NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY

Friday 06 July 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

Northern Ireland Bureau

Mr David Burnside asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister what direct business input there has been to the management and direction of the Northern Ireland Bureau in Washington D.C. (AQW 375/07)

The First Minister and Deputy First Minister (Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness): Economic Development is one of the primary objectives for the Northern Ireland Bureau. The business community is actively involved in the Bureau’s management through an informal economic advisory group of business people from both the United States and Northern Ireland, based in the Greater Washington, DC area. Members of this network were consulted in the development of the Bureau’s strategy and meet regularly with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, Invest NI and Ministers during economic development visits to Washington, DC.

Contract to Draft Legislation

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to give details of all private companies under contract to draft legislation on behalf of Northern Ireland government departments; and the total costs incurred due to the use of these companies in each of the last three years. (AQW 585/07)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: The Office of the Legislative Counsel in our Department drafts all primary legislation (Assembly Bills) for the Executive’s Legislative Programme. Normally the drafting of subordinate legislation (Statutory Rules) is carried out by officials in the relevant department with the assistance of the Departmental Solicitor’s Office in the Department of Finance and Personnel.

The Department for Regional Development employed the law firm Herbert Smith to provide legal advice in relation to the development of the new arrangements for delivering water and sewerage services. This included the drafting of some subordinate legislation but we understand that the cost of this cannot be readily disaggregated from the total cost of advice provided.

Lisburn City Council

Mr Paul Butler asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister if it will examine the reasons why the Equality Commission did not ensure Lisburn City Council's compliance with its recommendations on the Council's policy in respect of flags, arising from the investigation of 4 July 2006. (AQW 649/07)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: The Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister has no legal authority to scrutinise investigations undertaken by the Equality Commission under its powers and duties contained in Schedule 9 to the NI Act 1998, except where they relate to Government Departments.

Unemployment and Economic Inactivity

Ms Martina Anderson asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister what steps it has taken, in legislative and policy measures, to address the religious differential in terms of unemployment, long-term unemployment, and economic inactivity. (AQW 668/07)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: While we note from the Labour Force Survey 2005 religion report that progress has been made since 1990, we remain committed to tackling the differential experience in unemployment between the two communities and a range of measures both legislative and non-legislative have been put in place to deal with this.

One of the challenges is the need to tackle inequality in the labour market. Key to tackling such inequality is the creation of employment opportunities as a primary route out of poverty and the promotion of equality of opportunity.

New Targeting Social Need has in the past directed resources and effort at those in greatest need as a means of reducing community differentials. Future policy to tackle poverty and patterns of deprivation must continue to be based on objective need. In addition, a strong framework of fair employment and broader anti-discrimination legislation provides protection from discrimination in the area of employment, including training, recruitment and promotion.

Policy responsibility to help people move towards and into work rests with the Minister for Employment and Learning. Programmes and services for the unemployed and economically inactive are available to all eligible clients, irrespective of their community background.

Equality Impact Assessment

Mrs Dolores Kelly asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to provide a schedule of equality impact assessments conducted by each department, including the number of policies screened out, and those which were subject to a full equality impact assessment, over the past two years. (AQW 865/07)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: The details requested by the member are published in the annual reports on implementation of Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which are submitted annually to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland by each individual Department. Details for 2004/05 and 2005/06 are currently available on Departments’ respective websites. Information for 2006/07 is in preparation and will be available at the end of August 2007, when these reports are submitted to the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.

Rural Poverty

Mr Danny Kennedy asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to detail what steps it has taken to identify the extent of rural poverty in Northern Ireland, and what action it proposes to deal with the issue. (AQW 893/07)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: The preferred Government method of measuring poverty is through the Family Resources Survey. This survey was first introduced to Northern Ireland in 2002/03. The survey is sponsored by the Department for Social Development (DSD). The survey incorporates a geographical marker that allows for poverty levels to be compared on an urban and rural basis.

The most recent year for which data has been published by DSD is 2004/05. Results for 2004/05 estimated that 19% of all individuals live in relative income poverty after adjustments for housing costs have been made. A household is classed as being in relative income poverty if the household income is less than 60% of the contemporary median income level.

In terms of urban and rural, the level of relative income poverty in the Belfast Metropolitan Urban Area (BMUA) of 17% compares with 23% in other urban areas and 19% in rural areas.

‘Lifetime Opportunities – Governments Anti-Poverty and Social Inclusion Strategy for Northern Ireland’(which still has to be formally considered and adopted by the Executive Committee) highlights that while poverty and multiple deprivation tend to be concentrated in urban areas, rural communities are also at risk with high levels of deprivation in less accessible rural areas.

Within the strategy the need, to strengthen the social and economic infrastructure of rural areas by supporting farm based non-agri businesses and non-farm small rural businesses in the creation of rural jobs, is recognised. Government commits to work to ensure that rural and fisheries dependent villages and communities in greatest need, are sustained and regenerated and have equitable access to public services and programmes. Government further commits to seek to build a strong rural community infrastructure which will help provide economic and social opportunities for everyone, but in particular, for young people who want to live and work in the countryside.

The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s (DARD) vision of a thriving and sustainable rural community and environment means that it is engaged in many activities that will directly and indirectly tackle rural poverty.

DARD is in the final stages of obtaining approval for it’s 2007-13 Rural Development Programme. This programme will invest over £500m in rural areas over the next 6 years, with the focus on supporting the farming industry, improving the environment, and improving the quality of life in rural areas. The Programme will make a significant contribution to Government’s Anti Poverty strategy by supporting initiatives to ensure that, by 2015, the needs of rural communities are met by equitable access to public services and programmes and through programmes which enhance economic opportunities in rural areas and strengthen their social infrastructure.

In addition DARD’s College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise aims to build up a skilled workforce within the agri-food sector by providing training opportunities for those entering and working in the industry, and development programmes to assist the development of competitive and sustainable farm businesses.

Staff Surveys

Mr Stephen Moutray asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister how many staff surveys were carried out by this department in each of the last two years, and what was the total cost. (AQW 916/07)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: The Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister has undertaken a total of 20 staff surveys in the last 2 years, 14 in 2005/06 and 6 in 2006/07 at a total cost of £750.

Older People's Commissioner

Mr Danny Kennedy asked the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister to provide details of work undertaken by junior Ministers in relation to the creation of an Older People's Commissioner. (AQW 947/07)

Rt Hon Dr Paisley and Mr McGuinness: A key concern for Ministers is how best to champion older people’s issues and Junior Ministers have been given particular responsibility for older people.

This matter of an Older People’s Commissioner was debated by the Assembly on Tuesday 5^th June when an undertaking was given to examine carefully the case for establishing such an office.

Junior Ministers will now agree how this assessment should be taken forward and on completion of the work will seek agreement on proposals through the Executive Committee, in consultation with the Departmental Committee.

Agriculture and Rural Development

Tree Felling Licences

Mr Brian Wilson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she will consider the introduction of tree felling licences. (AQW 814/07)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Gildernew): My Department has completed an extensive review of forestry policy which resulted in the publication of Northern Ireland Forestry: A Strategy for Sustainability and Growth in March 2006 and which confirmed future forest policy and produced a strategy for its delivery.

