This publication contains the written answers to questions tabled by Members. The content of the responses is as received at the time from the relevant Minister or representative of the Assembly Commission and has not been subject to the official reporting process or changed in any way.

Friday 23 November 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

Victims' Groups

Mr S Moutray asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, pursuant to the answer to AQW 617/08, to detail what issues relating to victims of the Troubles were discussed during the deputy First Minister's meeting with the Disabled Police Officers' Association.

(AQW 1481/08)

The First Minister and deputy First Minister (Rt Hon I Paisley and Mr M McGuinness): The deputy First Minister met representatives of the Disabled Police Officers' Association on 21^st May 2007. This was their first meeting and as such was very much exploratory in nature. The meeting was constructive and the deputy First Minister offered to meet the group again in the future.

LGBT Funding

Mr J Wells asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail all funding it has awarded to organisations working with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community in each of the last five financial years.

(AQW 1512/08)

Rt Hon I Paisley and Mr M McGuinness: Details are as follows:

Year	Amount (£)
2003/2004	£1,000
2004/2005	£2,200
2005/2006	£3,500
2006/2007	£50,622.52
2007/2008 (to end October 2007)	£50,500

Former Secretary of State, Peter Hain, awarded a short-term financial package of £230,000 to the LGB sector to roll out over two years (06/07 and 07/08).

No new funding arrangement has been agreed.

Junior Ministers

Mr J Dallat asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail whether or not the visits of the junior Minister to China and Zurich earlier this year were in an official capacity, or if these were private trips.

(AQW 1542/08)

Rt Hon I Paisley and Mr M McGuinness: Junior Ministers Paisley and Kelly have not made any official visits to China or Switzerland.

Draft Programme for Government 2008-11

Mrs N Long asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to identify one key goal in the draft Programme for Government 2008-11, within each government department, that will promote good relations.

(AQW 1579/08)

Rt Hon I Paisley and Mr M McGuinness: The Programme for Government aims to provide a strategic framework and focus across Government to address the key challenges the Executive face and grasp the opportunities available to build a better future for everyone. Those challenges are cross-cutting and they can only be addressed by a joined-up and co-ordinated approach across Government, rather than a narrow focus on departmental areas of responsibility. Recognising this, the key goals outlined in the Programme for Government are not framed along departmental lines, but are goals for the entire Executive.

Every one of the priorities and key goals in the draft Programme for Government, will contribute to the Executive’s aim of building a peaceful, fair and prosperous society in Northern Ireland, with respect for the rule of law and where everyone can enjoy a better quality of life now and in years to come. The Executive’s priority is to promote tolerance, inclusion and health and wellbeing as set out in the Programme for Government.Every government department has a statutory duty to promote good relations under section 75(2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and, as the deputy First Minister stated during oral answers to questions to the First Minister and deputy First Minister on 22 October, "we will bring forward detailed proposals for a programme of cohesion and integration". We will bring forward detailed plans early in the New Year.The Executive recognises that effectively promoting good relations requires action not only to promote tolerance, but also to address inequalities, disadvantage and exclusion both at a local and regional level, and ensure that everyone can contribute to and benefit from increased prosperity and live in sustainable, safe and attractive environments.This approach is reflected throughout the draft Programme for Government document and is directly addressed under a number of the key goals and the associated PSA framework. Delivery of the overall Programme for Government will therefore, contribute to the promotion of good relations.

Byron Review - Children and New Technology

Mr R Beggs asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail whether or not it has been contacted by the Byron Review - Children and New Technology; and if it intends to respond to any such request.

(AQW 1675/08)

Rt Hon I Paisley and Mr M McGuinness: We are aware of the Byron Review looking at the risks to children and young people from exposure to potentially harmful or inappropriate material on the internet and in video games.

We are very supportive of Dr Byron’s review. However we have not been contacted by her and so we cannot say how we would respond until we have had sight of any request.

Pledge of Office

Mr D McNarry asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister what is its assessment of whether or not all members of the Executive are abiding by the terms of the Pledge of Office in relation to (i) commitment to non-violence and exclusively peaceful and democratic means; (ii) actively encouraging everyone in the community to co-operate fully with the PSNI in tackling crime in all areas; and (iii) actively supporting all the policing and criminal justice institutions.

(AQW 1798/08)

Rt Hon I Paisley and Mr M McGuinness: All members of the Executive affirmed the Pledge of Office on taking up their portfolios on 8 May 2007. All Ministers continue to abide by the terms of that pledge.

Agriculture and Rural Development

Community Facilities at Seskinore Forest, Co. Tyrone

Mr P Doherty asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what plans she has to upgrade community facilities at Seskinore forest, Co. Tyrone.

