on Railway Street, Antrim. (AQW 492/07)

Mr Poots: The North Eastern Education and Library Board is currently seeking planning permission to build a new library in Antrim and subject to approval it expects the work on site to begin in November/December 2007.

Irish Language Act - Consultation

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline the number of replies that have been received in relation to the consultation on the proposed Irish Language Act. (AQW 495/07)

Mr Poots: In the region of 11,000 individual written responses were received in relation to the most recent consultation on the proposed Irish Language Act which ended on 5th June 2007. A number of petitions have also been received, which contain in total 629 signatures.

A previous consultation, from December 2006 – March 2007, resulted in 676 responses. During that consultation, my Department also received 1,266 postcards and a petition with 2,500 signatures supporting legislation, and a press advertisement, placed in two newspapers by POBAL (the Irish language umbrella group), contained 800 signatures.

Smithsonian Lottery Programme

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (a) which organisations or groups were included on the list, circulated at the Arts Council meeting on 20 July 2006, of potential applicants for the Smithsonian Lottery Programme; (b) which organisations or groups were on the expanded list, circulated at the meeting on 21 September 2006; and (c) which organisations or groups were eventually funded through the programme. (AQW 525/07)

Mr Poots: The information given below relates to applicants for the Re-discover Northern Ireland Arts and Culture.

(a) The Arts Council approved the following list of potential applicants on 20th July:
Camerata Ireland
Queen’s University
Moving on Music
Belfast Print Workshop
Seacourt Print Workshop
Artscare
Francis McPeake School of Music
Cahoots NI
Opera Theatre Company
Golden Thread Gallery

(b) The expanded list of potential applicants approved by the Council on 21st September was as follows:
Camerata Ireland
Queen’s University
University of Ulster
Moving on Music
Belfast Print Workshop
Seacourt Print Workshop
Artscare
Sonic Arts Research Centre
Foras na Gaelige
Ulster Scots Agency
Belfast Exposed
Golden Thread Gallery
Ormeau Baths Gallery
Ulster Folk & Transport Museum
Open House Traditional Arts Festival
Northern Ireland Film & Television Commission
Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission
Nerve Centre
Verbal Arts Centre Derry
Young at Art
Cahoots
Opera Theatre Company
Linenhall Library
Press Photographers Association of Northern Ireland
Tinderbox Theatre Co
Washington Ireland Program/Belfast City Council
Francis McPeake School of Music
c) The following organisations were funded through the programme:

Organisation Name	Grant Amount (£)
Craft Northern Ireland	35,000
Golden Thread Gallery	50,000
Northern Ireland Film & Television Commission	25,000
Belfast Exposed Photography	27,560
Cahoots NI Ltd	19,981
Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission	30,000
Queen’s University Belfast	1,940
University of Ulster	770
Visiting Arts	30,000
The Queen’s University of Belfast	17,450
Tinderbox Theatre Company	31,620
Moving on Music	3,775
Camerata Ireland	63,000
Belfast Print Workshop	30,000
Sonorities Contemporary Music Festival (Queen’s University)	9,980
Verbal Arts Centre	17,500
Ulster Orchestra Society	17,080
ArtsCare	27,134
Opera Theatre Company	20,470
Tinderbox Theatre Company	6,010
Open House Traditional Arts Festival Ltd	25,350
The Nerve Centre	7,000
Moving on Music	46,000
Northern Ireland Press Photographers Association	7,500

The organisations listed above managed aspects of the programme delivery, including payments to individual artists and sub-contracted organisations.

Arts Council Northern Ireland / An Chomhaírle Ealaíon

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to give the dates on which North-South plenary meetings of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and An Chomhairle Ealaíon were held in (a) 2005; (b) 2006; and (c) 2007; the dates on which North-South committee meetings were held in each of these years; and to explain the difference between plenary meetings and committee meetings. (AQW 526/07)

Mr Poots: The plenary meetings of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the Arts Council/ An Chomhairle Ealaíon were held during the years 2005-2007 on the following dates:

2005 24 January, 2005

2006 25 April, 2006

2007 2 April, 2007

North-South committee meetings were held during the years 2005-07 on the following dates:

2005 11 October, 2005

2006 31 January, 2006; 25 April, 2006; 12 October, 2006

2007 2 April, 2007

Plenary meetings are open to members of both Councils, are held once per calendar year and are hosted by rotation in Belfast and Dublin by the respective bodies.

The North-South Committee comprises nominated members of each Council and meets inter-plenary to bring-forward matters of co-operation and mutual interest.

Irish Language Broadcast Fund

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail (a) when the contract to prepare the business case for the Irish language film and television fund was awarded; (b) to which company it was awarded; and (c) when the business case was completed. (AQW 545/07)

Mr Poots: The contract for the business case for the Irish Language Broadcast Fund was awarded to Peter Quinn Consultancy Services on 20th March 2003. The final business case was received on 13th October 2003.

Irish Language Broadcast Fund

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (a) who were the original members of the committee of the Irish language film and television fund; and (b) when the first meeting of the committee was held. (AQW 546/07)

Mr Poots: The original members of the Irish Language Broadcast Fund Investment Committee were Peter Quinn (Chair), Kieran Hegarty, Pádhraic Ó Ciardha, Ferdie Mac an Fhailigh, Aedín Ní Ghradhra and Fionntán de Brún. The Committee first met on 30 November 2004.

Irish Language Broadcast Fund

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure when the Irish language film and television fund was opened for applications. (AQW 547/07)

Mr Poots: The Irish Language Broadcast Fund opened its first round of funding in March 2005 but funding was not awarded to successful applicants until after 8 June 2005 when the European Commission granted State Aid approval.

Irish and Local Studies Library, Armagh

Mr Dominic Bradley asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline the total cost of removal and storage of stock, dismantling and removing shelving, and replacing flooring at the Irish and Local Studies library in Armagh. (AQW 553/07)

Mr Poots: The Southern Education and Library Board incurred a total ‘one off’ expenditure of £8,800 on this project as follows:

Staff cost for removal was approximately £3,500;

Dismantling of shelving £2,000;

Removal of shelving to Library Headquarters £300; and

Repairs to flooring £3,000.

The annual estimated storage cost of the re-located material is £5,500.

