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 15 February 2008

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
Assembly Commission

OFFICE OF THE FIRST MINISTER AND DEPUTY FIRST MINISTER

'The Irish Community in Britain'

Mr B McElduff asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to confirm that the report of Committee D of the British-Irish Interparliamentary Body, 'The Irish Community in Britain', will be tabled as an agenda item at the next meeting of the British-Irish Council; and to outline the action it will take to bring forward an action plan to implement the recommendations contained in the report.

(AQW 2421/08)

The First Minister and deputy First Minister (Rt Hon I Paisley and Mr M McGuinness): We understand that the report makes recommendations on matters which are the responsibility of the British and Irish Governments and these will be considered by both. It is therefore a matter for the Governments, in the first instance, to respond to the recommendations in the report.

Disability Discrimination

Mr J Shannon asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to provide a timescale for the introduction of the Disability Discrimination (Transfer Vehicles) Regulations.

(AQW 2719/08)

Rt Hon I Paisley and Mr M McGuinness: Article 7 of the Disability Discrimination (NI) Order 2006 was commenced on 31 December 2007. This Article replaces the current exemption for operators of transport services from the provisions of Part III of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 with a more precise exemption applying only to transport services relating to the provision or use of a vehicle. The commencement of Article 7 also provides us with the powers to make Regulations to lift the exemption and consultation on the Disability Discrimination (Transport Vehicles) Regulations which will take place shortly. The consultation will seek views on proposals to lift the exemption for:

buses and coaches
taxis
trains
rental cars
breakdown recovery vehicles

We will be writing to the OFMDFM committee shortly in relation to this.

Child Poverty

Mr F Cobain asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the levels of child poverty in (i) 2005; (ii) 2006 and (iii) 2007, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

(AQW 2734/08)

Rt Hon I Paisley and Mr M McGuinness: The table below shows the number of children living in households experiencing relative income poverty; that is the number of children living in households with an income that is 60% or less of the median income. It is necessary to combine three years of data in order to provide estimates of child poverty that are more robust. A single year’s data would not be robust enough to provide estimates at the level of geography requested.

Table 1: Number of Children in Relative Income Poverty Before Housing Costs by Parliamentary Constituency for 2003/2004, 2004/2005 and 2005/06 combined.

Source: Households Below Average Income Northern Ireland (HBAI NI) 2003/2004, 2004/2005 and 2005/2006

Notes 1. As with any sample survey there is a degree of error attached to the estimates.

Commissioner for Victims and Survivors

Mrs D Kelly asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the (i) number; (ii) sex; and (iii) religious affiliation of (a) the applicants for the post of Commissioner for Victims and Survivors, following the advertisement of the position in October 2007; (b) the candidates interviewed for the post after it was advertised in October 2007; and (c) the candidates short-listed after those interviews.

(AQW 2942/08)

Rt Hon I Paisley and Mr M McGuinness: Following the advertisement in October 2007, forty-two people submitted applications for the post of Commissioner for Victims and Survivors. Fourteen people were interviewed and three considered suitable for appointment. These were added to the list of five people considered suitable for appointment remaining in the pool from the first stage of the process. We do not feel it is appropriate to comment on the breakdown of sex and religious affiliation.

Commissioner for Victims and Survivors

Mrs D Kelly asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the (i) number; (ii) sex; and (iii) religious affiliation of the candidates that were short-listed for the post of Commissioner of Victims and Survivors, encompassing both recruitment campaigns.

(AQW 2943/08)

Rt Hon I Paisley and Mr M McGuinness:

Both stages of the public appointments process to appoint a Commissioner for Victims and Survivors resulted in a total of nine individuals being considered suitable for appointment. We do not feel it is appropriate to comment on the breakdown of sex and religious affiliation.

A Shared Future First Triennial Action Plan

Dr S Farry asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the current status of the document 'A Shared Future First Triennial Action Plan 2006-2009'.

(AQW 3171/08)

Rt Hon I Paisley and Mr M McGuinness: We are fully committed to building a shared and better future. As previously stated we will bring forward proposals for a programme of cohesion and integration for a shared and better future which will take into consideration the progress already achieved. These proposals will be brought forward to the Committee for the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister, the Executive and the Assembly, prior to public consultation.

In the meantime, departments are working within their own set of responsibilities on taking forward the good relations agenda. A wide range of programmes are ongoing, funded by OFMDFM.

Freedom of Information Requests

Mr S Hamilton asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail (i) the number of Freedom of Information requests submitted to the Northern Ireland Executive by Mr Jim Allister MEP; and (ii) the cost of processing these requests, since 8 May 2007.

(AQW 3246/08)

Rt Hon I Paisley and Mr M McGuinness: Mr Jim Allister MEP has submitted a total of 55 Freedom of Information requests to the Northern Ireland Departments since 8 May 2007. Information about the cost of processing these requests is not currently held since there is no satisfactory formula that facilitates the calculation of accurate figures.

Freedom of Information Requests

Mr S Hamilton asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to detail the proportion of Freedom of Information requests, submitted to the Northern Ireland Executive by elected representatives since 8 May 2007, that is accounted for by Mr Jim Allister MEP.

(AQW 3247/08)

Rt Hon I Paisley and Mr M McGuinness: The Freedom of Information requests submitted to the Northern Ireland Departments by Mr Jim Allister MEP account for just under half of all such requests submitted by elected representatives since 8 May 2007. Elected representatives have made 121 requests since 8 May 2007.

Planning Appeals Commission

Mr J Shannon asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister to provide an update on the recent appointments to the Planning Appeals Commission.

(AQW 3450/08)

Rt Hon I Paisley and Mr M McGuinness: The Planning Appeals Commission exercises its functions independently of OFMDFM but the Department is responsible for providing the resources needed for the Commission to discharge its responsibilities. Appointments to the Commission are made by the First Minister and deputy First Minister.

Five new appointments were made to the Commission at the beginning of January 2008 – 3 new entrant Commissioners, 1 Call-Off Panel Commissioner and 1 Senior Commissioner.

The additional funding allocations for PAC in the Budget 2008-2011 will enable the Chief Commissioner to fund a significant number of additional Commissioners to deploy against the backlog of planning appeals cases. Arrangements are currently under way to deliver a competition with a view to recruiting a number of additional new commissioners and to enhance the Commission’s capacity to manage and train an increased complement. This will of course be subject to the availability of suitable people from within a limited and specialised market.

Sustainable Development Strategy

Mr D Ford asked the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister pursuant to AQW 2962/08, to detail the measurement difficulties for each of those targets in table five of the Sustainable Development Strategy that have measurement difficulties.

(AQW 3746/08)

Rt Hon I Paisley and Mr M McGuinness: Further to the answer provided to AQW 2962/08, this answer encloses details of the measurement difficulties associated with a small number of Sustainable Development Targets (see table 1).

Table 1: Details of Sustainable Development (SD) Targets with Measurement Difficulties

SD Strategy Target Number	Target	Measurement Difficulty
1	Northern Ireland economy will achieve 85% resource efficiency by 2025.	The resource efficiency indicator is prone to different definitions and interpretations of what should be in it and, as a consequence, there are potentially wide variations in the result.
10	Increase Northern Ireland’s forested area by at least 500 hectares per annum in line with Northern Ireland Forestry Strategy – A Strategy for Sustainability and Growth.	At present, DARD has no means of measuring loss of woodland. Data is only available on new woodland. This target is therefore not measurable.
22	Reduce the productivity gap (I) between Northern Ireland and other UK regions; and (2) between the Northern Ireland average and the most deprived communities.	Data is not available to measure the productivity of deprived and non-deprived communities.
23	Reduce the skills gap between Northern Ireland and other UK regions and between the Northern Ireland average and the most deprived communities.	Data is not available to compare the skill levels of deprived and non-deprived communities on a regular basis.

AGRICULTURE AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Alpha-Nortestosterone

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the number of male animals that were slaughtered because of high readings of Alpha-nortestosterone, in between the time it was first believed this condition to be a result of induced drugs and when it was realised that this condition was a natural reaction in male casualty animals, broken down by parliamentary constituency.