A key recommendation is to regulate the felling of trees so that woodland owners will be compelled to manage their woods with greater consideration to sustainability, including the timing and extent of felling and the composition of regenerating woodlands.

It will be necessary to amend the Forestry Act (Northern Ireland) 1953 to give effect to the proposed regulation and I am currently considering this and other amendments to the Act. Once drafted, there will be a formal 13 week consultation period when interested parties will be given the opportunity to comment on the changes and the Bill will also be considered within the Assembly.

Rivers Agency

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how many Rivers Agency officials are available within her department to address problems in (a) Ards Borough, and (b) Strangford. (AQW 818/07)

Ms Gildernew: Drainage and flooding problems in Ards Borough and Strangford Council Areas are handled by the Rivers Agency’s Eastern Region Office in Lisburn (which covers the Greater Belfast and Lisburn areas)

Routinely 10 industrial workers together with 2 Foremen are available for frontline operations in these areas. These are supervised and managed by the respective Area Engineers and other engineering and technical staff who have broader management responsibilities across wider areas. These frontline staff may be augmented by staff from other Rivers Agency Areas as the scale and nature of an emergency may demand.

Detailed information on the deployment of staff may be obtained from the Rivers Agency’s Regional Manager in Lisburn at Telephone 028 92606110.

Fishing Industry

Mr Daithí McKay asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide figures for those who have been working in the fishing industry in 2004, 2005 and 2006. (AQW 821/07)

Ms Gildernew: My Department gathers information regarding the number of people employed in the fishing industry, including the processing and marketing sector as well as those employed in professions related to the fishing industry in the harbours of Ardglass, Kilkeel, Portavogie and the North Coast ports. Minor ports are not included.

In 2004, there were 1433 people employed full-time and 227 employed part-time within the fishing industry. In 2005, there were 1401 employed on a full-time basis, with 268 employed part-time. In 2006, 1319 were employed in the fishing industry full-time, with 282 employed part-time.

Bird Flu

Mr George Savage asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, with reference to the recent outbreak of bird flu in Wales, what steps she has taken, and proposes to take in the future, to ensure that Northern Ireland and its agricultural interests are protected from a possible outbreak. (AQW 897/07)

Ms Gildernew: My Department is constantly monitoring developments and reviewing the risk of Avian Flu being introduced to Northern Ireland. A range of preventive measures are in place, which are on-going, to address the risk of Avian Flu entering Northern Ireland and to prevent it spreading in poultry. Surveillance of domestic poultry and wild birds is undertaken. A NI Bird Register is in place to gather essential information about poultry, game and other captive birds for the purposes of risk assessment, disease prevention and control. My Department has issued extensive guidance to bird keepers on biosecurity measures to protect their birds. This is also available on the DARD website.

In response to confirmation of low pathogenic Avian Flu H7N2 in North Wales, my Department carried out an assessment of the risk and took additional precautionary measures to minimise the risk of spread of the disease to Northern Ireland. A temporary precautionary ban was imposed on the movement of poultry from Great Britain to attend bird gatherings in Northern Ireland. Additional General Licence conditions were introduced in relation to imports of poultry and ornamental fowl from Great Britain to ensure protection and traceability were maintained. My Department reiterated its advice that bird keepers remain vigilant for signs of disease and maintain good biosecurity and reminded bird keepers of the requirement to register on the NI Bird Register. These precautionary steps were in proportion to the risk associated with the Wales outbreak. Throughout the outbreak, my Department worked closely with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, the Welsh Assembly Government, and in conjunction with NI stakeholders, to monitor developments and to keep the position under review. Very close contact was also maintained with the Department of Agriculture and Food in Dublin.

As regards future steps, it is my intention that the range of on-going preventive measures that is already established in Northern Ireland will remain in place. In addition, my Department will continue to keep the Avian Flu situation and the need for further measures under constant review in proportion to the level of risk.

My Department has a contingency plan in place to ensure that Avian Flu is dealt with quickly and effectively if it does occur here.

DARD Staff Surveys

Mr Stephen Moutray asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development how many staff surveys were carried out by her department in each of the last two years, and what was the total cost. (AQW 915/07)

Ms Gildernew: The following table highlights the number of staff surveys conducted by DARD over the last two years and the total cost involved in conducting these surveys.

Year	Number of surveys	Total cost
2005/06	8	£10,078
2006/07	7	£9,070.50

Staff Employed Beyond the Age of 65

Mr David Simpson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what facility exists, at present, for members of staff in her department to work in their existing post beyond the default retirement age. (AQW 937/07)

Ms Gildernew: Since 1 October 2006 staff in the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development wanting to continue working beyond the default retirement age of 65 can apply to do so. Until the NICS policy has been finalised all such applications are approved for periods of up to 6 months, and extended at up to 6 monthly intervals (subject to the normal performance and attendance requirements). To date all staff in DARD have remained in their existing posts.

Flooding at Killyleagh Football Club

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what steps she will take to alleviate the flooding at Killyleagh Football Club playing fields; and if she will consider providing a larger water pipe crossing the main road in order to help the water to drain. (AQW 941/07)

Ms Gildernew: Rivers Agency is investigating the recent flooding at Killyleagh Football Club playing fields and the scope and responsibility for remedial action. The culverted watercourse crossing the football field (which may have contributed to the flooding) is not designated under the Drainage (Northern Ireland) Order 1973 and therefore maintenance is the responsibility of adjacent occupiers of land. Rivers Agency is not yet in a position to comment on the adequacy of the main road culvert but will liaise with DRD Roads Service on this as necessary. Road culvert would be a matter for Roads Service.

Flooding at Killyleagh Football Club

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to explain why the excess water at Killyleagh Football Club playing fields was not cleared by officials, following their call to the site on Sunday 17 June 2007. (AQW 942/07)

Ms Gildernew: When Rivers Agency officials attended the flooding incident on 17 June they placed sand bags to protect the Club pavilion. The depth of flood waters and the need for further investigation of the complex drainage system affecting the playing fields made it impossible to clear excess water. This was achieved during a further site inspection on 20 June. I would explain that in the initial emergency response to flood reports Rivers Agency’s immediate priority is to alleviate risk to life, and damage to built property such as dwellings or, in this case, the pavilion.

Watercourse at Greyabbey

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to confirm that Rivers Agency is responsible for the water course that runs behind numbers 2 and 4 Strangford View, Greyabbey; and to explain why her department has stopped cleaning the metal grid that covers the entrance to the water course. (AQW 943/07)

Ms Gildernew: The watercourse in question is not designated within the terms of the Drainage (Northern Ireland) Order 1973 and therefore Rivers Agency has never had responsibility for maintenance of either the watercourse or the metal grid (grille) that covers the entrance to it. Responsibility for maintenance rests with adjacent landowners. The Agency did however provide an emergency response to reported flooding at this location on 15 June 2007 and, on a one-off basis to alleviate flooding, cleared the blocked grille.