European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

Mr Paul Butler asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what steps his department has taken to ensure that the European Charter of Regional and Minority Languages is implemented as part of the Good Friday Agreement. (AQW 688/07)

Mr Poots: At the time of signing of the Good Friday Agreement the UK Government gave a commitment to sign up to the Council of Europe Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

The UK Government fulfilled its commitment by signing up to the Charter on 7 March 2000. This was ratified on 27 March 2001 and came into force on 1 July 2001.

European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

Mr Paul Butler asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if he will put in place measures to ensure that local authorities will implement the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages. (AQW 689/07)

Mr Poots: Decisions on the practical implementation of the European Charter by District Councils rest first and foremost with the Councils themselves.

Interdepartmental Charter Implementation Group

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure when the last meeting of the Interdepartmental Charter Implementation group was held and when the next meeting will take place. (AQW 701/07)

Mr Poots: The last meeting of the Interdepartmental Charter Implementation Group took place on Friday, 27th April 2007. No date has been set for the next meeting, but it will probably be held in the autumn.

Irish and Ulster-Scots Translation

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail, of the £70,000 spent on Irish and Ulster-Scots translation in 2005-2006, how much of this amount related to the Irish language, and how much to the Ulster-Scots language. (AQW 704/07)

Mr Poots: The amounts paid by Northern Ireland Government Departments in relation to translation costs for the 2005/06 year were:

Irish

£64,554.85

Ulster Scots

£9,326.27

Smithsonian Folklife Festival

Mr Paul Maskey asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline the rationale behind the omission of the West Belfast Féile an Phobail festival from the programme of events relating to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC, and from other festival programmes. (AQW 749/07)

Mr Poots: At its annual Folklife Festival, the Smithsonian Institution focuses on the individuals who represent cultural traditions through performance or demonstration of a skill rather than the organisations for whom they work (if any). The Smithsonian Folklife Festival does not invite promoters or organisers of other festivals, only those individuals who are ‘tradition bearers’. It does not incorporate the work of other festivals as this could lead to "a festival within a festival". For this reason, the Smithsonian did not feature the Edinburgh Festival in Scotland’s programme in 2003, nor the Calgary Stampede in the Alberta programme in 2006.

The Community Festivals Fund

Mr Paul Maskey asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if he will outline the ways in which his department and the Community Festival Fund are developing and providing stable growth to festivals, such as Féile an Phobail. (AQW 750/07)

Mr Poots: The Community Festivals Fund (CFF) was introduced from April 2006 to improve the capacity of community festivals, to make them more sustainable and less reliant on public funding.

In 2006/07 the CFF provided financial support to 42 festivals across Northern Ireland, helping existing festivals to grow and emerging festivals get off the ground.

The CFF also provides a programme of training and support on a range of issues, to enhance the knowledge and expertise of Festival organisers.

Education

Funding for Independent Christian Schools

Mr Mervyn Storey asked the Minister of Education what she is doing to address funding issues for independent Christian schools. (AQW 340/07)

The Minister of Education (Ms Ruane): The Department is required to keep a register of all independent schools, and this is open to public inspection. Before final registration the Department has to satisfy itself, through inspection by the Education and Training Inspectorate (ETI) that the school premises are adequate and safe and that efficient and suitable instruction is being provided.

Any independent school that wishes to acquire grant-aided status must publish a development proposal in accordance with Article 14 of the Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (as amended).

The Department, on considering the proposal, will assess any such application against a number of statutory and other requirements which all grant aided schools must meet.

To date the Department has not received any proposals from Independent Christian schools.

Pay Parity between Secondary and Further Education Sectors

Mr David Hilditch asked the Minister of Education if she will give her assessment of pay parity between the secondary and further education sectors. (AQW 397/07)

Ms Ruane: The pay of teachers in grant-aided schools in the north of Ireland is negotiated locally through the Teachers’ Salaries and Conditions of Service Committee (Schools). The pay of further education (FE) lecturers in the north of Ireland is also negotiated locally, but through separate collective bargaining arrangements. There are no links between the pay of schoolteachers and the pay of FE lecturers.

Artigarvan Primary School

Mr Allan Bresland asked the Minister of Education if she will detail her plans for the replacement of Artigarvan Primary School. (AQW 457/07)

Ms Ruane: Funding for the provision of a new 7 classbase school and nursery unit for Artigarvan Primary School was announced in March 2006. Planning of the project is currently being taken forward by the Western Education and Library Board. The Board have estimated that construction work on the new school should start on site in the summer of 2008 with an estimated completion date of May 2010.

Balmoral High School

Mr Paul Butler asked the Minister of Education what plans she has for the future of Balmoral High School when it closes in August 2008; and if she will investigate the future use of playing facilities associated with the school, with a view to ensuring that the local community can avail of their use. (AQW 471/07)

Ms Ruane: No decision has yet been taken on the future use of the facilities when Balmoral High School closes in August 2008. The Department and the Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB) will be seeking an alternative use and the use of the playing facilities will also be considered as part of this process.

Donaghadee High School

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education if a decision has been taken to close Donaghadee High School and, if so, when will this take place. (AQW 529/07)

Ms Ruane:

No decisions on the future of Donaghadee High School have been made. The South Eastern Education and Library Board has commenced preliminary consultations with Donaghadee High School and Movilla High School in relation to a potential rationalisation between the two schools. A formal consultation by the Board is expected to commence during the forthcoming autumn term.

Funding for Iontaobhas na Gaelsolaíochta

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Education (a) when Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta was established; (b) how much funding it has received from the Department of Education in each financial year since it was established; and (c) and how much money it has received from other sources since it was established. (AQW 551/07)

Ms Ruane: The funding provided by the Department of Education to Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta since its establishment is as follows:

2000/01	2001/02	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005//06	2006/07
£	£	£	£	£	£	£
1,250,000	500,000	500,000	450,000	420,000	75,000	200,000

Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta is an independent charitable Trust. Under its Declaration of Trust it can ‘raise and co-ordinate the raising of funds and invite and receive any contributions (solicited or otherwise) or payments or other assets of any kind from any person or persons whomsoever’ so long as this is for the furtherance of the purpose of the Trust. The Department of Education does not gather information on external contributions to the Trust.

The membership of the Board of Trustees is as follows:

Board Member	Representing
Liam Ó Cuinneagain	Department of Education
Seán Mag Uidhir (Chair)	Department of Education
Dónall Ó Baoill	Department of Education
Seán Ó Coinn	Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta
Séamus de Napier	Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta
Seán Mac Goill	Co-optee
Muireann Ní Mhóráin	Department of Education
Roise Ní Bhaoill	Department of Education

There is currently one vacancy.