(AQW 3288/08)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms M Gildernew): I am unable to provide details, by parliamentary constituency, of male casualty cattle condemned due to the presence of alpha-Nortestosterone, as the Department does not hold the information in that format. However, the information is available by county and this is detailed below:-

COUNTY NUMBER OF CASES

Antrim 16

Armagh 31

Down 37

Derry 9

Fermanagh 7

Tyrone 56

TOTAL 156

COUNTY	NUMBER OF CASES
Antrim	16
Armagh	31
Down	37
Derry	9
Fermanagh	7
Tyrone	56
TOTAL	156

Between March 2006 and March 2007, 156 casualty male cattle from 139 herds were condemned due to the presence of alpha-Nortestosterone. Following the initial positive in March 2006, 100% testing of such cattle was initiated from the beginning of April 2006. This was considered necessary to protect public health and to fulfil EU statutory obligations.

However, in light of Professor Wall’s report which stated that the accepted scientific consensus on naturally occurring alpha-Nortestosterone in male cattle needed to be reviewed and, following discussion with the relevant regulatory authorities, testing was reduced to a risk related approach based on the opinion of the Official Veterinarian at the meat plant. The revised arrangements came into operation on 28 March 2007 and no further positives have been detected since.

There is now emerging recognition within the EU that Alpha-Nortestosterone is likely to occur naturally in injured or stressed male bovines and we expect the Community Reference Laboratory (CRL) for hormones to produce a guidance paper to reflect this position in the near future.

Comprehensive Spending Review

Dr S Farry asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (i) her department's bids in relation to the Comprehensive Spending Review; and (ii) the amount of funding that has been allocated against them in the Budget 2008-11.

(AQW 3299/08)

Ms M Gildernew: The total bids in respect of Current expenditure (i.e. Resource) submitted to DFP by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in relation to the Comprehensive Spending Review, together with Budget allocations, are set out in the table below. These include bids to, and allocations from, the Innovation Fund.

	08/09 £m	09/10 £m	10/11 £m
Total Resource bids	33.26	38.24	43.58
Budget allocations	15.95	27.22	40.02

These Resource bids and allocations are in addition to a roll forward of the Departments 2007/08 baselines. DARD’s total Resource allocation in the three forward years is £234.4m, £238.4m, £245.4m respectively.

The total bids for capital expenditure (after deducting capital receipts) and the Budget allocations (net of receipts) are set out in the table below. These include bids to, and allocations from, the Innovation Fund.

	08/09 £m	09/10 £m	10/11 £m
Capital bids	135.21	73.12	69.33
Capital allocations	83.90	28.90	-170.90

The Budget Capital allocation in 2010/11 is based upon a receipt of £200m from the sale of land at Crossnacreevy.

Water Rights

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to provide an update on the proposed transfer of ownership of the water rights at the Clay Loughs, Shrigley, from the Tannery to her department.

(AQW 3346/08)

Ms M Gildernew: Rivers Agency has received written confirmation that the current controller of water levels in Clea Lakes is prepared to relinquish the water rights and control to Rivers Agency. Discussions are ongoing to finalise the legal transfer.

Animal Transport

Mr A Bresland asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail (i) the number of United Kingdom Animal Transport type 1 Authorisations, valid for journeys over 65km and up to 8 hours, issued; and (ii) the number of United Kingdom Animal Transport type 2 Authorisations, valid for journeys over 65km and over 8 hours, issued.

(AQW 3352/08)

Ms M Gildernew: As of the 31 January 2008, the number of UK Animal Transport type 1 Authorisations, valid for journeys over 65km and up to 8 hours, issued by DARD is 688.
As of the 31 January 2008, the number of UK Animal Transport type 2 Authorisations, valid for journeys over 65km and over 8 hours, issued by DARD is 93.

Pig Industry

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what is her assessment of the current state of the pig industry; and to detail what actions she is taking to address the situation.

(AQW 3356/08)

Ms M Gildernew: The pig sector faces losses as a direct consequence of the global rise in cereal and protein prices. Pigmeat production and prices have yet to respond to those input cost increases. However the EU has reduced the set-aside rate to zero for 2008 in response to cereal market conditions and the weakening of sterling against the euro will increase the cost of pigmeat imports from the rest of Europe in sterling terms. These events should help check feed input costs and firm prices here.

I have written to Hilary Benn urging that the UK support Commissioner Fischer Boel’s proposal for export refunds and I welcome the fact that the EU commission has re-introduced export refunds for pigmeat.

To help address the industries difficulties I have met with Grampian Country Pork and subsequently with Ministers Ruane and McGimpsey with a view to developing and expanding local sourcing initiatives in the Education and Health services. I have also written to and met with major retailers to raise the issue of rising costs for producers.

My Department continues to provide support to the pig industry through the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) and Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI). It is also providing resource at farm level to aid compliance with environmental restrictions and has agreed to co-fund a review of the pig sector. The Processing and Marketing Scheme is now open for applications. The Supply Chain Development Programme will be replaced by another scheme under the Rural Development Programme and plans are also well advanced for a new Scheme to support the Marketing of Quality Agricultural Produce.

Biofuels

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to make a statement on the 'Are biofuels sustainable?' report drawn up by the all party Environmental Audit Committee at Westminster.

(AQW 3357/08)

Ms M Gildernew: I welcome the recent publication ‘Are biofuels sustainable?’ drawn up by the all party Environmental Audit Committee in Britain. This report will assist in expanding the existing knowledge base and informing the future development of robust renewable energy policy here.

It is not appropriate for me to make comment on this Report at this time. However, my Department is working closely with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI), who take the lead on energy related matters, on a study to assess the potential for the sustainable development of bioenergy, including biofuels, in the North.

My Department remains committed, through the DARD Renewable Energy Action Plan, to promoting the opportunities afforded by the sustainable development of renewable energy in the agri-food sector, forestry sector and wider rural economy.

The DARD Renewable Energy Action Plan has two broad objectives:

Support the exploitation of opportunities for the alternative land uses and sustainable management of agri-food waste linked to renewable energy; and

Underpin knowledge and increase awareness of renewable energy technologies.

Holstein Bull Calves

Mr P J Bradley asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what is her assessment of the potential for producing beef from Holstein bull calves.

(AQW 3358/08)

Ms M Gildernew: It is estimated that 75,000 to 85,000 Holstein bull calves are produced annually in N.I. The majority of the beef produced from these bull calves is used for mince. Mince accounts for a considerable proportion (almost half) of the beef sold by multiple retailers and is also an important component of the food service sector.

At present the production of beef from Holstein calves using existing production systems is not an economic proposition based on current input costs (particularly for feed and energy) and present returns for the finished product.

Consequently, some calves are humanely destroyed soon after birth by dairy farmers. There are no estimates of the numbers of these calves as they are not registered on APHIS. Since the end of the livestock export ban in 2006 the option exists to export calves to specialist veal production units in Europe.

If economically viable and sustainable production systems could be established they would have the potential to provide a positive financial return to producers and to the beef processing sector thereby utilising an existing natural resource.

Equality Promotion

Mr W Clarke asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail how she has promoted equality in her department in the current (i) Budget; (ii) Programme for Government; and (iii) Investment Strategy for Northern Ireland.

(AQW 3401/08)

Ms M Gildernew: My Department carried out an equality consultation on the DARD elements of the draft Programme for Government (PfG), Budget (Budget 2007) and Investment Strategy 2008 – 2011 (ISNI 08) from 11 December 2007 until 16 January 2008.

As part of the consultation process, views were sought from approximately 180 equality groups and individuals on the Department’s consultation list, and in addition, information about the consultation was also placed on the Department’s website. A number of public consultation events were held in the week commencing 17 December 2007. These events were held in Cookstown, Enniskillen and Antrim. The Department also organised a one-day equality workshop which was held on 30 January 2008 in Belfast. This event brought together around 30 senior staff from the Department along with key Section 75 representatives to discuss equality outcomes in relation to DARD specific functions within the Budget, PfG, and the Investment Strategy.

Forest Service Organisational Structure

Mr T Elliott asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to outline her plans for the overall organisational structure of the Forest Service.