(AQW 1382/08)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms M Gildernew): My Department has no plans to upgrade facilities at Seskinore Forest. The buildings are no longer required by Forest Service for operational purposes. Following an expression of interest competition, Forest Service has engaged with a local Community Group regarding its interest in the future use of the buildings and this remains on-going. In the meantime the Community Group secure permission on an ad hoc basis to use the facilities.

 

Forestry

Mr A Bresland asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the level of support available to farmers who are interested in forestry.

(AQW 1385/08)

Ms M Gildernew: Under the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, my Department’s Forest Service can provide grant aid and advice to help farmers create new woodland and manage existing woodland.

Standard grants are available for creation of conventional woodland at £1,850 per hectare for broadleaves and £1,250 per hectare for conifers. Support for establishment of Short Rotation Coppice (SRC) willow is available, for up to 40% or 50% of eligible costs, up to a ceiling of £1,000 per hectare.

In addition, some farmers may be eligible for annual payments to compensate for agricultural income forgone by creating woodland. Payments are made for 15 years for broadleaf woodland and 10 years for conifer woodland. The payment rates for new applicants vary depending on their land category: Arable or improved land outside a Less Favoured Area (LFA) receives £270 per hectare, in a Disadvantaged Area (DA) it receives £220 per hectare and in a Severely Disadvantaged Area (SDA) it receives £160 per hectare. Unimproved land outside a LFA is ineligible for payments, in a DA it receives £60 per hectare, and in a SDA it receives £60 per ha hectare.

Support is also available for farmers with existing woodlands in the form of a Woodland Environment Grant which assists significant enhancement of biodiversity at 50% of agreed costs and a Sustainable Forestry Operations Grant which assists environmental improvements over a five year period.

 

Tourism on the Foyle River

Mr A Bresland asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline the role of the Loughs Agency in promoting tourism on the Foyle river system.

(AQW 1392/08)

Ms M Gildernew: Part 6 of Annex 2 of The North/South Co-operation (Implementation Bodies) (Northern Ireland) Order 1999 provides the Loughs Agency with the following functions:

1. Promotion of development of Lough Foyle and Carlingford Lough for commercial and recreational purposes:

1.1 This function is restricted to marine, fishery and aquaculture matters and will include the preparation of a strategic plan for commercial and recreational development of the Foyle and Carlingford Areas, and the promotion (including grant aid) and co-ordination of the delivery of the development strategy;

2. Existing functions of the Foyle Fisheries Commission in regard to inland fisheries conservation, protection, management and development, and equivalent functions in respect of Carlingford Lough:

2.1 The Body will exercise the functions formerly exercised by the Foyle Fisheries Commission, which will be dissolved, and corresponding functions in relation to the Carlingford Area. Legislation will be introduced to provide for the exercise of an inland fisheries development function in relation to the Foyle and Carlingford Areas ….

3. Development and licensing of aquaculture;

4. Development of marine tourism:

4.1 This function will include the preparation of a strategic plan for marine tourism in the Foyle and Carlingford Areas and the promotion and marketing of those Areas (including grant aid) and co-ordination of the delivery of the development strategy.

In fulfilment of its functions the Loughs Agency has prepared, and is to deliver, a Marine Tourism Development Strategy in partnership with local authorities; port authorities; regional tourism bodies, the Northern Ireland Tourist Board; Board Failte and Tourism Ireland Ltd; yacht and power boat clubs; the Marine Coastguard Agency; the Environment and Heritage Service and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. The draft Strategy was consulted on in 2006. This Strategy makes provision for the strategic development of angling in the Foyle river system and is to be considered by the North South Ministerial Council at the next Sectoral meeting.

 

Agri-Food and Biosciences

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the exchanges that have taken place between her department and the Department of Agriculture in the Republic of Ireland on issues relating to agri-food and biosciences, since May 2007; and what plans she has to work towards the development of an all-island institute to deal with programmes common to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

(AQW 1411/08)

Ms M Gildernew: At this point in time, I have no plans to seek to develop an all-island institute in relation to agri-food and biosciences programmes, nor have there been any exchanges between my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in Dublin since May 2007 on this.

However, the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) is very active in maintaining and developing links with scientific bodies throughout Ireland in pursuit of mutually beneficial research and scientific opportunities.

Castlederg Nursery

Mr P Doherty asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline her department's intentions in relation to future production at Castlederg nursery.

(AQW 1432/08)

Ms M Gildernew: My Department intends to cease plant production at Castlederg nursery by April 2008. The decision to cease plant production was taken in May 2006, and production has been progressively run down since then. The reasons for the decision included cost issues, improving efficiencies and increased operational flexibilities.

No redundancies were envisaged due to the scope to offer alternative forest work and this remains the case. An implementation plan dealing with the impacts of the closure has been developed and discussed in detail with all staff involved.

Construction of Gabions

Mr P Doherty asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what plans her department has to construct gabions on Killyclogher Burn at the rear of Knockmore bungalows, to prevent the further erosion of properties at this location.