Underspend of European Funding

Mrs Dolores Kelly asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail, as a consequence of N+2 underspend, (a) the amount of European funding not spent by her department; (b) the amount of European funding transferred to other departments or agencies; (c) how transferred monies were ultimately spent; and (d) what impact this has had on meeting the outcomes contained within the Rural Development Action Plan. (AQW 965/07)

Ms Gildernew: As a consequence of N+2 underspend my Department:

(a) did not spend €1,500,000 (EU) and €500,000 (National) from Measure 1.4 of the Interreg programme;

(b) all of this funding was transferred to either the Department of Finance and Personnel or the Department of Regional Development;

(c) this money was transferred to other Interreg measures which directly target rural economic and business development projects and the improvement of rural infrastructure in cross-border hinterlands.

(d) as the reallocated funds remained within the Interreg Programme it was used to achieve the targets contained in that programme such as creating and safeguarding jobs in rural businesses / enterprises.

Use of Meat and Bone Meal

Mr George Savage asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what is his department's policy on the use of meat and bone meal. (AQW 991/07)

Ms Gildernew: The use of meat and bone meal must be conducted in accordance with the EU Animal By-Products Regulation No. 1774/2002, which is implemented by the Animal By-Products Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2003. The options for use depend on whether it is considered to pose a high risk to animal and public health, for example, if it contains Specified Risk Material; or a low risk if it contains material that was fit for human consumption. Depending on the risk, meat and bone meal may be used for energy production, as an organic fertiliser, or in petfood.

Bridge Replacement at Aghagallen

Mrs Dolores Kelly asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to give a timescale for the replacement of the bridge on the laneway to the farm at 109 Cornakinnegar Road, Aghagallen. (AQW 1063/07)

Ms Gildernew: As advised in a letter of 18 June 2007 from officials in DARD, Rivers Agency, there are no plans to replace the bridge. A site inspection by Rivers Agency staff failed to identify any hydraulic reason to replace the bridge. Rivers Agency did not construct the bridge therefore responsibility for its structural integrity and replacement rests with the riparian owner.

Culture, Arts and Leisure

Multi -Sports Stadium

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if he will disclose the reasons why the potential sites for a multi-sports stadium, other than the Maze prison, were ruled out. (AQW 811/07)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr Poots): All the sites submitted for consideration for a Shared Future Multi-Sports Stadium were initially subject to a rigorous technical review covering planning, transport, contamination, site assembly and other related issues. The short-listed sites were then tested against cost, development potential and acceptability to the three sports bodies, Soccer, Rugby and Gaelic. Only the Maze/Long Kesh site was deemed capable of delivering against these criteria. This report will be made available on request.

Multi-Sports Stadium

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if he will make available, in full, all information relating to the selection of the site for the proposed multi-sports stadium. (AQW 812/07)

Mr Poots: All relevant information in relation to the selection of the site for the proposed Multi-Sports Stadium will be released once negotiations with the 3 sports bodies and business planning exercises are completed and a decision is reached. In the meantime, the SIB is planning to release the technical study that covered the deliverability criteria in response to a request it has received under the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Lough Neagh

Mrs Dolores Kelly asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what plans he has to work with local authorities to regain ownership of the soil and bed of Lough Neagh. (AQW 906/07)

Mr Poots: The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure has never owned the bed and soil of Lough Neagh. As this Department’s only relevant statutory functions on Lough Neagh are restricted to dredging and marking the mouth of the River Sixmilewater, I can confirm that I have no plans to take forward the possibility of bed and soil purchase from its owners.

Multi-Sports Stadium

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail (a) the organisation responsible for the preparation of the business case for a multi-sports stadium at the Maze; (b) when the business case was completed; and (c) when it was submitted to the department. (AQW 939/07)

Mr Poots: PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) were engaged in 2005 on behalf of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Strategic Investment Board to prepare an economic appraisal on a multi-sports stadium for Northern Ireland. PwC are currently updating this appraisal and preparing an outline business case. Work on the updated outline business case is well advanced and will be considered by the Department once complete.

Promoting Target Sports

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, further to his answer to AQW 358/07, to detail the target sports that have applied for funding from Sport NI; and when the decisions will issue. (AQW 979/07)

Mr Poots: Sport NI (SNI) is responsible for the development of sport in Northern Ireland including the distribution of funding. The Minister for the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) can confirm that Comber Shooting Club, in conjunction with Hollow Farm Shooting Club, together with Dungannon Rifle and Pistol Club have applied for funding to improve their grounds through the Elite Facilities Competition for Northern Ireland’s Olympic/Paralympic Sports.

The decision on who can proceed to the second stage of the Elite Facilities Programme will be taken by SNI’s Council at its meeting on Tuesday 4^th September 2007.

New Library in Newtownards

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline the total cost of the new library for Newtownards. (AQW 980/07)

Mr Poots: The cost of the new library in Newtownards was estimated, in March 2006, to be in the region of £3.3m. This figure is subject to revision as more detailed costs are identified as part of the ongoing appraisal process.

Multi-Sports Stadium

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if the Strategic Investment Board has employed the services of external consultants in preparing a business case for a multi-sports stadium at the Maze, and if so, to name the consultants. (AQW 998/07)

Mr Poots: PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) were engaged in 2005 on behalf of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure and the Strategic Investment Board to prepare an economic appraisal on a multi-sports stadium for Northern Ireland. PwC are currently updating this appraisal and preparing an outline business case for the Multi-Sport Stadium. PwC are also completing a business plan which will assess the operational viability of the Multi-Sports Stadium.

International Football Games

Lord Browne asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what steps he has taken, or intends to take, to ensure that international football games can continue to be played in Northern Ireland. (AQW 1020/07)

Mr Poots: Responsibility for ensuring international football games can continue to be played in Northern Ireland rests with the Irish Football Association (IFA) which is the governing body of soccer in Northern Ireland. I am currently developing proposals for a new Multi-Sports Stadium which will meet the future facility requirements of the IFA for international football. In the meantime, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure officials, in conjunction with Sport Northern Ireland, are in discussions with the IFA over their current needs for staging international football games in Northern Ireland.

Soccer Strategy

Lord Browne asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to explain why a key recommendation of the 'Soccer Strategy', namely the provision of modern facilities exclusively for football, has not been implemented. (AQW 1021/07)

Mr Poots: Primary responsibility for implementing the recommendations of the ‘Soccer Strategy’ rests with the Irish Football Association, which is the governing body of football in Northern Ireland. The IFA has developed a facilities strategy for football which is designed to enable more modern facilities to be provided for the game. Sport Northern Ireland (SNI), with support from the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL), is assisting the IFA with the implementation of this facilities strategy. The ‘Soccer Strategy’ did not recommend that modern facilities should be provided exclusively for football.

Ulster- Scots Agency

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail (a) the recruitment process used to appoint the first interim chief executive of the Ulster-Scots Agency; (b) when he took up the appointment; and (c) when he left the position. (AQW 1032/07)

Mr Poots: The first interim Chief Executive of the Ulster-Scots Agency was recruited through a NICS wide trawl notice/interest circular and took up the appointment on 2 December 1999. He resigned from the position as Accounting Officer of the Ulster Scots Agency on 2 August 2001 and retired from the Civil Service on 14 August 2001.