Under the terms of the Declaration of Trust the Department of Education has the right of appointment for six trustees, and the Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta two trustees.

Trustees of Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Education who are the trustees of Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta, the trust fund for Irish medium education, and how they were appointed. (AQW 552/07)

Ms Ruane: The funding provided by the Department of Education to Iontaobhas na Gaelscolaíochta since its establishment is as follows:

2000/01	2001/02	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05	2005//06	2006/07
£	£	£	£	£	£	£
1,250,000	500,000	500,000	450,000	420,000	75,000	200,000

The membership of the Board of Trustees is as follows:

Board Member	Representing
Liam Ó Cuinneagain	Department of Education
Seán Mag Uidhir (Chair)	Department of Education
Dónall Ó Baoill	Department of Education
Seán Ó Coinn	Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta
Séamus de Napier	Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta
Seán Mac Goill	Co-optee
Muireann Ní Mhóráin	Department of Education
Roise Ní Bhaoill	Department of Education

There is currently one vacancy.

Under the terms of the Declaration of Trust the Department of Education has the right of appointment for six trustees, and the Comhairle na Gaelscolaíochta two trustees.

Glastry College

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education (a) which land has been identified for the new build at Glastry College, and (b) to confirm if this land is currently owned by the South Eastern Education and Library Board and, if not, when will the conveyance be completed.[R] (AQW 563/07)

Ms Ruane: The land at the rear of the existing school has been identified as the site for the replacement school for Glastry College. The land is not in the ownership of the South Eastern Education and Library Board at the present time. Negotiations for the purchase of the land are currently ongoing between the Valuation and Lands Agency, who are acting for the Board, and the landowner. Subject to the outcome of negotiations the Board hope to complete the acquisition of the land within the current financial year.

Education (Prohibition from Teaching or Working with Children) Regulations (NI) 2007

Ms Sue Ramsey asked the Minister of Education to confirm that, prior to the commencement of the Education (Prohibition from Teaching or Working with Children) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007, her department will issue guidance on the new provisions; specifically, on how to make referrals to the department and on the process to be followed for discretionary barring cases. (AQW 581/07)

Ms Ruane: Guidance on the Education (Prohibition from Teaching or Working with Children) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2007 will be issued to the relevant employing authorities including the Education and Library Boards, CCMS, and the Board of Governors of Voluntary Grammar, Integrated and Irish Medium schools. The Guidance will include the procedure on how to make referrals to the Department and the decision making process.

Teaching of Scientific Explanations for Origins

Mr Mervyn Storey asked the Minister of Education if she will bring forward proposals to ensure that scientific explanations for origins, other than Darwinian evolution, are taught in schools as scientific explanations. (AQW 637/07)

Ms Ruane: I have no plans to bring forward such proposals. The revised curriculum provides greater flexibility for schools to include teaching of alternative theories to evolution and in Science there will be greater scope for pupils to explore other views about how the world came into existence.

Pupil Enrolment at Armagh Integrated College

Mr Danny Kennedy asked the Minister of Education to detail the pupil enrolment figures at Armagh Integrated College for the past three years. (AQW 676/07)

Ms Ruane: The enrolment at Armagh Integrated College over the past three years was as follows:

Year Pupils

2004/05 50

2005/06 106

2006/07 153

Funding Parity between Primary and Secondary Sectors

Mr Danny Kennedy asked the Minister of Education what assessment she has made as to the prospects for establishing parity of funding between the primary and secondary sectors. (AQO 96/07)

Ms Ruane: I accept that the funding differential should be smaller than it is currently. I do recognise the many challenges facing primary principals and also fully accept the vital role of early intervention in reducing later difficulties. I will be reviewing the relative share of funding for primary and post-primary schools following the budget settlement for education for the Comprehensive Spending Review period and, in doing this, will be looking at the scope for action to rebalance the primary and post-primary weightings in the current funding arrangements. In doing so the challenge will be to reduce the differential in a way which recognises the value of primary education yet does not create difficulties for the post- primary sector, and which also recognises the difference in the costs involved in delivery of the curriculum in each phase.

School Building Programme

Mr Seán Neeson asked the Minister of Education to make a statement on the school building programme announced by her department on 21 March 2007. (AQO 110/07)

Ms Ruane: Maria Eagle announced on 21 March that 84 schools should proceed with their building schemes. This followed a review of previously announced schemes which were at various stages of planning, to assess their consistency with the recommendations of the Bain Review. Eight schemes were stopped, and six schemes were put on hold pending further examination. My department is working with the relevant school authorities to progress those schemes which were confirmed as proceeding. The Department is also assessing the six schemes on hold so that the position can be confirmed shortly

Expenditure on Consultancy Services

Dr Alasdair McDonnell asked the Minister of Education how much money has been spent by the department in each of the last five years on (a) public relations consultants; and (b) other consultancy services. (AQO 101/07)

Ms Ruane: Over the last five years, the department has had no expenditure on public relations consultancies. Over the same period the department has spent £658,000 in 2002-03, £828,000 in 2003-04, £856,000 in 2004-05, £704,000 in 2005-06 and an estimated £874,000 in 2006-07 on other consultancies.

The amounts quoted for 2006/07 are estimated, pending completion of the department’s resource accounts.

Essential Subjects

Mr John McCallister asked the Minister of Education to identify those subjects which she believes are essential to enable young people to succeed in a knowledge-based economy. (AQO 94/07)

Ms Ruane: All areas of the curriculum are important, which is why they form part of the statutory provision, but it is essential in particular that all young people should have a high level of functional competence in the areas of literacy, numeracy and the use of ICT.

The revised curriculum, being introduced on a phased basis from September 2007, has literacy and numeracy at its core. The curriculum provides for a broad and balanced education and focuses on developing skills as well as teaching knowledge through the wide spectrum of curricular areas. The cross-curricular skills of Communication, Using Mathematics and Using ICT are statutory from Foundation to Key Stage 4 for all pupils.

In addition, the Entitlement Framework will allow for the introduction of a greater variety of vocational courses to school pupils, equipping them with the professional and technical skills that business and industry needs. It will guarantee all pupils access to a much wider range of courses, irrespective of the school they attend.

To support pupils in making their choices and decisions about their futures, we are also working closely with colleagues in DEL to develop high quality careers education, information, advice and guidance.