(AQW 3426/08)

Ms M Gildernew: The organisational structure of the Forest Service is a matter for the Chief Executive and Board of the Forest Service. The Chief Executive has informed me of the Board’s decision to begin to restructure the Agency from April 2008. Services will be delivered on a functional basis, rather than through the current three-District structure. The Board believes that this will facilitate better delivery of strategic objectives, set out in the Forestry Strategy, and result in greater efficiency. I am content with the proposals and have asked for a pragmatic approach regarding arrangements for staff affected by the restructuring.

The structure proposed will involve a small number of staff relocating to a new Headquarters to support the creation of discrete functional responsibilities for business areas such as harvesting, forest stewardship and central operations.

The move to a functional structure will not, however, affect the strong local presence of Forest Service throughout Northern Ireland. Operational bases, whilst not public offices, will continue to operate at various locations, including Enniskillen, Castlewellan and Garvagh. All industrials will continue to be based at, and work at, local level and will not be affected.

A separate review of the administrative and finance support function within the Agency is also being taken forward. The purpose of the review is to ensure that this function is as efficient as possible. This may result in a reduced staff requirement, with a small number of administrative staff (possibly 4 or 5) having to be redeployed, either to HQ or other Government offices.

The Chief Executive has assured me that both the Trade Union and staff are being kept informed of developments.

Farmers' Markets

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what discussions she has had in relation to the establishment of new Farmers' Markets; and to detail the number of enquiries she has received about this issue.

(AQW 3439/08)

Ms M Gildernew: I can confirm that my Department has not been involved in any discussions regarding the establishment of new farmers’ markets. While there have been enquiries from individual business people for whom such markets represent current or potential outlets for their products, I understand that there have been no formal approaches from groups planning new markets for the sale of agricultural produce.

Farmers' Markets

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the number and location of Farmer Markets operating in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 3448/08)

Ms M Gildernew: I have noted with satisfaction the increasing profile of farmers’ markets throughout the North. It is clear that locally sourced produce has an important role to play in shortening supply chains, raising farm incomes, reducing transport costs, protecting the environment, strengthening local communities and improving public health. In that regard, I am pleased to say that the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has provided financial support to several farmers’ markets, most notably, in Derry, Ballymoney and Strabane.

However, the Department has no oversight or regulatory role when it comes to such markets and so holds no statistics on their number or location. I am therefore unable to provide the detailed breakdown sought.

The regulation of farmers’ markets is primarily the responsibility of local government, which has important environmental health functions, particularly with regard to the sale of food products. Licensing arrangements affect not markets but individual vendors, who are required to register with their local authority. I understand that, in keeping with the system of local accountability in place, there is no central database of such individuals. Once registered, however, a vendor may trade anywhere in the North and is not bound to a specific site or market.

Badgers Diseases

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development what actions her department is taking to stop the spread of diseases by badgers.

(AQW 3494/08)

Ms M Gildernew: I am responding in relation to bovine Tuberculosis (TB) specifically, which is a disease of cattle that is also present in badgers in the North.

The TB control programme in the North is based on the detection of diseased or high risk cattle, 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. My Department has also issued advice on how farmers can help to protect their herd from TB and this includes the practical steps they can take to reduce the contact between cattle and badgers. The advice leaflet is given to all farmers who have a TB breakdown in their herd and it is also available on the DARD web site and through the local Divisional Veterinary Offices. It is important that farmers take all reasonable precautions to protect their herds from possible infection by other cattle or badgers, by adopting good biosecurity such as secure boundary fencing and taking practical steps to reduce badger and cattle contact. We have made considerable progress with TB in recent years. Since peak levels for the disease in 2002, the herd incidence has been reduced by nearly 50%.

Whilst it is established that there is a link between TB in badgers and TB in cattle, it is not certain what role the badger might have in the spread of TB to cattle, or if there are other factors involved in maintaining TB infection in the North. Work is on-going to look at this whole area. The Badger Stakeholder Group, which is chaired by my Department and includes both farmer and environmental interests, has an important role to play in this work. My officials also continue to work with officials from the DOE’s Environment and Heritage Service in respect of the role of badgers in TB.

The badger is a protected species and ultimately any decision to intervene in badger populations in the North will require agreement both from me and the Environment Minister.

Bovine Tuberculosis

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the total cost of bovine tuberculosis to her department, in each of the last 5 years.

(AQW 3495/08)

Ms M Gildernew: The total costs of the Bovine tuberculosis control programmes for each of the past 5 financial years are shown below

Year	Total Expenditure
2002/03	£22,009,627
2003/04	£24,427,115
2004/05	£23,792,178
2005/06	£21,620,607
2006/07	£22,758,922

Bovine Tuberculosis

Mr P Weir asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development to detail the actions her department is taking to reduce the incidence of bovine tuberculosis.

(AQW 3496/08)

Ms M Gildernew: NI has had a compulsory disease eradication programme in place since 1959.

This is a "test and remove" approach. The main surveillance components of the programme are tuberculin testing annually of all cattle and public health examination of all slaughtered cattle. My Department continues to implement and develop this programme.

Where bovine tuberculosis is suspected in a herd, valuation, compensation and removal of reactors, live animal movement restrictions and increased frequency of testing is implemented. DARD staff assess the incident epidemiologically and take appropriate steps to trace the source and spread of the disease.

Recent developments within the programme include the introduction of supplementary blood testing where appropriate, enhanced movement restriction regimes, and more staff dedicated to the implementation of the programme.

In the North, levels of TB rose steadily through the 1990s to a peak herd incidence of 10.2% in 2003, post foot and mouth disease.

However, since 2004 there has been a steady decrease in herd incidence to 5.35%, a reduction of nearly half. This still leaves NI with a disease incidence the same as in the late 1990s. However, in contrast, the trend now is downwards.

CULTURE, ARTS AND LEISURE

Irish Language

Mr P Doherty asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail what new action he has taken to ensure the promotion and development of the Irish language since assuming Ministerial responsibility.

(AQW 3069/08)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr E Poots): European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages

My Department continues to provide a secretariat to the Interdepartmental Charter Implementation Group (ICIG) that is responsible for reporting on Northern Ireland’s implementation of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages.

The ICIG meets quarterly to share ideas and best practice across the Northern Ireland Civil Service.

DCAL Translation Service

My Department has made every effort to meet rising demands for translations into and from the Irish language following our return to devolution. In furtherance of the levels of service offered by the translators the Department is currently considering engagement with the translation software TRADOS. In addition provision is also being made to ensure that all the translators used are accredited by Foras na Gaeilge and that their work is Quality Assured to the highest standards. Progress has also been made in developing a set of Guidelines for translators to be published on the Department’s website.

British Irish Council Subgroup on Minority and Lesser Used Languages

During my Ministerial term officials from my Department have engaged with the other jurisdictions of the British Irish Council to share information and best practice in relation to language issues.

NSMC Meeting

At the NSMC meeting on 26 October 2007, I along with Minister Ó Cuív welcomed a report on the work of Foras, in particular in the eGovernment area with the development of an online database of terminology – www.focal.ie, the launch (with Microsoft) of an Irish language version of Windows XP and the development of Córas Creidiúnaithe/an Accreditation Scheme for Irish Language translators.

Appearance before the CAL Committee

I have made two presentations to the CAL Committee on the strategy for the development and enhancement of the Indigenous Language as set out in the St Andrews Agreement Act 2006, the most recent being on the 31 January 2008. I await a response from the committee on how they propose to contribute to the strategy.

Meetings with Irish Language Groups

Since assuming Ministerial responsibility I and my Officials have met with the following groups, Foras Na Gaeilge, POBAL and ACHT to discuss Irish Language issues and the strategy for indigenous languages locally.

Eel Fishing Industry

Mr W Clarke asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to confirm whether or not he plans to meet with the Lough Neagh Fishermen's Co-operative to discuss the needs of the eel fishing industry.

(AQW 3402/08)

Mr E Poots: Yes, I plan to visit the Lough Neagh Fishermen's co-operative to discuss the needs of the eel fishing industry.

Salmon Catches

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what steps he is taking to address the fall in the numbers of salmon caught in waters around Northern Ireland.

(AQW 3416/08)

Mr E Poots: A management strategy dealing with the decline in populations of salmon for the period 2008 - 2012 is nearing completion and shall be submitted to the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO) shortly.