Arts Council of NI and An Chomhaírle Ealaíon

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what matters of co-operation and mutual interest have been brought forward as a result of the North-South committee meetings between the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and An Chomhairle Ealaíon, during the years 2005-2007. (AQW 1035/07)

Mr Poots: During the years 2005-07 the following matters of co-operation and mutual interest were brought forward as a result of the North-South committee meetings between the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and An Chomhairle Ealaíon:

A joint art exhibition organised at the Glucksman Gallery, Cork, in partnership with the British Council (as part of the European Capital of Culture programme, 2005);

Consideration of the advantages and benefits of continuing to fund organisations on a joint basis;

Agreement to review the arrangements for the appointment of members to the board of the Tyrone Guthrie Centre;

Agreement to jointly fund a curated visual arts award;

Proposals to encourage north/south touring;

Agreement to update and upgrade the Arts and Disability Handbook from a printed to an online publication;

Agreement to co-operate on a joint language and traditional arts initiative (pilot launched May 2007);

Agreement to support a common position urging an amendment to the rules relating to VAT on non-resident artists’ earnings;

Agreement to support the formation of a literature touring network on a pilot basis for three years.

Soccer Strategy

Lord Browne asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to advise (i) at what stage is the 'soccer strategy'; and (ii) what recommendations from the Soccer Advisory Panel have yet to be implemented. (AQW 1044/07)

Mr Poots: The governing body of soccer in Northern Ireland, the Irish Football Association (IFA) has agreed to implement the ‘soccer strategy’ and is currently doing so with assistance from Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) and the support of the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL). All the recommendations from the Soccer Strategy Advisory Panel are currently being implemented, but work to date has focused mainly on governance and administration, youth football and facilities.

Education

Homophobic Bullying

Dr Stephen Farry asked the Minister of Education what plans she has to ensure that all secondary-level schools have policies in place to deal with homophobic bullying. (AQW 533/07)

The Minister of Education (Ms Ruane): All schools are required by law to have measures in place to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils.

The Department’s publication 'Pastoral Care in Schools: Promoting Positive Behaviour’ offers detailed guidance, practical initiatives and case studies to support schools to tackle bullying. However, the detail of each school’s policy and their approach to tackling bullying of any type is a matter for each school to determine in consultation with pupils and parents.

Within the next few weeks, the Department will be publishing a research report on the nature and extent of bullying in the North of Ireland. This will provides us with further insight into the nature and extent of bullying in our schools and will help us in our efforts to tackle this problem.

Staff Non-Pensionable Bonuses

Mr Mervyn Storey asked the Minister of Education 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 640/07)

Ms Ruane: Non-pensionable bonuses can be paid 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. The number of payments made in the last three financial years is as follows:

Year	Performance - related bonuses	Special Bonuses
2004/05	670	37
2005/06	562	42
2006/07	563	157

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 in year.

The NICS Special Bonus Scheme allows Departments 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.

Merger of Donaghadee and Movilla High Schools

Miss Michelle McIlveen asked the Minister of Education what is the timescale for the proposed merger of Donagahdee High School and Movilla High. (AQW 656/07)

Ms Ruane: 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. Should the Board decide to proceed with the rationalisation, it would be required to publish a statutory development proposal which would initiate a 2-month period during which all interested parties can make their views known to the Department of Education. The Board has suggested September 2008 as the date for rationalisation though this would be subject to the consultation process, and the subsequent approval of a development proposal. No decisions have therefore been made at this time.

Merger of Donaghadee and Movilla High Schools

Miss Michelle McIlveen asked the Minister of Education what assurances she can give to the staff of both Donaghadee High and Movilla High, in terms of job security, following the proposed merger of the two schools. (AQW 658/07)

Ms Ruane: The South Eastern Education and Library Board (the Board) has commenced preliminary consultations with Governors, staff and parents at Donaghadee High School and Movilla High School, Newtownards, in relation to a potential amalgamation of the two schools.

If the proposed amalgamation proceeds, teaching staff at both schools would be offered posts in the new school and be eligible for protection under the terms of the Collective Agreement with the Teachers’ Unions (Teachers’ Negotiating Committee Circular - TNC 1999/4). This Agreement ensures (inter alia) that in the two years immediately following the date of the amalgamation, there will no compulsory redundancies of those permanent teachers who transfer to the new school. In addition, it provides that transferring teachers, who are unable to secure a post of a similar level of responsibility in the new school and thus suffer a reduction in salary, are eligible for a Re-organisation Allowance (Department of Education Circular 1996/1) to protect their salary to the level they would have been paid had they remained in their previous post.

There is no comparable agreement for other staff in the schools. However, the Board would make every reasonable effort to find employment for all non-teaching staff who would want to continue working, whether this is in the new school or at a suitable alternative location.

Armagh Integrated College

Mr Danny Kennedy asked the Minister of Education to detail the capital expenditure costs of Armagh Integrated College over the past four financial years. (AQW 675/07)

Ms Ruane: Armagh Integrated College opened in 2004 as a new grant maintained integrated (GMI) school. As for all new GMI schools, it must satisfy intake criteria set down by the Department of Education before capital grant aid is provided. The capital expenditure for this school has to date been incurred by the Northern Ireland Council for Integrated Education (NICIE) amounting to £59k in 2005-06 and £9.7m in 2006-07.

Special Needs Pupils

Dr William McCrea asked the Minister of Education what is the current policy in relation to enabling young people attending special needs schools to remain in education after their nineteenth birthday, until the end of the school term; and to detail if this policy is equally applied across all education and library board areas in Northern Ireland. (AQW 686/07)

Ms Ruane: The Department of Education has obtained extra-statutory approval for the 2006/07 school year to allow Education and Library Boards to maintain a statement of special educational needs until the end of the school year following the young person’s 19^th birthday. An extension of that approval will be sought for the 2007/08 school year. Boards are currently preparing information for the Department to enable this extra-statutory approval to be sought. The Department of Education will be taking the first available legislative opportunity to amend the current legislation, which only allows Boards to maintain a statement of special educational needs until the end of the school term following the young person’s 19^th birthday.

I have sought and obtained assurances from each education and library board that this change of policy is equally applied across all 5 boards.

Ulster-Scots Language

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Education which organisation made the representation to her department, in January 2001, regarding the lack of educational resources available for the teaching of the Ulster-Scots language. (AQW 702/07)

Ms Ruane: This representation was made by Balnamore Primary School.

Expenditure for Ulster - Scots

Mr Nelson McCausland asked the Minister of Education to itemise the expenditure of £69.95, which was the total expenditure by her Department in relation to Ulster-Scots in the year 2003-2004. (AQW 703/07)

Ms Ruane: This expenditure was due to the translation of a leaflet entitled ‘Information about Transfer Tests and New Post-Primary Arrangements’ into Ulster-Scots.

Funding for Additional Administrative and Support Staff

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education if she will undertake to review the resources allocated to primary schools, with specific reference to the provision of funding for additional administrative and support staff in schools, and to the discrepancy between the primary school and secondary school surplus funds. (AQW 708/07)

Ms Ruane: The rationale for the differential in funding for primary and secondary schools stems from the additional cost demands which arise for secondary schools in the delivery of the curriculum. I am, however, committed to reducing the current differential and will be looking very carefully, within the resources I can secure for education under the Comprehensive Spending Review, at how we can improve the current balance and allow more investment in early years. At a local level, it is for school boards of governors and principals to determine how best to spend their funding allocations in meeting their needs and priorities, including provision of administrative and support staff. This includes the flexibility, in the interests of prudent financial management, to hold modest surpluses in reserve in order to allow the school to live within its budget allocation or to plan for specific future expenditure.