Also in conjunction with DEL and the business community, we are reviewing provision here of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). I am clear this work needs to look at the importance of STEM to society and the economy and review the opportunities currently available for young people.

Primary School Principals

Mr Sammy Wilson asked the Minister of Education to report on any meetings she has held with primary school principals, to discuss issues pertaining to that sector. (AQO 73/07)

Ms Ruane: I have spoken at a conference in Armagh on 24th May organised by my Department in response to issues being raised by primary school principals. Over 600 primary principals attended.

I have also held three specific meetings and two dinners with groups of primary principals covering a range of issues.

I have attended various events, presenting the ECO schools certificates, attended the GTC publication event. I have spoken at the INTO, NASUWT, TUI, ASTI and ATL conferences and have made a number of visits to schools, included those in the Extended Schools Programme. I attended a major perfomance at the Waterfront Hall performed by schools from the Shankill. I have attended an event in Newry which included 4 schools from Bessbrook and Newtownhamilton area and have met with delegations from primary schools. These have provided me with various opportunities to discuss issues with primary principals and allowed me to see the issues on the ground first hand.

Physical Education in Primary Schools

Mr Barry McElduff asked the Minister of Education to detail her department's strategy for physical education in primary schools; and if she will give a commitment that the department will employ specialist physical education teachers in primary schools. (AQO 67/07)

Ms Ruane: My Department fully recognises the importance of a healthy lifestyle to all our young people and Physical Education is a compulsory part of our curriculum for all pupils at every Key Stage, from age 4 to 16. Schools are free to determine how much time is devoted to PE, but they are encouraged to provide children with opportunities for at least two hours physical activity per week.

On the question concerning specialist PE teachers in Primary schools, it is a matter for individual schools to make decisions on the desired size of their teaching complements and on the designation of teaching posts within their delegated budgets.

There are currently 8154 full time and pro rata teachers in the Primary School Sector, all of whom have taken Physical Education studies as part of their teacher training.

I am putting in place a sports programme to develop sports in schools, which will be supported through the use of peripatetic teachers and we are also working with the GAA and Irish Football Association, with 20 coaches from each. This will promote participation in sports activities and confidence an enjoyment of "getting out there".

I have met Michael McGimpsey to discuss the Healthy Living agenda across our departments, and the Fit Futures framework in particular. I am also looking at current provision for PE within teacher training courses.

Modern Languages

Ms Sue Ramsey asked the Minister of Education what steps she has taken to improve the learning of languages in schools. (AQO 80/07)

Ms Ruane: The Department encourages schools to offer a wider range of modern languages and the revised curriculum provides them with greater flexibility to do so. Instead of being limited to offering 1 of only 5 languages as previously, schools are now able to choose any of the languages of the 25 EU member states to meet the minimum requirement, and any other additional languages they wish.

The Department has commissioned the universities to develop a languages strategy by March 2008, which will include recommendations on how we can build on the number of languages taught in schools and how best to introduce language learning at primary level as is common practice elsewhere in Europe. As an increasingly multi – cultural society, the languages of new arrivals in the country will also provide an opportunity to extend language learning.

There are now 3911 children and young people with English as an Additional Language (representing 354 different language groups). The largest language groups are Polish, Lithuanian, Cantonese/Mandarin and Portuguese. The Ethnic Minority Achievement Service has been established in the Education and Library Boards and it will be creating new services to support EAL pupils, their parents and teachers in February 2007. They have already set up interpretation and translation of documents services, which are aimed at helping parents communicate with teachers.

In the short term, I am exploring measures to support primary schools that want to introduce or extend language learning for their pupils.

Revised Curriculum

Mr Paul Butler asked the Minister of Education what steps she is taking to addressing the concerns of teachers about the introduction of the revised curriculum. (AQO 79/07)

Ms Ruane: The implementation of the revised curriculum is phased over three years commencing in September 2007 and I have told schools that the first year will be a transitional year. Schools can continue to use their existing lesson plans to teach– the key is that the curriculum is in place in June 2010.

I am providing an additional £3m for resources to support the Foundation Stage. I have also informed principals that an additional 20,000 laptops will be provided across primary and post-primary schools during the next school year.

In terms of assessment, teachers will have further training on the diagnostic assessment tool, INCAS. Schools will not be required to report the outcomes formally to parents, nor will the centre collect them, in the first year. The first year is about schools getting used to running the INCAS assessment.

Irish Medium schools will have access to INCAS. The Department is currently exploring the development of the INCAS through the medium of Irish, and will not be testing the children until this is developed.

There will be ongoing training for principals and teachers to build on what has been delivered already. Principals were invited to put forward views on how they would like to see this support delivered next year.

North-South Co-operation

Mr Mickey Brady asked the Minister of Education to detail how she will develop and expand education as an area of north-south co-operation. (AQO 99/07)

Ms Ruane: I have already met Mary Hanafin, and I look forward to future meetings with the new Education Minister.

There has already been a great deal of progress in a number of areas such as Special Educational Needs, for example the development of the Middletown Centre for Autism.

I am very keen to build on the progress made. In the Middletown project, for example it is expected that the Centre will begin offering the "training and advisory service" and the "autism research and information service" later this year, followed by the "educational assessment service".

Among others are the:

North/South Ministerial Council

The aspects of North/South co-operation in Education that were agreed for initial consideration by the North/South Ministerial Council were education for children with special needs; educational under-achievement; teacher qualifications; and school, youth and teacher exchanges.

Special Education Co-Ordination Group

Two significant initiatives in relation to the production of resources (CD-ROMs and videos) in respect of autism and dyslexia were undertaken on a joint basis by the two Departments of Education. These were issued to all schools and other relevant professionals in Ireland.

The Special Educational Needs (SEN) Cross Border Professional Exchange Programme

Funded by Peace II with a grant of € 590,000, enabled teachers, principals and educational psychologists, from the North and the border counties of the South to participate in professional exchanges between December 2004 and May 2006. Very valuable resources for schools were produced as a result.

EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation (PEACE 2)

DE and DES were the Joint Implementing Body and Accountable Department for Measure 5.5 ---Education, Cross-border School and Youth Co-operation.