The Department implemented a voluntary buyout of commercial salmon licences between 2001 and 2004. Before the scheme, 31 fishermen had licences to fish 56 nets. 49 of those nets were bought out, reducing the fishing effort by 90% and salmon exploitation from 11,000 to 2,000 per annum in the sea around Northern Ireland. It is hoped that this reduction in exploitation will contribute to a long term strategy to increase numbers of salmon in European waters.

In the Loughs Agency jurisdiction mixed stock interceptory drift net fisheries for Atlantic salmon seaward of Lough Foyle were prohibited for the 2007 season as these fisheries were suspected of catching salmon destined for rivers in the north-east Atlantic not reaching their conservation limits. The Loughs Agency also reduced the number of commercial nets operating in both Lough Foyle and the River Foyle. A limited commercial fishery is still pursued within Lough Foyle and the tidal River Foyle, these fisheries catch salmon from rivers within the Foyle area only, which at present have all been determined to be meeting their conservation limits.

Homophobia in Sport

Dr S Farry asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure what steps he is taking to tackle homophobia in (i) football; and (ii) other sports.

(AQW 3551/08)

Mr E Poots: Responsibility for tackling homophobia in football rests with the governing body, the Irish Football Association (IFA). I understand the IFA runs a number of programmes designed to address problems of under representation among minority groups. In addition, the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, in conjunction with Sport Northern Ireland, is developing a new 10-year Strategy for Sport and Physical Recreation. The purpose of the Strategy is to ensure an improved quality of life for all the people of Northern Ireland with no section of the community being excluded or left behind.

Homophobia in Sport

Dr S Farry asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to outline the research his department has carried out into the level of homophobia in (i) football; and (ii) other sports.

(AQW 3553/08)

Mr E Poots: Responsibility for carrying out research into the level of homophobia in football rests with the governing body, the Irish Football Association. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) has commissioned research on barriers to participation in culture, arts and leisure activities in Northern Ireland, including sport. This research recommended that the Department work with appropriate organisations to improve awareness and identify best practice. These recommendations are being considered by DCAL, in partnership with Sport Northern Ireland, as part of the development of a new 10-year Strategy for Sport and Physical Recreation.

Lenadoon Community Forum

Ms S Ramsey asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, in light of the recent Budget announcement, to confirm whether or not the Lenadoon Community Forum will now have the opportunity to avail of funding from Sport NI, after their previous successful application was not funded due to monies being diverted to the 2012 Olympic Games.

(AQW 3591/08)

Mr E Poots: I am aware that Lenadoon Community Forum has had their application for Lottery funding declined under Sport Northern Ireland’s Building Sport programme. Following the agreement on the budget for sport, Sport Northern Ireland in conjunction with my department will be examining ways in which groups affected by the diversion of Lottery funds can be accommodated.

La Nua Newspaper

Mr N McCausland asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail the funding allocated by the Arts Council to the Irish language newspaper La Nua; and the background to the funding.

(AQW 3617/08)

Mr E Poots: Preas an Phobail, publisher of Lá Nuá has received funding from the Arts Council for a twice weekly arts supplement in Lá Nuá, including a contribution towards the salary of a part time Arts Editor to produce the supplement. The following grants were paid:

Exchequer Arts Development Fund

2003/04 £27,200

2004/05 £27,200

2005/06 £15,000

Lottery Access

2006 £117,200 over 3 years

Fisheries Conservancy Board

Mr J Shannon asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail whether or not he will consider introducing a timetable for the transfer of power from the Fisheries Conservancy Board to his department before the deadline of June 2008.

(AQW 3653/08)

Mr E Poots: Provisions to abolish the Fisheries Conservancy Board (FCB) and transfer its functions to the Department are included in the Draft Public Authorities Reform Bill which will be taken forward by OFMDFM and is included in the Legislative Programme for the 2007/2008 Assembly Session. Latest indications are that the Bill could be introduced in April 2008, subject to Assembly Executive approval. It is not possible to transfer power before this legislation is made, which could be up to 6 months or more after introduction.

Regional or Minority Languages

Mr D Bradley asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, in relation to the 36 provisions of Part 3 of the Council of Europe Charter for Regional or Minority Languages, to which the United Kingdom Government signed up, to detail the provisions that have been implemented to date, and those which have yet to be implemented.

(AQW 3699/08)

Mr E Poots: The Committee of Experts (COMEX) have reported they are satisfied that these 36 provisions of the Council of Europe Charter for Regional or Minority Language have been implemented in respect of Irish Language, thus fulfilling the criteria for meeting Part III status.

Irish Language Legislation

Mr F Brolly asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to provide an update of the progress that has been made on the preparation of a paper for discussion by the Executive, in relation to the introduction of Irish language legislation.

(AQW 3728/08)

Irish Language

Mr G Adams asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure, in light of the £4m increase to his department's budget, to detail what proportion of this will be used in enhancing and protecting the development of the Irish language.

(AQW 3729/08)

Mr E Poots: The 2008 budgetary allocations include an increase of 2% on the budget of Foras na Gaeilge. As you are aware Foras na Gaeilge have the statutory responsibility for the promotion of the Irish Language.

Irish Language Strategy

Mr G Adams asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to detail his strategy for promoting and enhancing the Irish language; and what action is he taking to ensure that this strategy is effectively resourced within his department's budget allocations.

(AQW 3730/08)

Mr E Poots: I refer the member to my statement to the CAL Committee of the 31 January 2008 on a Strategy for the enhancement and protection of Indigenous Languages in Northern Ireland as set out in the Northern Ireland (St Andrews Agreement) Act 2006. I await a response from the CAL Committee on how they propose to contribute to this Strategy. Any Strategy with be implemented within the agreed budgetary allocations.

Irish Language Promotion

Mr B McElduff asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to provide an update on the progress made in relation to bringing forward a strategy to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language.

(AQW 3731/08)

Irish Language Development

Mr F McCann asked the Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure to give a timeframe for proposals to bring forward a strategy to enhance and protect the development of the Irish language.

(AQW 3732/08)

Mr E Poots: I advised the Culture, Arts & Leisure Committee on the 31 January 2008 that I expect to bring forward proposals on a strategy for Indigenous Languages by the summer of 2008. I await a response from the CAL Committee on how they propose to contribute to this strategy.

EDUCATION

Phoenix Primary School

Mr I McCrea asked the Minister of Education to detail the amount of funding allocated to build a new school for Phoenix Primary School, Cookstown.

(AQW 2823/08)

The Minister of Education (Ms C Ruane): To date the Department has approved £560k for temporary accommodation for Phoenix Integrated Primary School. No agreement has been reached on either the type or cost of a new build at this site.

Taskforce Report 2002

Mr A Attwood asked the Minister of Education to state the measurement tools that have been developed and implemented for West Belfast and the Greater Shankill area as recommended in the Taskforce Report 2002; and to provide, in relation to these measurement tools, (i) an assessment of their performance and the outcomes achieved; (ii) the issues they have raised; and (iii) what action he has taken in result of the issues raised.

(AQW 2876/08)

Ms C Ruane: The Taskforce Report acknowledged the role of education in helping to break the cycle of deprivation. In response to its findings and wider research and evidence on how to tackle underachievement, my Department has committed to a programme of actions to raise standards across all schools here, but with a particular focus on Belfast. These include the implementation of the revised curriculum and, specifically, the dedicated foundation stage element which was informed by the pilot work on the enriched curriculum undertaken in some west Belfast schools as well as the provision of funding to support extended schools and schools where standards needed to be raised.

Our work, which has been supported through the commitment and dedication of teachers, governors and community representatives, is beginning to deliver improvements against key educational indicators as the table below shows but we are far from complacent and are continuing to take action to raise standards and tackle educational underachievement. This action includes continuing support for extended schools and a Full Service Extended Schools pilot in the north of the city as well as for the development of a Full Service Community Network based around Corpus Christi College in Ballymurphy. Additionally, I have published for consultation a new policy on school improvement and plan shortly to publish, again for consultation, a revised strategy for literacy and numeracy. I know that the Belfast Education and Library Board is also working, through its ‘Béal Feirste a Bhaint Amach’ ‘Achieving Belfast’ initiative, with a small number of schools in the city which face particular challenges in order to ensure that no child is left behind. A similar approach is being developed by the Western Education and Library Boards for schools in Derry.