Teacher Education

Mr David McClarty asked the Minister of Education if she will consider introducing a bursary scheme to support teachers' continuing professional development. (AQW 709/07)

Ms Ruane: My Department and the Department for Employment and Learning are jointly carrying out a review of teacher education.

The Review is almost complete and Sir Reg Empey, the Minister for Employment and Learning and I will, in the coming months, be carefully considering the way forward on all aspects of teacher education. This will include consideration not only of the introduction of a bursary scheme to support teachers’ continuing professional development but also the way forward on all phases of teacher education: initial teacher education, induction, early and continuing professional development. In considering the way forward account will be taken of the overall resources made available for education.

School Meals

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of schools in each Education and Library Board area, where meals are prepared on site, that are buying in pre-packed sandwiches for sale to pupils. (AQW 715/07)

Ms Ruane: The number of schools in each Board area, where meals are provided on-site, that are buying-in pre-packed sandwiches for sale to pupils is:

Belfast: 19

North-Eastern: 12

South-Eastern: 15

Southern: 9

Western: 19

School Meals

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail the amount of funding allocated for the provision of school meals that is actually used for this purpose. (AQW 716/07)

Ms Ruane: Education and Library Boards receive allocations to cover the delivery of the full range of services that they provide, including school meals. It is a matter for each Board to determine how much of its centre allocation is spent on school meals. Additionally, however, my Department is allocating a further £3 million to schools in the current financial year which is ring-fenced and must be used to ensure that expenditure on the food and nutritional content value of school meals amounts to at least 50p in nursery, primary and special schools and 60p in post-primary schools.

Early Years Strategy

Mr Daithí McKay asked the Minister of Education if she will review the maximum size of pre-school education groups, currently set at 26 places, with particular reference to rural areas. (AQW 717/07)

Ms Ruane: My Department is currently working on an Early Years Strategy for the 0-6 age group. Policy responsibility for early years services transferred from DHSSPS to DE in November 2006. I will ensure this issue, particularly as it may impact on rural areas, is taken into consideration as the new policy for early years is developed.

Education Transition Co-ordinators

Dr William McCrea asked the Minister of Education what is the current position in regard to the recruitment of two education transitions co-ordinators per Education and Library Board area, as outlined in the report of the Transitions Inter-departmental Working Group; and to detail when the positions were (a) advertised; and (b) filled. (AQW 722/07)

Ms Ruane: I am advised by the Chief Executive Officers of the Education and Library Boards (ELBs) that following the publication of the Transitions Report in February 2006, all permanent appointments to the post of Education Transition Co-ordinators were made by March 2007.

Home Tuition

Dr William McCrea asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of children who have been in receipt of home tuition in the North Eastern Education and Library Board area in each of the last three years. (AQW 754/07)

Ms Ruane: The information requested is shown in the following table:

School Year	Number of Pupils in Receipt of Home Tuition
2003/04	188
2004/05	242
2005/06	237

Figures for the 2006/07 school year are not yet available.

11+ Examination

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education to explain the rationale behind the instruction given to staff to find a way of replacing the 11+ examination, no matter what form this replacement takes. (AQW 761/07)

Ms Ruane: No such instruction has been given.

Draft Disability Action Plan

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education to explain the reasoning behind the omission of the term 'Northern Ireland' from her department's draft disability action plan, with particular reference to the inclusion of the term in this document when initially posted on the department's website, and its subsequent removal during the course of the week commencing 11 June 2007. (AQW 764/07)

Ms Ruane: The draft Disability Action Plan was published on the Department of Education website on the 5^th June for a limited and targeted consultation.

This version did not reflect my preferred terminology in a number of respects and an amended version was placed on the Departmental website on 7^th June. There were no substantive changes made to the actions or intentions of the plan which are the subject of consultation.

Maintenance Expenditure by SEELB

Mr Jimmy Spratt asked the Minister of Education to detail the total spend on maintenance within the South Eastern Education and Library Board, in this financial year. (AQW 767/07)

Ms Ruane: I have been advised that the amount of maintenance expenditure by the South Eastern Education and Library Board during the 2006/07 financial year was £3,935k.

School Meals

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail what measures she will take to maintain the current level of school meal preparation at schools across Northern Ireland. (AQW 804/07)

Ms Ruane: The arrangements for school meal preparation are an operational matter for the Education and Library Boards. However, the Member will be assured to know that, for 2007-08, the Department is continuing to provide additional, earmarked funding of over £3 million to Education and Library Boards and other school authorities over and above the normal centre budget allocations to improve the quality of food in schools. That funding helps deliver enhanced food and nutritional content value of school meals. It also supports training arrangements for the many hundreds of canteen staff and assists with additional staff costs and preparation time.

Pupils Attending Post Primary Schools

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of children currently attending secondary schools in (a) the state sector; (b) the maintained sector; and (c) the integrated sector, in each Education and Library Board area. (AQW 805/07)

Ms Ruane: The information requested is as follows:

Pupils attending Post Primary Schools in each Education and Library Board Area 2006/07
	Education and Library Board area
School Management Type	Belfast	Western	North Eastern	South Eastern	Southern	Total
Controlled	5,807	6,113	15,442	10,847	11,265	49,474
Maintained1	8,954	10,631	6,130	4,535	11,821	42,071
Integrated2	1,586	1,750	2,122	3,713	1,555	10,726
Voluntary3	14,382	8,482	8,961	6,998	8,671	47,494
Total	30,729	26,976	32,655	26,093	33,312	149,765

Note:

¹Maintained schools include Catholic Maintained and Other Maintained schools.

²Integrated schools include Controlled Integrated and Grant Maintained Integrated schools.

³Voluntary Grammar schools may be Catholic Managed or Other Managed.

Children with Autism

Mr Daithí McKay asked the Minister of Education how she plans to improve services for children with autism. (AQW 822/07)

Ms Ruane: In 2002 the Task Group on Autism published its report providing a framework for action over a ten-year period. Since its publication the Department of Education (DE) has secured additional resources totalling some £7.5m to support positive measures in the area of autism. Many of these measures are already underway, however future measures include:

additional resources for special educational needs (SEN) pressures made available to the Education and Library Boards (ELBs) in 2007/08;

the continued funding of an Interboard Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) group to advise the ELBs’ Regional Strategy Group and DE on progress on ASD-related matters;

the implementation of the strategy for the Interboard ASD Group to progress the work of the group within the ELB’s overall ASD services and to which ELBs are committed;

the ongoing observation by the Education and Training Inspectorate of the use of DE-produced classroom resources to support positive interventions for children with ASD.

the establishment by ELBs of multi-disciplinary, multi-agency intervention practices for children and young people with autism.

The Department plans to work closely with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety, through the SEN Interdepartmental Group, to jointly review ASD provision.

DE and the Department of Education and Science (DES), are taking forward arrangements to enable the Middletown Centre of Excellence for Autism to begin offering services later this year.

In addition, DE and DES are exploring the possibility of jointly hosting an all-island ASD conference, also later this year.