14 projects were approved and the eligible expenditure incurred by those projects, €4,048,000, was split 50/50 between the two Departments

Employment of Young Teachers

Mr John Dallat asked the Minister of Education to outline her proposals to help the 5,000 young teachers who have been unable to secure full-time employment in Northern Ireland. (AQO 91/07)

Ms Ruane: I do not recognise the figure of 5,000 young teachers referred to by John Dallat. The number quoted may relate to those teachers registered on the Substitute Teacher Register, on which there are now 5,400 teachers registered. However, it is important to note that the register includes not only young teachers but also: teachers of all ages who wish to be employed on a substitute teacher basis; and, teachers who no longer wish to be full-time members of the teaching profession.

My Department recognises the impact which demography is having, and will have, on the number of teachers that we need here. The approved intake numbers to the initial teacher education institutions have been reduced over the past four years and we will, as part of the annual initial teacher education approval process, be carefully considering the number of teachers needed in future years.

However, the recruitment of teachers is the responsibility of teachers’ employers and my Department is committed to maximising the amount of funding which we distribute to schools under the Local Management of Schools Common Funding Formula arrangements. In addition, my Department has issued guidance to employers advising them that preference should be given to newly qualified teachers and experienced non-retired teachers seeking employment. Schools have also been advised that they should recruit to vacancies on a permanent rather than a temporary basis unless the vacancy is clearly of a temporary nature. The capping of the levels of the central reimbursement of the costs of substitute cover also provides an incentive to employ newly qualified teachers as substitutes.

Moreover, following the review of teacher education in the North of Ireland which is being carried out jointly by the Department of Education and the Department for Employment and Learning, ways will be explored by which newly qualified teachers employed in grant-aided schools can have greater stability in employment during their early years of teaching.

Numeracy and Literacy

Ms Martina Anderson asked the Minister of Education to ensure that Derry/Londonderry is included in the development of any programme to tackle poor numeracy and literacy levels. (AQO 78/07)

Ms Ruane: The new school improvement policy and revised literacy and numeracy strategy, both of which will be available for consultation later this year, will aim to improve the levels of literacy and numeracy of pupils in all schools.

Alongside this, we are committed to develop a programme targeted at the socially disadvantaged in Belfast. I have identified a need for this programme to be extended to Derry based on the objective need.

PEAG Places

Mrs Michelle O'Neill asked the Minister of Education to outline the procedures in place for allocating pre-school education advisory group (PEAG) places available to pre-school children, and to consider a review of the number of PEAG places, with a view to increasing the number of free places available to pre-school children. (AQO 75/07)

Ms Ruane: Department Circular Number: 2006/10 entitled "Open Enrolment in Nursery Schools: Arrangements for September 2007 Admissions" advises Principals and Board of Governors of the arrangements for the application of open enrolment procedures to admissions to nursery schools and nursery classes in primary schools which will apply for the 2007/08 school year.

The Department also issues a guidance note, based on the Circular issued to nursery schools and units, to voluntary and private providers within the Pre-School Education Expansion Programme (PSEEP).

In determining the admissions criteria the Department of Education specifies some priorities, that is:

Children in their final pre-school year;

Social disadvantage – because research has shown that those children from socially disadvantaged backgrounds tend to experience more difficulty at school than other children; and

4 year olds with July and August birthdays – because these children do not enter compulsory education until after their 5th birthday.

When pre-school settings are oversubscribed they must then set their own criteria to select children down to the last available place. These include a range of factors such as proximity to the school or the previous attendance of siblings and are entirely at the discretion of the individual school/playgroup.

In 2006/07 there are 21,154 children in funded pre-school education: 14,158 in nursery schools or nursery classes in primary schools; 658 in reception classes/groups; and 6,338 in funded places in voluntary and private pre-school education centres.

The actual number of children enrolled in Primary 1 for the 2006/07 school year was 21,497. The school projection model predicts 21,442 P1 pupils in September 2007. This would indicate that the pre-school phase overall level of provision is running at 98%. Previous experience tells us that not every parent wants to avail of a pre-school place for their child.

There is currently a review of Irish Medium Education and one of the areas the review is examining is the number of pre-school places in Irish Medium settings.

However, the Early Years Team in the Department is liaising closely with Education and Library Officers to ensure that any shortfall is identified and appropriate action taken as soon as possible.

Shared Buildings for Rural Schools

Dr Kieran Deeny asked the Minister of Education to make a statement on the future of shared buildings for rural schools. (AQO 111/07)

Ms Ruane: The sharing of buildings and facilities can offer a sensible and effective way to deliver education, particularly for rural communities. At a time of falling rolls, school authorities should be exploring options which would best meet the needs of children and take account of local circumstances, and these options should include consideration of shared buildings, and collaboration between schools on the use of facilities.

English as an Additional Language

Ms Anna Lo asked the Minister of Education what proposals exist to secure funding for classroom assistants specialising in helping pupils whose first language is not English. (AQO 109/07)

Ms Ruane: Schools use a variety of ways to teach English to children whose first language is not English and it is for schools to decide the action they need to take. Schools must have the flexibility to determine what is the best way to teach English to each child.

Schools are provided with £943 per English as an additional language (EAL) child and they have access to advice and guidance from the Ethnic Minority Achievement Service (EMAS) which is operated by the Education and Library Boards. EMAS, on receiving an invitation from a school, can provide a range of services, including discussing with them ideas on teaching strategies and providing interpreting and translation of documents services, which can help the school communicate with parents who do not speak English. The total funding for EMAS for 2007/2008 is £888,000.

Future Viability of Schools

Mr Trevor Lunn asked the Minister of Education what proposals exist to ensure that pupil numbers is not the sole factor in assessing the future viability of schools. (AQO 107/07)

Ms Ruane: Pupil numbers are clearly an important factor in assessing the future viability of schools though they should not be the sole factor. The previous administration issued a consultation document on a Policy for Sustainable Schools which sets out six proposed criteria for helping assess the viability of schools. My Department is currently analysing the responses to that consultation exercise. The over-riding consideration must be the quality of education for the children that a school provides.

Employment and Learning

New Deal Programme

Mr Jimmy Spratt asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the percentage of people resident in South Belfast who are on the New Deal programme, and who have previously participated in the programme. (AQW 588/07)

The Minister for Employment and Learning (Sir Reg Empey): Within the South Belfast constituency 159 people are currently participating in the suite of New Deal programmes, with 61% of these having participated previously.