(AQW 1433/08)

Ms M Gildernew: The Department has no plans, at present, to construct gabions on the Killyclogher Burn as the erosion is not affecting dwellings and the level of expenditure to provide further bank protection to the properties at Knocknamoe Bunglows could not be deemed cost beneficial and therefore not justified.

 

Response to Correspondence

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the longest period of time her department has taken to provide a full response to a letter received from (i) a Member of Parliament; (ii) a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly; (iii) a Councillor; and (iv) a member of the public, since March 2007.

(AQW 1483/08)

Ms M Gildernew: Our figures cover the period 8^th May 2007 to date. The figures stated are working days and cover the 4 categories mentioned above.

From	Days taken to Reply
MP	31
MLA	73
Councillor	36
Member of Public	59

 

Coastline Defences

Mr W Clarke asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to state which agency within her department is responsible for identifying areas of land around the coastline of Northern Ireland that are susceptible to the impact of rising sea levels; and to detail the location of these areas.

(AQW 1565/08)

Ms M Gildernew: DARD Rivers Agency, acts as the drainage and flood defence authority for Northern Ireland with the primary aim of reducing risk to life and damage to property from flooding from rivers and the sea. The Agency is currently developing coastal flood risk maps in the context of the broader requirement for mapping all flood risk areas across Northern Ireland. The first series of maps will be at a strategic level denoting the undefended floodplains ie the areas at risk of flooding from the present day sea levels and in the absence of current sea defences. These maps are expected to be available in Spring 2008. A second series of maps will then be produced which will detail sea defences that provide a measure of protection from sea inundation.

Bovine Tuberculosis and Brucellosis

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to give her assessment of the effectiveness of her department's strategy in combating bovine tuberculosis and brucellosis in the North Antrim constituency.

(AQW 1567/08)

Ms M Gildernew: The information in my response relates to my Department’s Coleraine and Ballymena Divisional Veterinary Office areas, as my Department does not hold information on a constituency basis.

The Bovine Tuberculosis (TB) programme in the North is based on the detection of diseased or high risk animals, the compulsory removal of these animals from their herd of origin to slaughter, and the restriction of movements of cattle from infected herds until they are tested clear. Generally, individual animals that test positive are removed rather than the whole herd.

Since 2002, there has been clear evidence of a significant decline in the incidence of TB here. The herd incidence peaked in 2002 at 9.93% and has now dropped to 5.23% as at the end of September. For the period September 2004 to September 2007, the overall herd incidence for TB has fallen by 48% across the Coleraine and Ballymena Divisions.

The brucellosis control programme in the North is based on the detection of diseased or high risk animals, compulsory removal of these animals for slaughter, removal of all in-contact animals, group or whole herd depopulation, and immediate restriction of all movements from or to infected herds until they are depopulated or tested clear. Generally whole herds are depopulated when infected animals are detected.

Over the last few years, there has been clear evidence of significant decline in the incidence of brucellosis from its peak at the start of 2002 when the herd incidence reached 1.43%. Overall, the trend remained downwards until 2006-07 when specific localised disease clusters halted the decline. This recent rise peaked in October 2006 at 0.6% but has since levelled off. The annual herd incidence for brucellosis at the end of September 2007 was 0.52%, and the incidence across the Coleraine and Ballymena Divisions was 0.24%.

Based on the current figures, my assessment is that overall my Department’s strategy has been effective in combating bovine TB and Brucellosis in the North Antrim area.

 

Tuberculosis and Brucellosis in Livestock

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the number of confirmed cases of tuberculosis or brucellosis in livestock in North Antrim in each of the last three years.

(AQW 1571/08)

Ms M Gildernew: The annual number of confirmed tuberculosis cases in North Antrim

2006-07 - 40

2005-06 – 61

2004-05 - 96

The annual number of confirmed brucellosis cases in North Antrim

2006-07 – 2

2005-06 – 0

2004-05 - 1

 

Culture, Arts and Leisure

National Memorial Committee

Mr R Newton asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to give a timescale within which the National Memorial Committee will report.

(AQW 1371/08)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr E Poots): I will answer these three questions together. The National Memorial Committee was launched on 15 October 2003. It is a Committee which is independent of Government and as such is outside the remit of my Department. Questions relating to this committee should be directed to the committee chair, Mr David Campbell. Mr Campbell can be reached at National Memorial Committee, Room 10, Third Floor, Interpoint Building, 20-24 York St, Belfast, BT14 1AQ.

 

National Memorial Committee

Mr R Newton asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the terms of reference for the National Memorial Committee.

(AQW 1372/08)

Mr E Poots: I will answer these three questions together. The National Memorial Committee was launched on 15 October 2003. It is a Committee which is independent of Government and as such is outside the remit of my Department. Questions relating to this committee should be directed to the committee chair, Mr David Campbell. Mr Campbell can be reached at National Memorial Committee, Room 10, Third Floor, Interpoint Building, 20-24 York St, Belfast, BT14 1AQ.