Educational indicator	Performance in 1998/99		Performance in 2005/06
Educational indicator	West Belfast Schools	Shankill Schools	West Belfast Schools	Shankill Schools
Pupils achieving at least 5 or more GCSEs at grades A*- C or equivalent	47%	20.4%	54.7%	35.9%
Pupils leaving school with no GCSEs	9%	13.6%	7.7%	8.2%
Pupils leaving with 2 or more A levels at Grade A-E (incl. equivalencies)	25.2%	6.1%	35.9%	21.8%
Pupils achieving level 4 or above in English and Maths at Key Stage 2 assessments	51.4% - English 60.4% - Maths	45.7% - English 53.7% - Maths	64.6% - English 69.4% - Maths	62.4% -English 61.6% - Maths

Meetings Request

Mr D Simpson asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to the answer to AQW 2139/08, to detail the requests for a meeting with her that were received from individual members of the public and from organisations, that were (i) granted; and (ii) refused; and in relation to those requests that were refused, to confirm whether or not they were refused (a) due to prior diary commitments; (b) because negotiations regarding issues referred to in the request were still ongoing; (c) as a result of the issues already being well advanced or already resolved; (d) because the meeting was to discuss a decision that had already been agreed by direct rule Minister; or (e) because the request had been referred to other organisations.

(AQW 2877/08)

Ms C Ruane: I cannot release details of requests received from members of the public that might help identify that person.In relation to the information regarding requests received from other organisations, please see table below:-

NAME OF ORGANISATION	ACCEPTED/DECLINED	REASON
SELB	Accepted
INTO	Accepted
GSPG	Accepted
Focus Learning	Declined	Diary commitments
VSO	Accepted
N/South Exchange Consortium	Accepted
GTCNI	Accepted
Mersey Street Primary School	Declined	Decision already agreed by Direct Rule Minister
SPEAC	Declined	Diary commitments
Community Relations Council	Accepted
GBA	Accepted
CBI	Accepted
Gay and Lesbian Equality Network	Accepted
NASUWT	Accepted
Conlig Primary School	Accepted
South Down Ecumenical Study Group	Accepted
PIPS	Accepted
IEF	Accepted
NAHT	Accepted
Alternative Education Providers Forum	Accepted
InaG	Accepted
Patsy McGlone MLA	Declined	Review Ongoing
ASPECT	Declined	Diary commitments
Ballysally Primary School	Accepted
NASUWT	Accepted
Torbank Primary School	Accepted
FONT	Accepted
Peat and Irish Autism Action	Declined	Diary commitments
Public Appointments NI	Accepted
Equality Commission	Declined	Diary commitments
NIPSA	Accepted
Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA	Accepted
Lagan College	Accepted
INTO	Accepted
IEF	Declined	Diary commitments
Belfast Royal Academy	Accepted
Co-ordinator of Coliaste Brhide	Accepted
Sydenham Infants School	Declined	Referred to BELB
Ulster Farmers’ Union	Accepted
YouthNet	Accepted
Opportunity Youth	Accepted
Brethern Christian Fellowship	Declined	Diary commitments
OFCOM	Accepted
Iris Robinson MP MLA	Accepted
Irish Autism Action	Declined	Diary commitments
YCNI	Accepted
NI Children’s Enterprise	Accepted
Cumann Na Bunscoil	Declined	Referred to GAA
Educational Trade Union Group	Accepted
NST	Declined	Referred to ELBs
Gaelscoil Ghleann Darach	Accepted
Upper Bann FE Students	Accepted
Early Years Strategic Alliance	Accepted
Net Media Business Solutions	Declined	Referred to DHSS PS
Restorative Justice in Schools	Accepted
Gaelscoil Eanna	Accepted
Cinemagic	Accepted
Knockavoe Secondary School	Declined	Referred to WELB
Christian Education Movement	Declined	Issue already resolved
NICEM	Accepted
IOD	Accepted
Michael McGimpsey MLA	Declined	Issue already resolved
Rainey Endowed School	Accepted
British Council	Accepted
Children’s Law Centre	Accepted
Donaghadee HS Parents’ Action Group	Declined	Referred to ELB
NI PE and School Sport Taskforce	Declined	Referred to officials
RNID	Declined	Referred to officials
Love for Life	Declined	Referred to officials
Kelloggs	Declined	Diary commitments
Breakthru	Declined	Diary commitments
Good Shepherd Nursery School	Declined	Referred to CCMS and SEELB
Jeffrey Donaldson MP MLA	Declined	Referred to SEELB
Youth Sport Trust	Declined	Diary commitments
East Belfast Primary and Nursery Group	Accepted
REACT Ltd	Accepted
Stiurthoir Cholaiste Speirin	Accepted
NIPSA	Accepted
North Belfast Principals’ Group	Accepted
Bishop Donal McKeown	Accepted
Patsy McGlone MLA	Accepted
UNISON	Accepted
Community Foundation for NI	Declined	Diary commitments
Danny Kennedy MLA	Accepted
Dawn Purvis MLA	Accepted
Ulster Teachers’ Union	Accepted
Antrim Community Forum	Declined	Diary commitments
Buddy Bear	Accepted
Naomi Long MLA	Declined	Referred to officials
Philomena Smyth	Accepted
St Malachy’s HS	Accepted
Greater Shantallow Arts	Declined	Referred to CCEA
ICEP	Declined	Diary commitments
Waterside House	Accepted
NDBC	Accepted
Drumlins PS	Accepted
Youth Action	Accepted
Hydepark Educ Trust	Declined	Issue already resolved
Nigel Dodds MP MLA	Declined	Referred to officials
Sport Tracker	Declined	Referred to GAA
Lifestyle Designers	Declined	Issue already well advanced
USSI	Accepted
Arts Council	Accepted
USHPF	Accepted
Lower Ormeau Residential Group	Declined	Referred to officials
NIAMH	Accepted
South Belfast Surestart	Declined	Referred to officials
CINI	Accepted
All Party Group on CINI	Accepted
SENTINUS	Declined	Diary commitments
Camlough Community Association	Declined	Referred to officials
POBAL	Accepted
Jim Shannon MLA	Declined	Referred to SEELB
NIPSA	Accepted
Netcare NI	Declined	Referred to officials
HIV Support Centre	Declined	Referred to CASS
NI Hospice	Accepted
Chambers Coach Hire	Declined	Diary Commitments
Greater Village Regeneration Trust	Accepted
University of Ulster Processors	Declined	Referred to DETI
NCH	Accepted
Sean McGourty	Declined	Referred to GAA
Teen Pregnancy Group	Declined	Referred to CCEA
NICIE	Declined	Diary Commitments
Danny Kennedy MLA	Declined	Referred to SELB
Skill NI	Accepted
Family Coaching Consultancy	Declined	Referred to officials
The Corporate Goat	Declined	Referred to CCEA
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass	Accepted
NITC	Accepted
NIMFA	Accepted
Mental Health Forum	Declined	Diary Commitments
Internet Watch Foundation	Declined	Diary Commitments
Comber Drugs Awareness Group	Declined	Diary Commitments
Newry & Mourne District Council	Accepted
Centre for Irish Programs	Declined	Diary Commitments
Fred Cobain MLA	Accepted
Joint Committee of Naiscoil Charn Tochair & Naiscoil Mhachaire Ratha	Declined	Diary Commitments
Queen’s University	Accepted
Iris Robinson MP MLA	Accepted
Blackwater College	Accepted
ALTRAM	Accepted
International Fund for Ireland	Accepted
USO	Declined	Diary Commitments
International House	Declined	Issue already resolved
Retrieve Foundation	Accepted
West Belfast Partnership	Declined	Negotiations still ongoing
Michelle Gildernew MP MLA	Accepted
Princes Trust	Declined	Diary Commitments
Stem Review	Accepted
Roy Beggs Jnr MLA	Accepted
Hibernia College	Accepted
Sammy Wilson MP MLA	Accepted
Capital Realisation Taskforce	Accepted
Tom Elliott MLA	Accepted
Irish Medium Education Trust	Accepted
Foras Na Gaeilge	Declined	Issue already resolved
RNIB	Accepted
Dunfane School	Accepted
Stress Free Schools Ireland	Declined	Referred to officials
Lady Sylvia Hermon MP	Declined	Referred to ELBs
Skill NI	Declined	Diary commitments
Raymond McCartney MLA	Accepted
Autism NI	Declined	Diary commitments
NIMFA	Accepted
Assoc of Educational Psychologists	Declined	Issue already well advanced
Community Support Services	Declined	Referred to DHSSPS
Youth Justice Agency	Accepted
St Bronagh’s PS	Accepted
Association of Teachers and Lecturers	Accepted
Bunscoil Bheann Mhadagain	Accepted
St Gerard’s Educational Resource Centre	Accepted
Women’s Aid	Accepted
Holy Trinity Youth Centre	Declined	Diary Commitments
Association for Quality Education	Accepted
Zest	Declined	Referred to officials
St Aidan’s High School	Declined	Issue already well advanced
All Children’s Integrated PS	Accepted
The Horizon Project	Declined	Diary Commitments
BELB	Declined	Referred to officials
St Michael’s Grammar School	Declined	Diary Commitments
Children’s Independent Therapy	Declined	Issue already resolved
Prince’s Trust	Declined	Diary commitments
Confederation of Passenger Transport NI	Declined	Diary commitments
O’Brien Press	Declined	Referred to ELB
Network of School Planners, Ireland	Declined	Referred to Regional Training Unit
Trevor Lunn MLA	Declined	Diary commitments
Community Organisations of South Tyrone and Area	Declined	Diary commitments
Integrating Education	Declined	Diary commitments
NICIE	Declined	Negotiations ongoing
St Eugene’s HS	Accepted
POBAL	Accepted
Patrician Youth Centre	Accepted
Holocaust Memorial Day Trust	Declined	Diary commitments
Iris Robinson MP MLA	Accepted
Women’s Aid	Declined	Diary commitments
NI Local Government Association	Accepted
St Theresa’s PS	Accepted
National Children’s Bureau	Declined	Diary commitments
P J Bradley MLA	Accepted
MENCAP	Declined	Referred to officials
SELB	Declined	Diary commitments
Creavery PS	Declined	Diary commitments