Devenish College

Mr Tom Elliott asked the Minister of Education what is the estimated start date and completion date for the new Devenish College in Co Fermanagh. (AQW 878/07)

Ms Ruane: The Western Education and Library Board has advised that the estimated date for construction work to start on the new Devenish College is autumn 2008 with an estimated completion date of spring 2011.

Expenditure for Teaching Irish Language and Irish-Medium

Mr Simon Hamilton asked the Minister of Education to confirm that, in 2006/07, her department's expenditure on the Irish language and Irish-medium teaching was close to £13 million. (AQW 909/07)

Ms Ruane: The Department of Education’s expenditure on the Irish language and Irish-medium teaching for 2006/07 is provisionally £11,721,530.

Staff Surveys

Mr Stephen Moutray asked the Minister of Education how many staff surveys were carried out by her department in each of the last two years, and what was the total cost. (AQW 914/07)

Ms Ruane: In the two years 1 April 2005 to 31 March 2007 the Department of Education commissioned two staff surveys and the total cost was £10,324

Primary School in Keady

Mr Cathal Boylan asked the Minister of Education what is the future of the state primary school in Keady; and if she will make a statement on the effect of the closure of small rural schools on the local community. (AQW 925/07)

Ms Ruane: The Southern Education and Library Board has initiated discussions with this school on its future but these discussions are at an early stage and no decisions have yet been taken.

Rural schools are an important and integral part of rural life and I fully understand community concerns when the future of such schools is under review. Reviews of small rural schools should be handled carefully with a focus on educational quality and the needs of the children in the area.

Post Retirement Age

Mr David Simpson asked the Minister of Education what facility exists, at present, for members of staff in her department to work in their existing post beyond the default retirement age. (AQW 936/07)

Ms Ruane: Since 1 October 2006 staff in the Department of Education, who want to continue working beyond the default retirement age of 65 can apply to do so. Until the Northern Ireland Civil Service (NICS) policy on the age of retirement has been finalised all such applications are automatically approved for periods of up to 6 months, and extended at up to 6 monthly intervals (subject to the normal performance and attendance requirements).

Number of Pupils Attending Primary School

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of children currently attending primary schools in (a) the state sector; (b) the maintained sector; and (c) the integrated sector, in each Education and Library Board area. (AQW 951/07)

Ms Ruane: The information requested is as follows:

Pupils1 attending Primary Schools in each Education and Library Board Area 2006/07
	Education and Library Board area
School Management Type	Belfast	Western	North Eastern	South Eastern	Southern	Total
Controlled	10,032	9,170	23,957	21,880	14,411	79,450
Maintained2	13,072	20,509	12,054	10,919	22,769	79,323
Integrated3	847	1,105	1,714	2,343	1,282	7,291
Voluntary4	1,320	0	147	615	38	2,120
Total	25,271	30,784	37,872	35,757	38,500	168,184

Note:

Figures include children in nursery, reception and Year 1 – 7 classes.

Maintained schools include Catholic Maintained and Other Maintained schools.

Integrated schools include Controlled Integrated and Grant Maintained Integrated schools.

Includes preparatory departments of Voluntary Grammar schools.

Administrative and Advisory Staff

Mr George Savage asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of additional administrative and advisory staff recruited by (a) Education and Library Boards; and (b) the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools, in the last two years. (AQW 959/07)

Ms Ruane: The 5 Education & Library Boards and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools have advised that they have not recruited any additional administrative and/or advisory staff in the 2005/06 and 2006/07 financial years. This answer relates to permanent appointments that are additional to the 2004/05 approved staffing complement for ELB and CCMS Headquarters based staff. Fixed term appointments and temporary appointments are therefore excluded.

A Vacancy Control Policy was introduced in October 2006 in the Department’s "RPA-affected bodies", following the publication of the agreed Public Service Commission Principle ‘Managing Vacancies Effectively’, to ensure that all reasonable steps are taken to safeguard and secure the employment of existing education sector staff until the new Education and Skills Authority is established.

Heads of Departments Redundancies

Mr George Savage asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of heads of department that will be made redundant, and the total cost of redundancy payments, in (a) each Education and Library Board; and (b) the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools. (AQW 960/07)

Ms Ruane: The number of posts in the Education and Skills Authority will be determined by the arrangements established for the delivery of services and the associated organisational structure. Work in these areas is ongoing and it is not therefore possible, at this stage, to determine the number and cost of redundancies arising from the establishment of ESA.

Every effort will be made to avoid compulsory redundancies and as part of this process a Vacancy Control Policy has been put in place across existing education organisations.

Second Tier Officer Redundancies

Mr George Savage asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of second tier officers that will be made redundant, and the total cost of redundancy payments, in (a) each Education and Library Board; and (b) the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools. (AQW 961/07)

Ms Ruane: The number of posts in the Education and Skills Authority will be determined by the arrangements established for the delivery of services and the associated organisational structure. Work in these areas is ongoing and it is not therefore possible, at this stage, to determine the number and cost of redundancies arising from the establishment of ESA.

Every effort will be made to avoid compulsory redundancies and as part of this process a Vacancy Control Policy has been put in place across existing education organisations.

Chief Executive Redundancies

Mr George Savage asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of Chief Executives that will be made redundant, and the total cost of redundancy payments, in (a) each Education and Library Board; and (b) the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools. (AQW 962/07)

Ms Ruane: The number of posts in the Education and Skills Authority will be determined by the arrangements established for the delivery of services and the associated organisational structure. Work in these areas is ongoing and it is not therefore possible, at this stage, to determine the number and cost of redundancies arising from the establishment of ESA.

Every effort will be made to avoid compulsory redundancies and as part of this process a Vacancy Control Policy has been put in place across existing education organisations.

Suicide Prevention in Schools

Ms Carál Ní Chuilín asked the Minister of Education what plans she has to liaise with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in the development of strategies and support, in order to address suicide prevention within schools and the community sector. (AQW 967/07)

Ms Ruane: The Department of Education contributed to the development of the Suicide Prevention Strategy published by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in March 2006. My Department is also an active member of the Suicide Strategy Implementation Body. The action plan for this Body sets out a number of measures aimed at preventing suicide across all age groups and communities. These actions require close co-operation across Departments as well as with the statutory, voluntary and community sectors.

I have met with the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety to examine progress with these measures and to discuss how to ensure effective co-operative working in this area. I plan to continue monitoring progress on a regular basis.

Alcohol Abuse in Schools

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of pupils excluded from schools as a result of alcohol abuse, broken down by Education and Library Board area, in each of the last three years. (AQW 990/07)

Ms Ruane: Statistics on the reasons for pupil suspension are gathered annually from each Education and Library Board, and relate to the number of incidents of suspension not to the number of pupils suspended. In 2002/03, data on alcohol abuse was combined with data on substance abuse, however from 2003/04 it has been identified separately. Available information on the number of incidences of suspension for alcohol abuse is shown in the following table:

Number of incidences of pupils being suspended for Alcohol Abuse by ELB area
	2003/04	2004/05
Belfast	3	6
Western	11	14
North Eastern	0	16
South Eastern	29	7
Southern	8	27
Total	51	70
Note
There was a change in the data collection systems between these two years

Reasons for pupil expulsions were first collected in 2003/04, and alcohol abuse was combined with data on substance abuse. In 2004/05, data on alcohol abuse was collected separately and, in that year, there were 2 pupils expelled for this reason.