 

National Memorial Committee

Mr R Newton asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the current membership of the National Memorial Committee.

(AQW 1373/08)

Mr E Poots: I will answer these three questions together. The National Memorial Committee was launched on 15 October 2003. It is a Committee which is independent of Government and as such is outside the remit of my Department. Questions relating to this committee should be directed to the committee chair, Mr David Campbell. Mr Campbell can be reached at National Memorial Committee, Room 10, Third Floor, Interpoint Building, 20-24 York St, Belfast, BT14 1AQ.

 

Comprehensive Spending Review

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail his department's bids in relation to the Comprehensive Spending Review; and to report on what degree of funding has been allocated against them in the draft Budget 2008/11.

(AQW 1445/08)

Mr E Poots: I am aware that this Question was due for Answer on the 20th of November, and I apologise to the Member for the delay

The Department’s resource bids in relation to the Comprehensive Spending Review were as follows:

Table 1 : Resource Bids

Bid	Title	Resource amount required
		2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	Total
		£m	£m	£m	£m
Resource Consequentials*	Relates to ISNI 2 capital projects (inc PRONI non cash costs)	5.337	5.883	10.315	21.535
		5.337	5.883	10.315	21.535
Olympics 2012 & Sports Strategy	Sport Strategy (including Olympics)	11.825	21.323	25.447	58.595
		11.825	21.323	25.447	58.595
Culture and Linguistic Diversity and Waterways Programmes	Sign Language	0.500	0.500	0.500	1.500
	Ulster Scots Agency - St. Andrews Agreement	0.750	1.000	1.000	2.750
	Waterways Ireland	0.000	0.020	0.150	0.170
	Foras na Gaeilge	0.443	0.443	0.443	1.329
	Ulster Scots Agency	1.851	2.913	3.226	7.990
	ILBF - to increase provision to 100hrs per annum	1.000	2.305	4.000	7.305
	Irish Language Act - DCAL unit	0.141	0.185	0.000	0.326
		4.685	7.366	9.319	21.370
Creative Northern Ireland	Parity funding for Arts Council	6.731	7.017	7.258	21.006
	Creative Accreditation Scheme	0.120	0.240	0.420	0.780
	Cultural Production Fund	2.498	2.498	2.498	7.494
	Creative Industries Seed Fund	1.000	2.000	2.000	5.000
		10.349	11.755	12.176	34.280

 

Bid	Title	Resource amount required
		2008-09	2009-10	2010-11	Total
		£m	£m	£m	£m
Priority Funding
Skills and Science Children and Young People	Skills and Science (Armagh Observatory)	0.205	0.215	0.225	0.645
	Skills and Science (Armagh Planetarium)	0.200	0.200	0.200	0.600
	Skills and Science (W5)	0.824	0.848	0.874	2.546
	Libraries - Bookstart/Young Adults	2.000	2.000	2.000	6.000
	Schools Film Club	0.200	0.200	0.200	0.600
	Mainstream Creative Learning Centres	0.565	0.565	0.565	1.695
	Creative Youth Partnerships	1.000	1.000	1.000	3.000
	Children & Young People (Sport NI)	0.100	0.100	0.100	0.300
	Sound and Vision (W5)	0.100	0.100	0.100	0.300
		5.194	5.228	5.264	15.686
Accessing and Connecting Collections - Digitisation	Connecting Collections - Digitisation NMNI	0.600	0.880	0.920	2.400
	Digitisation - Libraries	0.500	0.500	0.500	1.500
	Annual Digitisation Exercise - PRONI	0.103	0.109	0.115	0.327
	New Accommodation - AWAKEN - PRONI	0.050	0.100	0.100	0.250
	E-CATNI write-off and IT res conseq - PRONI	0.226	0.220	0.213	0.659
	Front Line Services - PRONI	0.215	0.345	0.477	1.037
		1.694	2.154	2.325	6.173
RPA and Reform	Library Authority Start-up costs	6.150	6.300	2.310	14.760
	RPA bid - FCB into dept. incl receipts	0.755	0.783	0.813	2.351
	Shared Service Centre - Computer/ICT costs	0.000	0.350	0.350	0.700
	Digital Preservation Repository	0.162	0.184	0.206	0.552
	AOAP Non Cash Costs	0.511	0.493	0.466	1.470
	Admin Costs	0.168	-	-	0.168
		7.746	8.110	4.145	20.001
Salmon and Eel management	European Fisheries Fund	0.750	0.750	0.750	2.250
	Salmon and Eel management plans	0.475	1.337	1.625	3.437
	Public Angling Estate	0.075	0.083	0.091	0.249
		1.300	2.170	2.466	5.936
Lifelong Learning	Maximising Access to NI Library Service	4.700	4.100	4.300	13.100
		4.700	4.100	4.300	13.100
Overall Total		52.830	68.089	75.757	196.676