Courses for Trainee Interpreters

Mr Sammy Wilson asked the Minister for Employment and Learning if he will report on the progress that has been made towards establishing local training courses for trainee interpreters. (AQW 589/07)

Sir Reg Empey: I am pleased to report that progress on the "Enhancement of the supply of British and Irish Sign Language Tutors and Interpreters" has been made in the following areas:

My Department is currently examining a proposal for a pilot project to involve key educational providers including Belfast Institute of Further and Higher Education (BIFHE), in delivering a range of provision.

Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) officials attended a meeting of the Sign Language Partnership Group on 23 May 2007 where the proposal was discussed and welcomed by members of that group.

DEL officials have already met with colleagues in Wales to look at their apprenticeship scheme with a view to introducing appropriate proposals in Northern Ireland. A further meeting has also been arranged in July to learn more about their plans for evaluation of the current scheme and plans for future provision.

My Department has now secured funding from the Skills and Science budget for the first year to fund training provision for British Sign Language (BSL) and Irish Sign Language (ISL) tutors and interpreters and a bid has also been made via the Comprehensive Spending Review to fund training provision in subsequent years.

BIFHE are currently working on costed proposals for appropriate training provision and will shortly be submitted to my Department for consideration.

I hope this information reassures you that action is being taken to address the shortage of suitably qualified Sign Language tutors and interpreters in Northern Ireland.

Leisure Learning Courses

Dr Alasdair McDonnell asked the Minister for Employment and Learning if he will publish the results of screenings for adverse impact on the grounds of age, as required by the department's equality scheme, that were undertaken in respect of the department's decision that it would no longer fund leisure learning courses in further education colleges. (AQW 659/07)

Sir Reg Empey: My Department has made no such decision. Leisure learning courses will continue to be subsidised by the Department, although this type of provision has always been subject to a lower level of funding. While colleges are encouraged to deliver courses, including leisure courses, that lead to accredited qualifications, there is still scope for colleges to be funded for other types of leisure courses. In addition, colleges can, and do, charge learners for some leisure courses.

As part of the implementation of the "Further Education Means Business" strategy, the Department is developing a new policy for curriculum delivered by colleges. A key element of the new policy will be to ensure that an appropriate balance is achieved between provision that supports the economy and provision that promotes social cohesion, and to ensure that learners are supported as appropriate throughout their lives. Final policy decisions resulting from the review of curriculum will not be made until a full Equality Impact Assessment and proper consultation have been carried out, later this year. Any new curriculum policies would then be implemented from the start of the 2008/09 academic year.

Funding for Training and Education Courses

Dr Alasdair McDonnell asked the Minister for Employment and Learning how much funding was allocated by his department for all training and education courses in the academic years 2002/03; 2003/04; 2004/05; 2005/06 and 2006/07; how much was spent on leisure learning courses in the academic years 2002/03; 2003/04; 2004/05; 2005/06 and 2006/07; and what is the anticipated budget for 2007/08 and 2008/09 for (a) total training and education courses; and (b) leisure learning courses. (AQW 660/07)

Sir Reg Empey: The funding allocated to Further Education Colleges for training and education provision which includes a component for leisure courses is detailed in the table below.

Academic Year	Total Funding Allocation (inc Leisure)	Leisure Learning
Academic Year	Total Funding Allocation (inc Leisure)	Leisure Learning
2002-03	£110,012,245	£8,443,108
2003-04	£123,381,243	£9,375,681
2004-05	£131,736,336	£9,703,185
2005-06	£143,491,462	£9,161,827
2006-07 *	£142,242,953	£10,185,509

* This figure includes the Essential Skills allocation to 31 March 2007 only, as further in-year claims have yet to be processed.

Allocations for 2007/08 have not yet been determined, and the anticipated budget for 2008/09 will be subject to the Comprehensive Spending Review.

Leisure Learning Courses

Dr Alasdair McDonnell asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what is his department's current policy with regard to the funding of leisure learning courses for the next academic year; and what are his plans to consult on the future of leisure learning courses. (AQW 661/07)

Sir Reg Empey: My Department has policy for the entire curriculum offered by colleges, including leisure provision. As part of the implementation of the "Further Education Means Business" strategy, the Department is developing a new policy for curriculum delivered by colleges. A key element of the new policy will be to ensure that an appropriate balance is achieved between provision that supports the economy and provision that promotes social cohesion, and to ensure that learners are supported as appropriate throughout their lives. Final policy decisions resulting from the review of curriculum will not be made until a full Equality Impact Assessment and proper consultation have been carried out, later this year. Any new curriculum policies would then be implemented from the start of the 2008/09 academic year.

The Higher Education Institutions are legally independent of government and have complete autonomy for their own policies and practices, including those relating to course provision and content. The Department for Employment and Learning does not sanction any courses at university level, therefore, has no remit or locus in individual course provision, including leisure learning courses.

Leisure Learning Course

Dr Alasdair McDonnell asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to detail the total number of leisure learning courses taken in the academic years 2002/03; 2003/04; 2004/05; 2005/06 and 2006/07; and how many leisure learning courses were taken by (a) 55's to 65's; and (b) over 65's, in the academic years 2002/03; 2003/04; 2004/05; 2005/06 and 2006/07. (AQW 662/07)

Sir Reg Empey: While the Department sets the strategic direction for the further education sector in Northern Ireland, and channels its funding accordingly, each college is responsible for its own curriculum offer. Colleges hold the information on the number of courses they deliver, but this could not be provided in the timescale required. The Department holds information on non-vocational enrolments in Further Education colleges, and this is provided in the Table below for the years 2002/03 to 2005/06. Information is not yet available for 2006/07.

Academic Year	Total Enrolments	Age 55 to 65	Age 65 & Over
2002/03	62,924	11,353	14,184
2003/04	71,998	13,043	15,551
2004/05	74,688	13,433	15,566
2005/06	73,926	12,791	14,645

Notes:

Source: Further Education Statistical Record (FESR)

Data relates to enrolments(not students) over the whole academic year.

The enrolments relate to non-vocational courses at the Northern Ireland Further Education colleges, which is the closest proximity to leisure provision.

Age is at 1st July for the relevant academic year and the Age 65 & Over age group includes those of unknown age.