School Dress Code

Mr T Burns asked the Minister of Education to detail the amount spent by her department in defending the legal case brought against Ballyclare High School by representatives of a pupil contesting the school dress code.

(AQW 3229/08)

Ms C Ruane: The Department has not incurred any costs in respect of the legal case brought against Ballyclare High School by representatives of a pupil contesting the school dress code.

Air Quality Tests

Mrs M O'Neill asked the Minister of Education, pursuant to her answer to AQW 343/08, to provide an update on the results of the air quality tests; and to confirm whether or not the odour has returned.

(AQW 3312/08)

Ms C Ruane: The report of the findings of the air quality monitoring tests commissioned by my Department was received on 30 January. These results will now be examined and I will write to you as soon as possible with the outcome.

Teachers' Voluntary Redundancy

Mr A Maskey asked the Minister of Education to detail the reasons for her department's decision to end the practice of paying the 'added years award', in the case of teachers taking up the offer of voluntary redundancy.

(AQW 3331/08)

Ms C Ruane: An increase in recent years in the number of premature retirements, together with the generous levels of enhancement awarded by employers, have placed an unsustainable burden on the pension scheme in that the scheme’s liabilities are increasing at a much faster rate than current contributions can sustain. The current arrangements for premature retirement are unsustainable even in the short term. To continue without taking action to control the costs of premature retirement would necessitate a significant increase in the pension contribution rate and this would in turn have a significant and unwelcome impact on teachers’ take-home pay.

It has been a statutory requirement in Great Britain for more than a decade that individual employers meet the additional costs associated with teachers’ premature retirements on grounds of redundancy or in the interest of the efficient discharge of the employer’s function. Similarly, employers here must be accountable for decisions to retire teachers early in these circumstances, and for the associated costs. The number of added years’ service which may be credited to a teacher remains unchanged.

The early payment of pension is in itself a significant compensation for early retirement (with associated significant costs) and this remains available at no cost to employers in the 2008-09 financial year. The Department will be consulting with relevant parties on the arrangements for the Premature Retirement Compensation Scheme for future years. This will include detailed consideration of possible alternatives such as enhanced severance pay and the facility for employers to purchase additional pension on an employee’s behalf.

Rowandale Integrated Primary School

Mr J Craig asked the Minister of Education to detail the cost to her department in funding Rowandale Integrated Primary School, Moira.

(AQW 3364/08)

Ms C Ruane: Rowandale Integrated Primary School opened in September 2007 as a new grant-maintained integrated (GMI) school. In this context, it is entitled to receive recurrent funding from Day-1 of operation. A recurrent budget allocation amounting to £90k has been made available to Rowandale Integrated Primary School in the 2007/08 financial year. As for all new GMI schools, it must satisfy intake criteria laid down by the Department of Education before capital grant-aid can be provided.

Special Educational Needs Review

Mr S Wilson asked the Minister of Education to provide a timescale within which she intends to publish the Special Educational Needs review.

(AQW 3370/08)

Ms C Ruane: I consider the needs of children with special educational needs (SEN) as an important part of my Ministerial responsibilities. Therefore I have taken time to consider the review proposals very carefully. Following my approval, the proposals will be taken through the required Assembly processes prior to being issued for formal public consultation, which on present timescales will be mid-2008.

Requests for Meetings

Mr S Wilson asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of requests for meetings she has had from (i) MLAs; and (ii) other groups, since she took up office.

(AQW 3372/08)

Ms C Ruane: I have received 242 requests for meetings since I took up office, 39 of these were requests from MLA’s and 203 were from other groups.

C2K Helpdesk

Mr G Savage asked the Minister of Education to detail the average cost, per school, of calling the C2K helpdesk in the past year.

(AQW 3374/08)

Ms C Ruane: The services of the C2k helpdesk are provided free of charge to all schools. The only cost that a school would incur would be the cost of the phone call. There were two rates applicable in calling an 0870 number in 2007, 6 pence per minute rising to 7 pence per minute.

Gender of Teachers

Mr A Maginness asked the Minister of Education to detail the most recent numbers of teachers, broken down by gender, at (i) primary phase; and (ii) post-primary phase, holding management allowances (a) 5; (b) 4; (c) 3; (d) 2; and (e) 1.

(AQW 3390/08)

Ms C Ruane: The information requested is detailed in the attached table.

Gender	Teaching Allowance	Primary	Post Primary	Total
Female	1	1733	907	2640
	2	712	967	1679
	3	88	544	632
	4	5	238	243
	5	0	111	111
Total		2538	2767	5305

Male	1	225	380	605
	2	149	508	657
	3	30	401	431
	4	4	194	198
	5	2	83	85
Total		410	1566	1976
TOTAL		2948	4333	7281

Post-Primary Transfer

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Education whether or not costings have been prepared for her proposed changes to post primary education.

(AQW 3393/08)

Ms C Ruane: Where a need for restructuring is identified as a result of area-based planning, estimates of cost will be produced. I anticipate that existing structures can deliver much of what is proposed. My plans are unlikely to require restructuring significantly beyond that already required by the need for sustainable schools. In the next ten years our current accommodation deficiencies mean that we have to rebuild a significant amount of the post-primary estate whatever happens.

Youth Service Provision

Mr N McCausland asked the Minister of Education to detail the measures her department is taking to develop youth service provision in the Greater Ballysillan area of North Belfast.

(AQW 3466/08)

Ms C Ruane: The Belfast Education and Library Board (BELB) is responsible for youth provision in the Greater Ballysillan area. I have been provided with the following information by the Chief Executive of the Belfast Education and Library Board.

The Greater Ballysillan area is an integral part of the Board’s North Belfast Youth Division and there are a number of youth service activities ongoing in the Division which impact on the greater Ballysillan area.

Whilst recognising that there are gaps in structural provision, Belfast Education and Library Board youth service is committed to the new youth centre facility currently being incorporated as part of the new school development within Belfast Boys’ Model School.

Currently the school employs a youth tutor to work with disengaged young men both within the school and local communities at a cost of £34,281.