The Department’s capital bids in relation to the Comprehensive Spending Review were as follows:

Table 2 : Capital Bids

		Capital Amount Required			CSR
Bid	Title	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11	Total
		£m	£m	£m	£m
Libraries	Receipts	- 1.000	- 1.000	- 1.000	- 3.000
	Minor Capital	0.500	0.500	0.500	1.500
	Vehicle Replacement	-	0.260	0.280	0.540
	New Library Authority	8.913	15.442	15.791	40.146
	Belfast Central Library	-	-	11.500	11.500
		8.413	15.202	27.071	50.686
Arts & Creativity	Old Museum Arts Centre	3.737	3.949	-	7.686
	Gallery Provision	1.710	0.750	-	2.460
	Lyric Players Theatre	2.500	2.500	2.500	7.500
	Crescent Arts Centre	2.248	1.250	-	3.498
	Arts Council minor capital	0.041	0.031	0.031	0.103
	North West challenge	2.400	-	-	2.400
	Oh Yeah	1.000	-	-	1.000
	Arts Infrastructure	1.600	2.100	10.600	14.300
		15.236	10.580	13.131	38.947
Museums	Receipts	- 4.600	-	-	- 4.600
	Ulster Museum Refurb	3.135	-	-	3.135
	Minor Capital	0.050	0.250	0.250	0.550
	Armagh O&P Oper	0.050	0.050	0.050	0.150
	W5 Renewals	0.400	0.400	0.400	1.200
	Resurfacing car park	0.250	-	-	0.250
	Capital Maintenance	1.200	2.800	1.200	5.200
	Collections Resource Centre	-	1.000	11.600	12.600
	Cultra Manor	-	1.945	-	1.945
	Armagh Ob Library	-	1.500	1.500	3.000
	Accessing and Connecting Collections	0.080	0.040	-	0.120
	UM Redevelopment (Galleries)	1.500	1.500	-	3.000
	UFTM Visitor Centre	0.240	2.340	5.000	7.580
	UAFP - Visitor Centre (including gallery)	0.160	2.340	4.200	6.700
	New World Area	-	2.000	-	2.000
	Retail and Commercial Investment	-	1.255	-	1.255
		2.465	17.420	24.200	44.085

 

		Capital Amount Required			CSR
Bid	Title	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11	Total
		£m	£m	£m	£m
Sports	House of Sport Refurbishment	0.200	-	-	0.200
	Soccer Strategy	2.667	-	-	2.667
	Tollymore	3.270	0.707	-	3.977
	Multi-Sports Stadium	10.000	30.000	30.000	70.000
	50 m pool	7.500	6.500	1.000	15.000
	2012 Sports Facilities	7.500	12.500	18.000	38.000
	North Belfast Learning	-	0.152	-	0.152
	SCNI Capital	0.071	0.104	0.085	0.260
	Safe Sports Grounds	5.900	4.500	4.500	14.900
	Sports Strategy Implementation 2007 -17	5.000	7.000	12.000	24.000
	SINI Capital	4.000	0.250	0.250	4.500
		46.108	61.713	65.835	173.656
IWIF	Waterways Ireland HQ	2.400	0.200	-	2.600
	Waterways Ire Cap	1.027	1.027	1.027	3.081
	Recurring Fisheries	0.154	0.277	0.154	0.585
	Recurring Water Rec	0.123	0.123	0.123	0.369
	Movangher Bridge	0.205	-	-	0.205
	Canal Restoration	-	-	1.500	1.500
		3.909	1.627	2.804	8.340
PRONI	Digital Preservation repository	0.100	0.100	0.100	0.300
	New Accommodation	11.000	14.000	1.700	26.700
	Sale of Site (Balmoral)	-	-	- 6.500	- 6.500
	Gen Equip & IT refurb	0.200	0.200	0.200	0.600
	Accessing and Connecting Collections	0.025	0.025	0.025	0.075
		11.325	14.325	- 4.475	21.175
DCAL	DCAL Computers	0.045	-	-	0.045
		0.045	-	-	0.045
	Total Bids	87.501	120.867	128.566	336.934

COMMENT

The nature of the CSR settlement is such that DFP did not specifically approve or reject these bids but acknowledged that it was appropriate to increase the total funding available to the department to discharge its functions.

Additional funds were subsequently allocated across the objective and spending areas as detailed in the tables 3 and 4 below.

These allocations are based on Ministerial and Departmental priorities, some of which are described in the summary of the draft Programme for Government.