The Department does not hold information on the number of students on non-credit bearing/leisure courses at the NI HEIs for the academic years listed

Leisure Learning Courses

Dr Alasdair McDonnell asked the Minister for Employment and Learning if his department's decision that it would no longer fund leisure learning courses in further education colleges was screened for adverse impact on grounds of age, as required by the department's equality scheme. (AQW 663/07)

Flags and Emblems in Further Education Colleges

Mr Paul Butler asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to outline the steps he is taking to ensure that the new merged further education colleges will not display the Union Flag or any other flag, wholly associated with one community; and what policies will be put in place to ensure that all students will be taught in a neutral and welcoming environment. (AQW 671/07)

Sir Reg Empey: Further education colleges in Northern Ireland, as independent, incorporated bodies determine their own policy in matters relating to flags and emblems. FE Colleges must, however, comply with any legislation in respect of this matter.

My Department has taken a number of steps to ensure that all students are taught in a neutral and welcoming environment through its support for Cultural Diversity and Good Relations best practice, as identified through a number of recent FE pilot programmes.

Funding for Legal for Practice Courses

Dr Stephen Farry asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to make a statement on access to post-graduate funding for legal practice courses, for Northern Irish students studying in both Northern Ireland and Great Britain. (AQW 769/07)

Sir Reg Empey: Support for postgraduate study has always been discretionary and subject to change to reflect wider Government strategy. The Department for Employment and Learning reviewed its priorities in light of the Government’s 2002 Science, Engineering and Technology Strategy and decided that its postgraduate support budget should be redirected to fund Masters and PhD courses at the higher levels recommended in that report. As a consequence, funding for postgraduate diplomas, including those for legal practice, was withdrawn in 2004.

Financial Assistance for Legal Practice Courses

Dr Stephen Farry asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what financial assistance is available to Northern Irish students from low-income backgrounds, to help pay the fees for post-graduate legal practice courses in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. (AQW 770/07)

Sir Reg Empey: The Department for Employment and Learning no longer provides funding for postgraduate diplomas including those for legal practice courses. For students with particular financial difficulties, support may be available directly from the Northern Ireland institutions’ support funds which are provided by the Department, or from the Access to Learning Fund for institutions in the rest of the UK.

Postgraduate Law Bursaries

Dr Kieran Deeny asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what proposals exist to ensure that bursaries available to postgraduate law students are available equally to everyone in Northern Ireland, regardless of the county of residence. (AQO 119/07)

Sir Reg Empey: The Department for Employment and Learning no longer provides funding for postgraduate diplomas including those for legal practice courses. It funds universities for research and certain approved courses of full-time study leading to higher degrees (Masters and PhDs). These awards are available to eligible students regardless of their county of domicile.

Careers Education

Mr Basil McCrea asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what consideration he has given to a review of the provision of careers education. (AQO 76/07)

Sir Reg Empey: The post graduate diploma in Careers Guidance, delivered by the University of Ulster, is the main qualification for careers guidance practitioners in Northern Ireland. The course is reviewed at the end of each academic year by the University, the Careers Service, the Institute of Careers Guidance and external verifiers. The qualification was externally revalidated in October 2006 and was approved to run for a further 5 years.

'Brain Drain'

Mr David Ford asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to outline what his department considers to be the primary reasons for Northern Ireland's 'brain drain'. (AQO 112/07)

Sir Reg Empey: The principle reasons for the ‘brain drain’ are varied. My Department has recently commissioned research that will examine the decision making process of pupils in order to assess the factors underpinning decisions to study in Northern Ireland and decisions to leave Northern Ireland for undergraduate study.

Apprenticeships

Ms Sue Ramsey asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what steps have been taken to ensure that proper placements are available for all apprenticeships. (AQO 82/07)

Sir Reg Empey: Apprenticeships are demand led and all apprentices follow a training framework approved for delivery and developed in conjunction with the relevant industry. To maintain both quality and relevance of content, Sector Skills Councils and Standard Setting Bodies are required to take the views of employers into consideration when developing training frameworks.

Needs of Migrant Workers

Mr John Dallat asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to state what special measures have been taken in further education colleges to address the language and skills needs of migrant workers. (AQO 72/07)

Sir Reg Empey: Further Education colleges have taken various steps to improve the language and skills of migrant workers in Northern Ireland. In particular, all colleges offer provision in ‘English for Speakers of Other Languages’ (ESOL). The sector also ensures that the full range of college courses, including skills training are fully accessible to all communities in Northern Ireland, including migrant workers. In many instances migrant workers have a very high level of skills; it is their English which is a barrier.

Pay Parity for Further Education Staff

Ms Anna Lo asked the Minister for Employment and Learning whether he agrees that many staff in further education are underpaid, and what proposals he is bringing forward to address this. (AQO 117/07)

Sir Reg Empey: Restrictions imposed under UK-wide public sector pay policy have prevented the equalisation of pay for further education lecturers with schoolteachers in Northern Ireland. Compared with the pay of school-teachers, the overall remuneration package for FE lecturers in Northern Ireland tends to be lower, though, at an individual level, the differential can vary widely. I support pay parity in principle for FE lecturers and would like to see movement towards parity when conditions permit. The pay of most of the non-lecturing staff in further education is determined through national pay agreements applicable to those occupational groups throughout the UK. No such nationwide pay arrangements apply to FE lecturers.

Pay Parity for Further Education Staff

Mr Trevor Lunn asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what plans exist to equalise pay for further education staff with that of colleagues elsewhere in the sector. (AQO 115/07)

OFMDFM visit to Omagh College

Mr Barry McElduff asked the Minister for Employment and Learning to make a statement about his recent visit, with the deputy First Minister, to Omagh College. (AQO 68/07)

Sir Reg Empey: I was privileged to be invited to perform the official opening, together with the deputy First Minister, of Omagh College on the 30th May. This state of the art facility will provide access to a wide range of professional and technical training opportunities for the people of Omagh and the surrounding area.

Consultancy Services

Dr Alasdair McDonnell asked the Minister for Employment and Learning how much money has been spent by the department in each of the last five years on (a) public relations consultants; and (b) other consultancy services. (AQO 102/07)

Sir Reg Empey: The total expenditure by the Department for Employment and Learning on public relations consultants was: in 2002/03 nil; in 2003/04 £21,000; in 2004/05 £29,000; in 2005/06 £21,000; and in 2006/07 £26,000.

The total expenditure by the Department for Employment and Learning on other consultancy services was: in 2002/03 £410,000; in 2003/04 £430,000; in 2004/05 £420,000; in 2004/05 £620,000 and in 2006/07 £570,000.