The suspension and expulsions statistics for the 2005/06 school year are currently being analysed and will be placed on the DE website when this has been completed.

Promotions in Catholic Maintained Schools

Mr George Savage asked the Minister of Education how many existing staff in (a) each Education and Library Board; and (b) the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools have been promoted, in advance of the implementation of the Review of Public Administration recommendations. (AQW 993/07)

Ms Ruane: The 5 Education and Library Boards (ELBs) and the Council for Catholic Maintained Schools (CCMS) have provided the following information for the period 22 November 2005 (when the Review of Public Administration was announced) to 31 March 2007. The information relates only to non-teaching ELB and CCMS headquarter based staff and reflects only permanent promotions, ie fixed term promotions and temporary promotions are excluded.

BELB	WELB	NEELB	SEELB	SELB	CCMS
15	20	23	16	29	6

Teacher to Pupil Ratios

Mr Pat Ramsey asked the Minister of Education to detail the current target teacher-to-pupil ratios at each of the key stages in primary and secondary schools; and what plans she has to change target ratios in the near future. (AQW 1008/07)

Ms Ruane: The Department of Education does not set targets for pupil: teacher ratios. It is for schools to decide, within their delegated budgets, how many teachers to employ.

Pupil:teacher ratios are compiled and published each year by the Department based on pupil numbers from the Annual School Census and teacher numbers verified with schools.

The following table provides the current (2006/07) pupil:teacher ratios for schools in the North of Ireland by school type.

School type	Pupil: teacher ratio
Nursery	25.9
Primary*	20.8
Preparatory	16.8
Secondary	14.0
Grammar	15.3
Special	5.9
All	16.9

*includes pupils and teachers in Nursery classes

School Attendance

Mr Pat Ramsey asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of children attending primary and secondary schools in the years (a) 1985; (b) 1990; (c) 1995; (d) 2000; and (e) 2005. (AQW 1010/07)

Ms Ruane: The information requested is as follows:

Primary	Secondary
1985/86 1990/91 1995/96 2000/01 2005/06	182,697 152,917 184,874 141,146 185,413 151,576 172,491 155,553 161,143 151,840

Note:

Figures for primary include pupils in primary schools and preparatory departments in grammar schools in years 1 – 7.

Secondary includes both secondary and grammar schools

Pupils Learning English as an Additional Language

Mr Dominic Bradley asked the Minister of Education how many pupils learning English as an additional language are attending (a) primary schools; (b) special schools; (c) post-primary selective schools; (d) post-primary non-selective schools, in each of the Education and Library Board areas, and what are the countries of origin of these pupils. (AQW 1015/07)

Ms Ruane: Information on the country of origin of pupils learning English as an Additional Language is not collected. The number of pupils with English as an Additional Language in each school sector, by Education and Library Board and by main language spoken is as follows:

English as an Additional Language pupils in primary¹ schools by first language spoken ²

Main Language spoken	Belfast	Western	North Eastern	South Eastern	Southern	TOTAL
Polish	79	120	120	30	261	610
Lithuanian	10	25	31	22	274	362
Portuguese	*	*	15	*	193	217
Filipino	62	16	19	46	25	168
Cantonese	42	9	32	44	15	142
Malayam	38	13	17	18	0	86
Hindi	19	*	22	8	10	63
Arabic	12	7	6	17	*	43
Latvian	0	6	5	*	28	43
Indian	6	5	9	18	*	41
Bengali	16	0	*	19	*	39
Slovakian	13	*	8	*	14	39
Mandarin	10	7	6	*	7	34
Urdu	9	7	8	*	6	32
Punjabi	13	5	9	*	*	31
Russian	7	*	7	*	13	31
German	7	*	6	5	7	29
Tagalog	13	*	6	7	0	28
Spanish	7	*	*	7	*	22
Malaysian	5	*	*	*	*	15
French	5	*	*	0	*	14
Hungarian	*	7	*	0	*	13
Gujarati	*	*	0	0	7	10
Italian	*	0	0	7	*	10
Czech	*	0	7	0	0	9
Chinese	*	0	*	*	*	8
Albanian	7	0	0	0	0	7
Korean	*	*	*	0	0	6
Thai	*	*	0	*	0	6
Dutch	*	0	*	*	*	5
Farsi (Persian)	0	5	0	0	0	5
Other Languages/ not specified3	55	33	68	47	54	257
TOTAL	453	292	417	325	938	2,425

English as an Additional Language pupils in special schools by first language spoken ²

Main Language spoken	Belfast	Western	North Eastern	South Eastern	Southern	TOTAL
Other Languages/ not specified3	3	*	8	6	*	21

English as an Additional Language pupils in post primary selective schools by first language spoken ²

Main Language spoken	Belfast	Western	North Eastern	South Eastern	Southern	TOTAL
Cantonese	66	*	*	8	44	122
Polish	*	7	*	*	*	17
Lithuanian	*	*	0	0	5	8
Indian	0	*	*	*	0	7
Mandarin	6	0	0	0	*	7
Filipino	*	0	0	0	*	5
German	*	0	0	*	0	5
Urdu	*	0	0	*	0	5
Other Languages/ not specified3	33	7	12	9	*	63
TOTAL	119	19	21	23	57	239

English as an Additional Language pupils in post primary non selective schools by first language spoken ²

Main Language spoken	Belfast	Western	North Eastern	South Eastern	Southern	TOTAL
Polish	32	24	41	19	113	229
Lithuanian	5	14	7	22	118	166
Portuguese	*	*	0	6	102	112
Cantonese	13	6	8	29	8	64
Filipino	43	*	*	*	*	53
Latvian	0	6	*	*	21	30
Spanish	*	*	0	*	17	21
Hindi	*	0	5	8	*	18
Indian	6	6	0	5	0	17
Bengali	6	0	0	6	*	13
Mandarin	*	*	*	*	*	13
Urdu	0	0	*	*	7	12
German	0	9	0	*	0	10
Hungarian	0	*	0	0	7	10
Arabic	5	*	0	0	0	8
Punjabi	0	0	5	*	*	8
Malaysian	*	*	0	0	*	5
Other Languages3	12	17	17	20	54	120
TOTAL	133	100	92	125	459	909

Notes:

"*" denotes fewer than 5 pupils.

Figures for primary schools include preparatory departments in grammar schools and enrolments in years 1 – 7.

Country of origin information is not collected by the Department. An alternative indicator is the main language spoken by these pupils. It is this information that has been provided.

The "Other Languages" category includes those languages which were listed by schools as ‘Other first language spoken’, as well as those first languages were there were very small numbers of pupils listed.

New School at Glastry

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education to outline whether a price been agreed concerning the site for a new school at Glastry, following the discussions between the South Eastern Education and Library Board and the landowners. (AQW 1016/07)

Ms Ruane: Negotiations for the purchase of the land are currently ongoing between the Land and Property Services (Valuation and Lands Agency), who are acting for the South Eastern Education and Library Board, and the landowners. Subject to the outcome of these negotiations the Board have advised that they hope to complete the acquisition of the land within the current financial year.