Table 3 : Current Resource allocation

	Resource Amount Required			Total
	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11
	£m	£m	£m	£m
Unit of Service
Sports	1.500	3.000	7.000	11.500
Culture and Language Diversity	0.800	1.100	1.350	3.250
Museums	1.361	1.704	2.800	5.865
Library Authority	1.250	3.000	4.000	8.250
Public Records Office (NI) (inc non cash costs)	0.500	1.434	3.200	5.134
Arts	1.000	1.500	4.250	6.750
Inland Fisheries and Inland Waterways	1.489	1.762	2.300	5.551
Total	7.90	13.50	24.90	46.30

Table 4 : Current Net Capital allocation

	Capital Amount Required			Total
	2008-09	2009-10	2010-11
	£m	£m	£m	£m
Unit of Service
Libraries	3.100	12.500	13.000	28.600
Arts	15.100	8.500	8.900	32.500
Museums	0.300	0.700	16.600	17.600
Sport	31.200	36.500	44.600	112.300
IWIF	3.500	1.600	1.300	6.400
PRONI	11.300	14.300	(4.500)	21.100
Total	64.500	74.100	79.900	218.500

I trust you find this information helpful.

 

 

LGBT Community Funding

Mr J Wells asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail all funding awarded by (i) the Northern Ireland Events Company; and (ii) the Arts Council for Northern Ireland, to organisations working with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, since 1 April 2001.

(AQW 1511/08)

Mr E Poots: The table below details the support provided by the Northern Ireland Events Company; and the Arts Council for Northern Ireland, to organisations working with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, since 1 April 2001:

Source	Recipient	Year	Award
Northern Ireland Events Company	Belfast Pride Festival Belfast Pride	2006 2007	£3,000 £6,110
Arts Council for Northern Ireland	Queer Space Cara Friend	2005 2006	£7,500 £10,000

 

In addition the Arts Council has provided funding to the following organisations, who work with marginalised LGBT communities, as part of their programme activity: the Gasyard, Wheelworks and New Belfast Community Arts Initiative

 

Response to Correspondence

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the longest period of time his department has taken to provide a full response to a letter received from (i) a Member of Parliament; (ii) a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly; (iii) a Councillor; and (iv) a member of the public, since March 2007.

(AQW 1604/08)

Mr E Poots: The longest period of time taken to provide a Ministerial reply is as follows:

1. a Member of Parliament – 24 working days
2. a Member of the Northern Ireland Assembly – 25 working days
3. a Councillor – 10 working days
4. a member of the public – 43 working days

Sport and Recreation Facilities

Mr P Butler asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if he will provide information in relation to the provision of sport and recreation facilities in Northern Ireland, compared to the provision of such facilities in (i) Great Britain; and (ii) the Republic of Ireland.

(AQW 1614/08)

Mr E Poots: Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) has undertaken a comparison of the availability of sport and recreation facilities in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. The table below indicates the comparative shortfall in NI based on regions of the UK of similar population size and area. Figures for the Republic of Ireland are not yet available and no comparison can therefore be made currently.

Facility Type	Shortfall
Athletics Tracks	- 6
Athletics Tracks (with indoor training facilities)	- 1 to -2
Grass Pitches	- 225
Synthetic Pitches	- 100
Swimming Pools (25m)	- 20
Swimming Pools (50m)	- 1 to -2
Indoor Tennis Centres	- 4
Sports Halls (+12 court size)	- 1 to -2
Sports Halls (+ 3 court size)	- 50
Ski Slopes	- 4
Ice Rinks	- 1
Velodrome	- 1

 

Media Coverage of Gaelic Games

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what steps he has taken, and will take in the future, to ensure that Gaelic games are given fair coverage on television and radio stations.

(AQW 1673/08)

Mr E Poots: I am aware that this question was due for answer on 16 November 2007 and I apologise to the Member for the delay.

I have met with the BBC’s Local Management Team and sought to encourage them to programme locally based material.

 

Media Coverage of Gaelic Games

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure if he will meet with the BBC to discuss the lack of coverage it gives to Gaelic games, when compared to the coverage of other sports.

(AQW 1674/08)

Mr E Poots: I am aware that this question was due for answer on 16 November 2007 and I apologise to the Member for the delay.

I have met with the BBC’s Local Management Team and sought to encourage them to programme locally based material.

 

Heath and Safety at Football Stadia

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the reasons why the £20 million fund for improving heath and safety at football stadia was not used; and to state how much of this fund was surrendered.

(AQW 1857/08)

Mr E Poots: There is no £20 million fund for improving health and safety at football stadia in Northern Ireland. Rather, in 1998, it was estimated that the cost of bringing major sports grounds here (Soccer, Rugby and Gaelic Games) up to GB safety standards would be in the region of £20 million. No funding in respect of this matter has been surrendered.

 

Northern Ireland Events Company

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the amount of money available for the Northern Ireland Events company for the next three years.