In 2007/08, the Board invested over £280,000 in running youth service activities in its North Belfast Division. The board runs the North Belfast Area Project which prioritises work within communities across North Belfast with little or no youth provision. Ballysillan is currently supported by 3 staff from the area project. These staff work with young people within smaller geographical areas who are not accessing existing youth provision in the area. In thisfinancial year £100,000 has been allocated from the Board’s core Youth Service Budget to maintain this project.

Under the Children and Young Peoples Funding Package and the Renewing Communities Initiative, £150,000 has been allocated to provide detached outreach youth workers throughout the area, to reach out to disaffected young people and engage them in meaningful activities so as to divert them from becoming involved in anti-social behaviour. Approximately £30,000 has been allocated to run summer intervention and youth intervention programmes both of which aim to reduce youth migration towards flashpoint areas in Belfast.

The Board also registered 22 organisations in the area which work with children and young people. This includes ten community and church based youth clubs, the girl guides, the scouts and the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade.

In addition the area has a number of youth workers employed by community organisations; Ballysillan Youth for Christ, Benview Youth Project, Ballysillan Community Forum, all of which secure additional funding from other sources.

The area further benefits from the work of 2 Community Empowerment Programmes (CEPs) that cover the greater Ballysillan Area. These 2 programmes are funded by the North Belfast Community Action Unit. They have a combined youth programme funding of £55,870 for this financial year.

Written Assembly Questions

Mr A Ross asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) the number of written Assembly Questions she has received since May 2007; and (ii) the average length of time it takes her department to respond.

(AQW 3476/08)

Ms C Ruane: Between 08 May 2007 and 04 February 2008 my Department received 857 Assembly Written Questions. On average it has taken 11 working days to respond.

Language Courses

Mr K Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail schools in Northern Ireland at primary and post-primary level that currently provide courses in (i) Mandarin; (ii) Hindi; and (iii) Russian.

(AQW 3580/08)

Ms C Ruane: DE does not hold information on course provision. At post primary level course entries for GCSE and A level examinations are collected. The latest available data on post-primary entries relates to the 2005/06 academic year.

Post primary schools with entries in GCSE and/or A Level courses in:

Mandarin

Our lady of Mercy High School

Campbell College

Methodist College

Strathearn School

Downshire School

Belfast High School

Friends School

Royal School Dungannon

Royal School Armagh

Malone Intergrated College

Victoria College

Hindi

No schools had entries in Hindi in the 2005/06 academic year.

Russian

Methodist college

Nendrum college

1. Information on entries in Mandarin, Hindi and Russian courses in individual primary schools is not available.

Independent Integrated Schools

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail what precedent exists to permit her department to give financial support to independent integrated secondary schools.

(AQW 3600/08)

Ms C Ruane: The Department has not provided financial support to independent integrated secondary schools.

The current location of Rowallane Integrated College is in temporary mobile accommodation on a leased site at Belvoir Park Hospital Estate. The Department has not provided any monies in preparing and maintaining the site.

The Department has not invested any monies in Rowallane Integrated College in the past three years. The school is funded by the Integrated Education Fund.

Rowallane Independent Integrated School

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) the current location of Rowallane Independent Integrated College; and (ii) the amount of money invested by her department in preparing and maintaining the site.

(AQW 3601/08)

Ms C Ruane: The Department has not provided financial support to independent integrated secondary schools.

The Department has not invested any monies in Rowallane Integrated College in the past three years. The school is funded by the Integrated Education Fund.

Rowallane Independent Integrated School

Mrs I Robinson asked the Minister of Education to detail the total amount of money her department has invested in Rowallane Independent Integrated Secondary School, in each of the last 3 years.

(AQW 3602/08)

Ms C Ruane: The Department has not provided financial support to independent integrated secondary schools.

The Department has not invested any monies in Rowallane Integrated College in the past three years. The school is funded by the Integrated Education Fund.

Protestant Teachers

Mr S Wilson asked the Minister of Education to detail (i) the percentage; and (ii) the number of Protestant teachers employed in primary schools in (a) the Controlled sector; and (b) the Maintained sector.

(AQW 3631/08)

Ms C Ruane: The Department does not hold statistical information on the religious breakdown of teachers.

Post-Primary Transfer

Mr M Storey asked the Minister of Education to detail the dates on which she briefed the Executive on her proposals for post-primary transfer.

(AQW 3690/08)

Ms C Ruane: I wrote to my Executive colleagues on 4 December 2007. The process of engagement was discussed at meetings of the Executive on 18 December 2007, 17 and 31 January 2008.

Transfer to Post-Primary

Mr J O'Dowd asked the Minister of Education to confirm whether or not she has sought the views of the Assembly Committee for Education in relation to the future arrangements for transfer to post-primary education.

(AQO 1924/08)

Ms C Ruane: Bhí cruinnithe agam le Coiste Oideachais an Tionóil gairid i ndiaidh mé teacht i gcionn oifige agus bhí cruinnithe agam freisin le hurlabhraithe oideachais na bpáirtithe, agus bhuail mé leis an Choiste arís ar an aonú lá is triocha de mhí Eanáir agus chuir mé freagraí scríofa ar fáil ar cheisteanna a chuir baill den Choiste.

Following initial meetings with the Assembly Education Committee shortly after I took up office, and meetings in the interim period with Party education spokespersons including meeting with the chair, I met with the Committee again on 31 January 2008 and provided written answers to a number of questions they had raised. That meeting provided me with an opportunity to respond to further questions on other points of detail which the Committee wished to raise with me.

I also briefed the Committee on progress that has been made towards seeking a consensus amongst educationalists on arrangements for transfer in 2010 and beyond. At the meeting on 31 January, and indeed prior to Christmas, I invited Committee members to reach a consensus and provide me with their agreed views on a way forward. I am still awaiting their response.

I will continue to engage constructively with the Committee, and I value the input that they can make to the process of building an educational consensus that puts children first.

Dr Farry has asked me, in question number 7, to provide an update on my proposals. I am happy to do so.

After my statement on 4 December I met quickly with groups representing the full range of education interests. I asked all of them to provide me with a position paper based on their response to the vision I set out.

In the new year my officials have met with each group again and have explored the areas of consensus and the areas of continuing contention. I am asking my officials to continue with these discussions since I feel it is vital to engage directly with those in education and to seek an educational consensus.

When these discussions are complete I will bring forward detailed proposals to the Executive, the Assembly and, of course, the Committee. I am sometimes shocked to hear criticisms of this process but I make no apology for it.

This issue has been under discussion for several years. A way forward capable of widespread support has eluded us. I want to achieve it. Indeed I am determined to achieve such an outcome.

Books and Learning Aids

Mr D McNarry asked the Minister of Education to detail the impact the Budget will have on the future purchase of books and learning aids for primary schools in the Strangford constituency, over the next three years.

(AQO 1833/08)

Ms C Ruane: In September last year I signalled my intention to initiate a review of the schools workforce. I expect to make a further announcement about the terms of reference for the review in the near future. However, I should make it clear that the forthcoming review will not be restricted to teachers but will deal with all staff working in our schools. Nor will it be confined to issues around pay and conditions of service which were the main focus of the Curran Independent Inquiry. The terms of reference for the Inquiry are set out in Appendix 1 of the Final Report Part 1, published in June 2003.

Post-Primary Transfer

Dr S Farry asked the Minister of Education to provide an update on her proposals for post-primary transfer.

(AQO 1932/08)

I will continue to engage constructively with the Committee, and I value the input that they can make to the process of building an educational consensus that puts children first.

Dr Farry has asked me, in question number 7, to provide an update on my proposals. I am happy to do so.

This issue has been under discussion for several years. A way forward capable of widespread support has eluded us. I want to achieve it. Indeed I am determined to achieve such an outcome.

Council for Education in World Citizenship

Ms A Lo asked the Minister of Education what plans she has to fund the Council for Education in World Citizenship.

(AQO 1931/08)

Ms C Ruane: Fuair an Chomhairle um Oideachas sa tSaoránacht Dhomhanda maoiniú tríd an Scéim Bunmhaoinithe do Chaidreamh Pobail dhá mhíle a haon go dhá mhíle a ceithre. Chuir siad isteach ar mhaoiniú ar bhonn leanúnach i mbabhtaí ina dhiaidh sin, ach ó bhí an maoiniú teoranta, ní tháinig leis an Roinn gach eagraíocht a mhaoiniú a chuir iarratas isteach.