Sale of Land for Glastry College

Mr Jim Shannon asked the Minister of Education to give a timescale for the completion of the sale of land for Glastry College; and to outline whether a direct contract been developed with the landowners, and, if so, what has been the outcome of negotiations. (AQW 1017/07)

Ms Ruane: Negotiations for the purchase of the land are currently ongoing between the Land and Property Services (Valuation and Lands Agency), who are acting for the South Eastern Education and Library Board, and the landowners. Subject to the outcome of these negotiations the Board have advised that they hope to complete the acquisition of the land within the current financial year.

English as an Additional Language

Mr Dominic Bradley asked the Minister of Education to detail (a) the number of pupils learning English as an additional language that are currently fee-paying boarding pupils in schools in Northern Ireland; (b) what schools they attend; and (c) what are their countries of origin. (AQW 1018/07)

Ms Ruane: Information on the countries of origin of pupils learning English as an Additional Language is not collected. In 2006/07 the number of pupils with English as an Additional Language who are fee-paying boarding pupils by school attended and by main language spoken is as follows:

Main Language spoken

	Cantonese	Mandarin	Russian	Other
METHODIST COLLEGE	22	*	*	*
VICTORIA COLLEGE	8	*	0	0
THE ROYAL SCHOOL DUNGANNON	30	0	0	0

Notes:

"*" denotes fewer than 5 pupils

Country of origin information is not collected by the Department. An alternative indicator is the main language spoken by these pupils. It is this information that has been provided.

Vandalism at Schools

Mrs Iris Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail the cost of damage caused by vandalism at schools in each Education and Library Board area, in each of the last three years. (AQW 1029/07)

Ms Ruane: The Education and Library Boards have provided the following information on the cost of repairing vandalism in controlled and maintained schools in each of the last three years:

Board Area	2004/05 £000s	2005/06 £000s	2006/07 £000s
Belfast	115	131	60
Western	55	63	58
North Eastern	180	134	194
South Eastern	132	129	122
Southern	157	222	128
Total	639	679	562

Figures rounded to the nearest £1,000.

Information for Voluntary Grammar and Grant Maintained Integrated Schools is as follows:

Board Area	2004/05 £000	2005/06 £000
Belfast	29	27
Western	1	-
North Eastern	1	3
South Eastern	6	3
Southern	2	19
Total	39	52

The information for 2006/07 for schools in the Voluntary Grammar and Integrated sectors is not yet available and has been requested. I will write to you with the information as soon as possible.

Special Education

Dr William McCrea asked the Minister of Education if she will determine when the fundamental review of Special Education will be published. (AQW 1030/07)

Ms Ruane: It is anticipated that the policy proposals which have emerged from the review will be published for consultation by January 2008 following consideration by the Education Committee.

Unqualified Teachers in Irish Language Schools

Mr Sammy Wilson asked the Minister of Education to outline whether any comment has been made by inspectors on the impact of unqualified teachers teaching in Irish language schools. (AQW 1036/07)

Ms Ruane: The Education and Training Inspectorate (Inspectorate) has made comment to the Department of Education, in relation to its review of Irish Medium Education, of the need to ensure, that all teachers in Irish Medium schools have a recognised teaching qualification. The Inspectorate gives similar advice in relation to all teachers in all schools.

Formal Teaching Qualifications for Teachers in Irish Language Schools

Mr Sammy Wilson asked the Minister of Education what plans she has to require teachers in Irish language schools to have formal teaching qualifications. (AQW 1037/07)

Ms Ruane: The Teachers’ (Eligibility) Regulations 1997 require that all teachers hold the relevant qualifications as laid down by the Department. This provision covers all sectors.

All teachers employed currently in Irish Medium schools on Permanent, Pro rata or Job share contracts are confirmed as eligible to teach.

However, under the provisions of the Teachers' (Eligibility) Regulations 1997 an employer may appoint, for a period normally not exceeding 4 weeks, a person who is not eligible to teach.

There are currently 25 unqualified teachers employed by virtue of this provision in Irish Medium schools.

Unqualified Teachers in Irish Language Schools

Mr Sammy Wilson asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of teachers in Irish language schools who do not have a formal teaching qualification. (AQW 1039/07)

Ms Ruane: The Teachers’ (Eligibility) Regulations 1997 require that all teachers hold the relevant qualifications as laid down by the Department. This provision covers all sectors.

All teachers employed currently in Irish Medium schools on Permanent, Pro rata or Job share contracts are confirmed as eligible to teach.

However, under the provisions of the Teachers' (Eligibility) Regulations 1997 an employer may appoint, for a period normally not exceeding 4 weeks, a person who is not eligible to teach.

There are currently 25 unqualified teachers employed by virtue of this provision in Irish Medium schools.

Modern Languages

Mr Alastair Ross asked the Minister of Education what efforts are being made to encourage more children to study modern languages. (AQW 1040/07)

Ms Ruane: I am introducing a primary languages programme from September 2007 to give our youngest pupils an enjoyable introduction to language learning, with a view to encouraging them to continue with languages at post-primary and beyond.

The purpose of this initiative is to prepare the ground for the languages strategy, which the Department has asked the universities to develop by March 2008. The strategy will include recommendations on how we can encourage greater uptake of language learning at all levels of education.

Under-Spend in Capital Investment

Mr Patsy McGlone asked the Minister of Education to detail the reason for her department's £30.7 million under-spend in capital investment in 2006/07, in light of the deteriorating conditions of school premises and the accepted cases for renovation and new build for schools. (AQW 1052/07)

Ms Ruane: Of the £30.7million under-spend in capital incurred in 2006/07, £28.9million was attributable to the schools capital programme. This under-spend arose from issues arising for individual building projects. The main reasons were delays in planning approvals and, site purchase, site difficulties and reviews of projected enrolments. The funding committed to those capital projects where there has been slippage in spending will be carried forward for those projects in future years.

Children Suspended from Schools

Mr Roy Beggs asked the Minister of Education to advise of the number of children per thousand who have been suspended from schools, broken down by (a) Education and Library Board; and (b) District Council area or postcode area, in each of the last 5 years. (AQW 1057/07)

Ms Ruane: The information requested is set out in the following tables:

	2000/01	2001/02	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05
BELB	17.2	20.1	16.8	20.1	19.0
NEELB	16.5	15.3	16.7	18.0	18.7
SEELB	12.6	14.4	15.6	15.6	15.4
SELB	10.5	12.6	16.2	15.1	14.7
WELB	14.9	14.5	15.0	15.7	16.6
All Boards	14.2	15.3	16.1	16.8	16.8

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No. of pupils per thousand suspended from schools by DC area
	2002/03	2003/04	2004/05
Antrim	22.1	18.4	18.9
Ards	14.0	15.9	14.0
Armagh	13.4	7.6	10.4
Ballymena	17.6	20.6	18.5
Ballymoney	15.7	23.9	19.8
Banbridge	6.3	10.9	12.3
Belfast	16.2	19.5	18.5
Carrickfergus	18.2	17.9	18.6
Castlereagh	18.6	17.2	25.3
Coleraine	20.1	21.9	22.8
Cookstown	20.9	20.4	18.4