(AQW 1912/08)

Mr E Poots: It is proposed that the functions of the Northern Ireland Events Company will transfer to the Northern Ireland Tourist Board from 1 April 2008. The draft budget for 2008/2011 provides the following money for the promotion of events:

2008/09	2009/10	2010/11
£2.355m	£2.255m	£1.655m

 

Education

Wi-Fi Technology in Schools

Mr J Wells asked the Minister of Education what advice her department has sought regarding the possible health impact on children, prior to authorising the installation of wi-fi technology in primary schools.

(AQW 871/08)

The Minister of Education (Ms C Ruane): The Health Protection Agency (HPA), which has responsibility for providing advice to central government and devolved administrations on protecting people from radiation hazards, including exposure to electromagnetic fields, has consistently advised that it does not believe that there are health issues associated with the use of wireless computer networks. As a result, the British Educational Communications and Technology Agency (Becta) continues to recommend the deployment of wireless networks in schools. This reflects advice from international expert groups and is also consistent with advice issued by the World Health Organisation and an Expert Group established and funded by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in the south of Ireland. The health and wellbeing of children and young people in our schools is always paramount, and my Department will keep the situation under constant review.

 

 

Educational Psychologists

Miss M McIlveen asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of children currently on the waiting list for assessment by an educational psychologist, in each Education and Library Board area.

(AQW 1308/08)

Ms C Ruane: I have been advised by the Chief Executives of the Education and Library Boards that the following numbers of children are waiting to see an educational psychologist.

BELB	361
NEELB	427
SEELB	382
SELB	244
WELB	189

These figures are in regard to children with a variety of need, including Stage 3 (non-statutory assessments) and Stage 4 (statutory assessments) of the Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs, reviews at Stage 3 and Stage 5 of the Code of Practice, special testing at transfer stage between primary and post-primary, pre-school and examination arrangements.

 

Special Needs Provision

Miss M McIlveen asked the Minister of Education to detail the amount of money allocated to each Education and Library Board for special needs provision; and to provide a breakdown of this allocation, for each of the last five years.

(AQW 1312/08)

Ms C Ruane: The table below shows how much funding has been reported by the Education and Library Boards (ELBs) in their accrued expenditure reports to the Department of Education as having been allocated to special needs education in the North of Ireland in each of the last five years. The response provided is rounded to the nearest million.

	BELB	NEELB	SEELB	SELB	WELB	TOTAL
2001/2002	19m	16m	23m	17m	16m	91m
2002/2003	21m	18m	27m	19m	18m	103m
2003/2004	26m	21m	32m	22m	23m	124m
2004/2005	28m	22m	31m	25m	27m	133m
2005/2006	27m	27m	35m	26m	27m	142m

Over the same five year period additional funding of approximately £17m has been allocated by the Department of Education to support statemented pupils in the voluntary grammar and grant-maintained integrated sectors.

 

School Transport

Mr S Wilson asked the Minister of Education to detail the cost of school transport for pupils attending (i) maintained; (ii) controlled; (iii) Irish-medium; (iv) integrated; and (v) voluntary grammar schools, for each of the last five years.

(AQW 1345/08)

Ms C Ruane: I would refer the Member to the reply I gave to his earlier question AQW 1272/08 which was published in the Official Record on 8^th November 2007.

 

Wi-Fi Technology in Schools

Mr J Wells asked the Minister of Education what action she is taking to advise parents of the installation of wi-fi units at primary schools attended by their children.

(AQW 1366/08)

Ms C Ruane: The Health Protection Agency (HPA), which has responsibility for providing advice on protecting people from radiation hazards, including exposure to electromagnetic fields, has consistently advised that it sees no reason why WiFi should not continue to be used in schools. This reflects advice from international expert groups and is also consistent with advice issued by the World Health Organisation and an Expert Group established and funded by the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in the south of Ireland. Within the EU, all countries follow a Council Recommendation of 1999, based on guidelines set by the International Commission on Non-Ionising Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) for limiting exposure to electromagnetic fields.

Primary schools are being offered WiFi connectivity to make the most effective use of the new equipment currently being provided. However, any school which does not wish to use WiFi has the option of declining it. My Department will continue to keep the position under review and will consider how information about WiFi can be made more accessible to parents.

 

Slemish College, Ballymena

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Education what consideration she has given to providing a sports hall at Slemish College, Ballymena.

(AQW 1367/08)

Ms C Ruane: The school has also raised with the Department the lack of sports facilities on site and officials have visited the school and are considering the issues, and will keep the school informed.

At the request of Slemish College, my Department arranged for its professional advisers to visit the school to assess the condition of its accommodation. The buildings were found, in general, to be in a fair to good condition considering the various ages of the buildings and the temporary nature of the construction. Some roofing problems were identified and the school has been advised to make a minor works application to the Department to address the problems.