The Council for Education in World Citizenship (CEWC) received funding through the Community Relations Core Funding Scheme (CRCFS) 2001-04. They applied for continued funding, in subsequent rounds, but, as the funding was limited, the Department could not fund every organisation that applied. In the recent round of core funding, commencing in 2007, the application from CEWC was unsuccessful.

All unsuccessful applicants were advised of their right to appeal and were provided with a copy of the appeal procedures. CEWC decided not to appeal the Department decision.

Is tríd an Scéim Bunmhaoinithe do Chaidreamh Pobail amháin a thig maoiniú do obair na Comhairle um Oideachas sa tSaoránacht Dhomhanda, agus faoi láthair tá an scéim lán tiomanta.

The only funding available for the work carried out by CEWC is through the Community Relations Core Funding Scheme and the current scheme is fully committed. CEWC should however be eligible to apply for funding under the next round of the Community Relations Core Funding Scheme.

Education Welfare Officers

Mr B McElduff asked the Minister of Education what steps she is taking to provide parity of pay and recognition between Education Welfare Officers who have social work qualifications, and Social Workers who are employed in the Health Service.

(AQO 1917/08)

Ms C Ruane: Tuigim ó na Boird Oideachais agus Leabharlainne, arb iad na fostaitheoirí iad sa tSeirbhís Leasa Oideachais, go gcinntítear grádú Oifigeach Leasa Oideachais trí phróiseas comhaontaithe ar mheastóireacht poist.

I understand, from the Education and Library Boards, who are the employers of staff in the Education Welfare Service, that the grading of Education Welfare Officers is determined by an agreed process of job evaluation. This process takes account of a range of factors relating to the job including supervisory responsibility, creativity, contacts, decision making , knowledge and skills (including qualifications), and work context and is regarded as much fairer than a determination solely based on qualification.

Staff employed in the Health and Social Services are engaged under different terms and conditions of service from staff in the Education and Library Boards and their salaries and gradings are agreed through an entirely different negotiating machinery.

North-South Educational Projects

Mr A Attwood asked the Minister of Education to detail the new North-South educational projects she has introduced since taking up office.

(AQO 1890/08)

Ms C Ruane: Faoi choimirce na Comhairle Aireachta Thuaidh/Theas tá comhoibriú ann ar an oideachas trasna réimse ceisteanna: oideachas do pháistí le riachtanais speisialta; an fo-ghnóthachtáil san oideachas; cáilíochtaí agus aoisliúntas múinteoirí; scéimeanna malairte do scoileanna, do dhaoine óga agus do mhúinteoirí.

Under the auspices of the North/South Ministerial Council there is existing education cooperation across a range of issues: education for children with special needs; educational underachievement; teacher qualifications and superannuation issues; school, youth and teacher exchanges.

I met with Mary Hanafin TD, Minister for Education and Science, in Dublin in November last year to review progress in these areas and to initiate further work on the full range of matters. We agreed to develop proposals to tackle educational underachievement, including ongoing work by the Literacy and Numeracy Working Group, and to undertake a formal review of co-operation on educational exchanges and supporting mechanisms, including the North South Exchange Consortium. Following the significant progress made so far to establish a Centre of Excellence for Autism at Middletown, we endorsed the plans to provide training, advisory and research services and education, learning and support services once building work is complete. Other joint projects are currently underway in the field of special education needs, such as the "Cross Border School and Parent Community Partnership Programme", and we plan to hold a joint Autistic Spectrum Disorder conference this year. Through the Teachers Qualifications Working Group, progress is being made on improving teacher mobility.

In December 2007, Conor Lenihan TD, the Irish Minister for Integration and I jointly launched a Toolkit for Diversity in the Primary School sector. The Toolkit will develop cross-border collaboration to assist children whose language, culture and ethnicity are not Irish and to allow us all to benefit from this rich diversity.

As part of my desire to raise awareness of the important role science and technology in our schools, I have supported the all-Ireland BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibitions, attending the formal opening of the most recent event in Dublin in January with Micheál Martin, Irish Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

I will be hosting the next North South Ministerial Council meeting in Education Sectoral format in the Spring and will, of course, report back to the Assembly on progress made on these and other issues.

Implemention Costs

Mr S Hamilton asked the Minister of Education to identify her department's allocation in the Budget in relation to the costs of implementing her 'vision' for education.

(AQO 1857/08)

Ms C Ruane: Cheadaigh an Tionól an Buiséad ar 29 Eanáir 2008. Tá mé ag déanamh breithniú ar mhiondáileadh an Bhuiséid do sheirbhísí oideachais.

The Assembly approved the Budget on January 29, 2008. I am currently considering the detailed distribution of the budget allocation for education services. However, the proposals under my vision are unlikely to require restructuring significantly beyond that already required by the need for Sustainable Schools.

Academic Selection Procedure

Mr W Clarke asked the Minister of Education to detail the number of grammar schools that only accept pupils with grades 'A' or 'B' in the current academic selection procedure.

(AQO 1914/08)

Ms C Ruane: Sa bhliain oideachais 2007/08 níor ghlac ach 9 de na 69 scoil ghramadaí i dTuaisceart na hÉireann daltaí le Grád A nó Grád B.

In the 2007/08 academic year, 9 of the 69 grammar schools in the North of Ireland only accepted pupils with Grade A or Grade B.

Free Public Transport

Mr K McCarthy asked the Minister of Education what consideration she has given to providing free public transport for special needs children and young adults.

(AQO 1929/08)

Ms C Ruane: Tá na socruithe taistil ón bhaile go dtí an scoil do dhaltaí le riachtanais speisialta oideachais taobh amuigh de na socruithe caighdeánacha, agus tá siad sonraithe do gach páiste.

The current home to school transport arrangements for pupils with special educational needs lie outside of the standard arrangements applied, and are tailored to each individual child. If health care professionals deem transport provision necessary as part of the child’s statementing process, then transport will be provided using whatever mode of transport is recommended, to whichever school is deemed most suitable to meet that child’s needs.

As part of its Concessionary Fares Scheme in the north, the Department for Regional Development provides half fares to young people up to the 30^th June of the school year in which they turn 16; that is, while they are in compulsory education. In addition, the Scheme provides free fares to persons who are registered blind. Half fares are available to a number of groups of people with disabilities, including persons: in receipt of either mobility component of Disability Living Allowance; known to have a learning disability; registered as being partially sighted; and persons who have been refused a driving licence on medical grounds. I am advised that the Department for Regional Development made a number of bids to extend the Scheme as part of the recent Comprehensive Spending Review. These bids, which were unsuccessful, included the provision of half fares to young people up to their eighteenth birthday and extending free fares to existing half fare disabled categories.

Disabled Children at St. Joseph's College

Mrs M O'Neill asked the Minister of Education what action she is taking to ensure that disabled children in St. Joseph's Secondary College, Coalisland, have suitable access to school facilities; and what plans she has to ensure that the rights of disabled children in mainstream schools will be protected.

(AQO 1907/08)

Ms C Ruane: Faoin Special Educational Needs and Disability Order 2005 tá dualgas ar Bhoird Oideachais agus Leabharlainne agus ar Bhoird Gobharnóirí gach céim réasúnta a ghlacadh lena chinntiú nach bhfuil dalta le míchumas faoi mhíbhuntáiste i gcomórtas le dalta nach bhfuil míchumas air.

Under the Special Educational Needs and Disability Order 2005 there is already a duty on Education and Library Boards and Boards of Governors to take all reasonable steps to ensure that a pupil with a disability is not placed at a substantial disadvantage in comparison to a pupil who does not have a disability.

In regard to St Joseph’s Secondary College, I am aware of the current situation. A scheme to provide chair lifts, disabled toilet facilities and a lift is at an advanced stage of planning. This will ensure the children have access to all parts of the curriculum. The first stage to provide chair lifts is expected to be finished in April and the lift will be installed during the summer.

School Buildings Handbook

Mrs N Long asked the Minister of Ed