Invest NI 'Go For It' Campaign

Mr Seán Neeson asked the Minister for Employment and Learning whether he believes graduates are the best target group for Invest Northern Ireland's 'Go for It' campaign. (AQO 118/07)

Sir Reg Empey: Graduates are a key target market within Invest NI’s ‘Go for It’ campaign which is playing an important role in raising the level of start-ups and in creating a culture and society structure geared towards embracing entrepreneurship. Those with a doctorate qualification, for example, are around 4½ times more likely to be entrepreneurially active compared to those who have no qualifications.

Science and Technology Students

Mr Alastair Ross asked the Minister for Employment and Learning what steps he is taking to ensure that more students go on to study science and technology at third level education. (AQO 93/07)

Sir Reg Empey: My Department and the Department of Education are jointly carrying out a review of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) to produce a strategy for the development of STEM through schools and Further Education colleges. This will identify progression routes to higher education and employment and, emphasise the links to the skills and innovation needs of the wider economy. My Department also provides funding for the Step-Up programme which encourages pupils from secondary schools in the North West and Belfast to study science at university.

Enterprise, Trade and Investment

Economic Impact of Flight Cancellations between NI and UK

Mr Leslie Cree asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what is his assessment of the economic impact of the number of low cost airline flight cancellations between Northern Ireland airports and the rest of the United Kingdom. (AQW 442/07)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Mr Dodds): No assessment of the economic impact has been carried out by DETI.

Issues relating to the cancellation of flights are governed by Regulation (EC) No 261/2004 of the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) is the designated authority for the enforcement of this Regulation in the United Kingdom.

DETI officials have discussed the question with the CAA, the Air Transport Users Council and the Consumer Council for Northern Ireland. On the basis of these discussions, DETI concludes there is no quantitative or qualitative evidence that flight cancellations by low cost airlines are impacting negatively on the Northern Ireland economy.

Inward Investment

Mr Peter Weir asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment to detail the amount of foreign direct investment, by constituency, secured by Invest Northern Ireland, for each year that Invest Northern Ireland has been in existence. (AQW 540/07)

Mr Dodds: Table 1 presents the amount of assistance offered by Invest NI to inward-investment projects in each of the last five years by Parliamentary Constituency Area. The total planned investment, which represents the total costs of supported projects, is also included.

It should be noted that these areas are not self-contained labour markets. A project assisted in a particular location has the potential to create benefits across a much wider area. Northern Ireland is a relatively small place and evidence indicates that many investments draw their workforce from areas beyond constituency area boundaries. In addition, Invest NI has limited scope for ‘directing’ investment to specific geographic areas, although it has been able to influence the location decisions of some inward-investment projects. In the case of established businesses, reinvestment patterns will be determined by the existing location of the business.

Table 1

INVEST NI INWARD INVESTMENT BY PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY AREA FROM 2002/03 TO 2006/07

PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY	2002/03		2003/04		2004/05
PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY	Assistance (£m)	Total Investment (£m)	Assistance (£m)	Total Investment (£m)	Assistance (£m)	Total Investment (£m)
BELFAST EAST	0.0	0.0	8.8	33.6	8.3	10.6
BELFAST NORTH	0.0	0.0	1.3	14.2	0.2	0.5
BELFAST SOUTH	1.2	4.0	7.8	41.3	9.2	34.8
BELFAST WEST	0.4	3.0	3.6	9.7	6.4	21.4
EAST ANTRIM	1.6	5.4	0.2	0.9	1.1	8.0
EAST LONDONDERRY	0.0	0.0	0.2	1.1	0.0	0.0
FERMANAGH & SOUTH TYRONE	2.1	7.9	1.4	3.9	0.7	3.8
FOYLE	10.3	92.0	3.8	11.7	2.5	37.1
LAGAN VALLEY	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	1.1
MID ULSTER	0.1	1.4	0.0	0.0	3.8	23.1
NEWRY & ARMAGH	0.4	0.9	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
NORTH ANTRIM	0.0	0.0	2.7	14.4	2.0	6.5
NORTH DOWN	0.2	1.6	0.6	1.2	1.0	5.3
SOUTH ANTRIM	0.0	0.5	0.0	0.0	3.8	16.4
SOUTH DOWN	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
STRANGFORD	0.4	2.8	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.8
UPPER BANN	9.0	37.9	1.8	12.8	6.0	36.0
WEST TYRONE	2.4	9.3	1.2	4.4	1.2	4.4
TOTAL	28.1	166.7	33.5	149.4	46.4	209.7
PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY	2005/06		2006/07
	Assistance (£m)	Total Investment (£m)	Assistance (£m)	Total Investment (£m)
BELFAST EAST	1.7	11.6	11.1	41.1
BELFAST NORTH	2.6	25.1	0.2	2.8
BELFAST SOUTH	8.1	55.7	9.6	51.3
BELFAST WEST	0.1	0.3	0.0	0.0
EAST ANTRIM	11.7	47.8	0.0	0.0
EAST LONDONDERRY	7.7	17.8	0.0	0.0
FERMANAGH & SOUTH TYRONE	0.7	3.8	4.9	32.2
FOYLE	19.1	72.6	6.3	25.9
LAGAN VALLEY	7.0	66.3	0.0	0.0
MID ULSTER	0.2	4.2	0.0	0.0
NEWRY & ARMAGH	6.4	23.4	2.1	7.5
NORTH ANTRIM	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0
NORTH DOWN	0.0	0.0	0.9	4.0
SOUTH ANTRIM	2.1	12.0	0.0	0.0
SOUTH DOWN	3.0	9.4	0.0	0.0
STRANGFORD	0.0	0.0	0.9	9.0
UPPER BANN	0.1	2.0	0.0	0.0
WEST TYRONE	0.9	10.3	0.3	1.6
TOTAL	71.4	362.2	36.3	175.3

NOTES:

1. Total investment includes both the private sector and Invest NI contributions.

2. 2006/07 figures are provisional and may be subject to amendment.

3. Figures include both first-time inward investments and reinvestments by existing externally-owned clients.

4. Some differences in table totals may arise due to rounding.

Jobs in Coleraine

Mr John Dallat asked the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment if he will establish a task force to attract new jobs to the Coleraine area, to replace those lost in Motor Taxation, Customs & Revenue, Social Services and the Ministry of Def

2002	£43,904.90
2003	£37,016.70
2004	£2,257.30
2005	£8,302.87
2006	Nil

2002/03	Nil
2003/04	£30,000
2004/05	£40,000
2005/06	£50,000
2006/07	Nil