 

Slemish College, Ballymena

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Education to detail what assurances Slemish College has been given, either by her department or the North Eastern Education and Library Board, that there would be an annual increase of ten, on the maximum number of pupils allowed to attend the school in each year.

(AQW 1368/08)

Ms C Ruane: In response to a written request from Slemish College, approval has been granted for an increase in the school’s 2008/09 enrolment number from 710 to 720. This brings the school up to its agreed long term enrolment figure. No further increases to the school’s enrolment number can be approved unless the long term enrolment position changes. There remains however the flexibility to approve temporary variations to the approved enrolment number in response to unavoidable in-year pressures.

 

Slemish College, Ballymena

Mr D McKay asked the Minister of Education what consideration she has given to replacing temporary buildings at Slemish College with a permanent building.

(AQW 1370/08)

Ms C Ruane: The school has also raised with the Department the lack of sports facilities on site and officials have visited the school and are considering the issues, and will keep the school informed.

At the request of Slemish College, my Department arranged for its professional advisers to visit the school to assess the condition of its accommodation. The buildings were found, in general, to be in a fair to good condition considering the various ages of the buildings and the temporary nature of the construction. Some roofing problems were identified and the school has been advised to make a minor works application to the Department to address the problems.

 

Special Needs Assessment

Miss M McIlveen asked the Minister of Education to detail the stage of a child's education at which it is determined that a special needs assessment should be carried out.

(AQW 1378/08)

Ms C Ruane: Special education legislation does not prescribe a particular stage at which a school should determine that a special needs assessment is carried out. Ordinarily schools have a duty to identify and make special education provision for pupils with special educational needs.

Under the legislation Education and Library Boards, (ELBs), are responsible for identifying, assessing and, in appropriate cases, making special educational provision for children in their areas for whom they are responsible. Generally this applies when a child is a registered pupil at a grant-aided school, or has attained the age of 2 years, is not over compulsory school age and has been brought to the attention of the ELB as having, or probably having, special educational needs.

The Code of Practice on the Identification and Assessment of Special Educational Needs, issued by the Department of Education in 1998, and the Supplement to the Code of Practice, issued in September 2005, give detailed, practical guidance to schools and ELBs on how to identify, assess and, where appropriate, statement children with special educational needs. It sets out a 5-stage approach of which Stages 1-3 are school-based, although at Stage 3 support can be sought from outside the school. At Stage 4 the ELB considers the need for a statutory assessment. The Statement itself is provided at Stage 5.

 

Montessori Teaching Qualification

Mr P Doherty asked the Minister of Education if she intends to recognise Montessori teaching qualifications, in line with other European countries.

(AQW 1380/08)

Ms C Ruane: Montessori qualifications are currently regarded as not suitable for gaining approval to work as a qualified teacher in a grant-aided school in the North of Ireland. The same position applies in mainstream primary or post-primary schools in England, Scotland or Wales. The position in the South of Ireland is that the Teaching Council for Ireland recognises two Montessori Qualifications but the recognition is for the purposes of employment as a learning support or resource teacher, not as a qualified teacher in the mainstream primary or post-primary sector.

 

If someone with a Montessori qualification wishes to teach in the North of Ireland (or indeed in England, Scotland or Wales) they would not be granted recognition as a qualified teacher and could not be registered with the General Teaching Council for Northern Ireland (GTCNI) or other GTCs within Britain. Moreover, the EU Directive on mutual recognition of teaching qualifications would only offer such applicant recognition to work in the same capacity that they were currently recognised in elsewhere.

 

That the Montessori qualification is recognised in the South of Ireland raises the potential of a referral to the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC).

 

Centre of Excellence for Autism

Mr C Boylan asked the Minister of Education to give an update on the plans for a centre of excellence for autism at Middletown, Co. Armagh.

(AQW 1435/08)

Ms C Ruane: I refer the member to my answer given to Trevor Lunn, the member for Lagan Valley, published in the official records on 19^th October 2007.

 

Montessori Teaching Qualification

Mr P Doherty asked the Minister of Education if she will give recognition to the Montessori teaching qualification, for the purposes of employment as a learning support or resource/substitute teacher.

(AQW 1438/08)

Ms C Ruane: Montessori qualifications are not regarded as suitable for gaining approval to work as a qualified teacher in a grant-aided school in the north of Ireland. A person with a Montessori qualification does not meet the standard for a qualified teacher and therefore cannot substitute for a qualified teacher.

I understand that in the South of Ireland the Teaching Council for Ireland does recognise two Montessori Qualifications, which are delivered there, for the purposes of employment as a learning support or resource teacher, not as a qualified teacher in mainstream primary or post-primary.

 

Pre-School Children

Mrs D Kelly asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of additional places for pre-school children in the Upper Bann area that will be funded by her department in the next three financial years, broken down by each school and/or nursery in the constituency.

(AQW 1460/08)

Ms C Ruane: There is no indication at the moment if the number of funded places available