QUESTIONS FOR WRITTEN ANSWER
ON THURSDAY 26 JUNE 2008
Questions to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
Questions to the Minister of Education
Questions to the Minister for Employment and Learning
Questions to
the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Questions to the Minister of the Environment
Questions to the Minister of Finance and Personnel
Questions to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
Questions to the Minister for Regional Development
Questions to the Minister for Social Development
Questions to the Assembly Commision
Questions to the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister
1. Mr McElduff (West Tyrone):
To ask the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister whether it will make representations to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform to retain the Post Office Card Account (POCA2) as a Post Office product.
(AQW 8047/08)
Questions to the Minister of Education
1. Mr D Bradley (Newry and Armagh):
To ask the Minister of Education how many school pupils do not have English or Irish as a first language; and what is the first language of these pupils, broken down by Education and Library Board area.
(AQW 7989/08)
2. Mr D Bradley (Newry and Armagh):
To ask the Minister of Education to outline her Department's sustainable schools policy.
(AQW 7990/08)
3. Mr D Bradley (Newry and Armagh):
To ask the Minister of Education what progress has been made on the establishment of the Education and Skills Authority.
(AQW 7991/08)
4. Mr D Bradley (Newry and Armagh):
To ask the Minister of Education how many of the 65 tutors appointed to the primary languages programme will be (i) fully qualified teachers; and (ii) qualified teachers of Irish and Spanish.
(AQW 8042/08)
5. Mr D Bradley (Newry and Armagh):
To ask the Minister of Education how many schools will be serviced by each of the 65 tutors appointed to the primary languages programme; and how much time each will be allocated and at what frequency.
(AQW 8043/08)
6. Mrs I Robinson (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Education to detail (i) the new build capital development schemes; and (ii) the capital development schemes which were granted permission in each year for the last 5 years, broken down by Education and Library Board.
(AQW 8044/08)
7. Mrs I Robinson (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Education to detail the number of (i) new build capital development proposals; and (ii) capital development proposals, currently with her Department, for which valid economic appraisals have been accepted; the length of time they have been with her Department; and how many site meetings were granted by her officials as part of the process towards the submission of valid economic appraisals, in relation to all capital development proposals in each of the last 5 years.
(AQW 8045/08)
8. Mrs I Robinson (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Education when she was made aware of the proposals by the South Eastern Education and Library Board in relation to a new build project for Saintfield Academy; and why her officials have refused to attend a site meeting at the current site, as part of the process towards the submission of a valid economic appraisal.
(AQW 8048/08)
9. Mrs I Robinson (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Education how long Ballywalter Primary School has been listed as a priority scheme by her Department; when her Department accepted the findings of the economic appraisal submitted by the South Eastern Education and Library Board; and the timescale for completion of this scheme.
(AQW 8050/08)
10. Mr K Robinson ( East Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Education what secondary schools 'stream' pupils according to ability at Year 8, and what criteria is this 'streaming' based on, broken down by Area Board.
(AQW 8038/08)
11. Mr K Robinson ( East Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Education how many teachers are on the Substitute Teachers' Register, broken down by Education and Library Board area.
(AQW 8039/08)
12. Mr K Robinson ( East Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Education what level of funding is provided to pupils of primary schools where the pupil has (i) no statement of educational need; and (ii) a statement of special educational need.
(AQW 8040/08)
13. Mr Shannon (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Education what consideration she has given to changing the school meal tickets issued to children whose parents are on benefits, so that no distinction can be made between school meal tickets.
(AQW 8033/08)
Questions to the Minister for Employment and Learning
1. Mr Ross ( East Antrim):
To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning for an update on the further education lecturers' pay dispute.
(AQW 8020/08)
2. Mr Ross ( East Antrim):
To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning what discussions (i) he has had; (ii) he plans to have, with the Minister of Enterprise Trade and Investment in relation to the number of jobs required in the hospitality and tourism sector; and what action has he taken to ensure that the demand for jobs in this area is met.
(AQW 8021/08)
3. Mr Weir (North Down):
To ask the Minister for Employment and Learning how many staff hours have been taken up with departmental or cross-departmental away days, or team-building exercises, in each of the last five years.
(AQW 8001/08)
Questions to the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
1. Mr Elliott (Fermanagh and South Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (i) how much money has been provided so far to each of the following signature projects: (a) the Mournes; (b) Causeway Coast; (c) Walls of Derry/Londonderry; (d) Titanic Centre; and (e) Armagh Cathedral Trail; and (ii) how much money is projected to be delivered to each of these signature projects in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010.
(AQW 7993/08)
2. Mr Hamilton (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what consideration has been given to the suggestion in the Second Varney Review that the functions of Invest NI should be reviewed.
(AQW 8014/08)
3. Mr K Robinson ( East Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment the cost of each overseas Invest NI Office per annum, and what investment has been generated from each Invest NI Office over the last five financial years.
(AQW 8041/08)
4. Mr Ross ( East Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment what discussions she (i) has had; and (ii) plans to have, with the Minister for Employment and Learning in relation to the number of jobs required in the hospitality and tourism sector.
(AQW 8022/08)
Questions to the Minister of the Environment
1. Mr Hamilton (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of the Environment the average time to process commercial planning applications in (i) Northern Ireland; and (ii) each Divisional Planning Office.
(AQW 8015/08)
2. Mr McElduff (West Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of the Environment what action his Department is taking to protect and promote townland names; and if he will bring forward legislation to amend Article 11 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) ( Northern Ireland) Order 1995, to allow district councils to number townland addresses.
(AQW 8037/08)
3. Mr Ross ( East Antrim):
To ask the Minister of the Environment what discussions he has had, or plans to have, with representatives from other countries that operate graduated driver licensing.
(AQW 8019/08)
4. Mr Shannon (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of the Environment what consideration he has given to the impact of Red Kite introduction in South Down; and how that will relate to his Department's intention to increase Red Grouse numbers to 300 pairs, for which Co Down is one of the areas designated.
(AQW 8030/08)
5. Mr Shannon (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of the Environment what steps his Department will take within the Northern Ireland Species Action Plan (Red Grouse) to address over-grazing of heather.
(AQW 8031/08)
6. Mr Shannon (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of the Environment what financial assistance is available in the 'Better Regulation for a Better Environment' to encourage compliance by businesses to improve overall environmental performance.
(AQW 8035/08)
7. Mr Weir (North Down):
To ask the Minister of the Environment how many staff hours have been taken up with departmental or cross-departmental away days, or team-building exercises, in each of the last five years.
(AQW 8000/08)
8. Mr Weir (North Down):
To ask the Minister of the Environment how many away days and team-building exercises have been organised by his Department for departmental staff in each of the last five years.
(AQW 8004/08)
9. Mr Weir (North Down):
To ask the Minister of the Environment the total cost incurred by the Department on away days or team-building exercises in each of the last five years.
(AQW 8005/08)
Questions to the Minister of Finance and Personnel
1. Mr McElduff (West Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel if he will hold discussions with credit and finance companies to ensure they make provision for customers who use townland addresses rather than street addresses when applying for loans and mortgages.
(AQW 8036/08)
2. Mr K Robinson ( East Antrim):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel to detail the elements taken into account by the Rate Collection Agency when assessing the rateable value of a dwelling; if (i) the actual footprint of the property; or (ii) the conversion of a roof space to provide extra rooms, are included; and if these matters are clearly notified to householders by the Rate Collection Agency.
(AQW 8046/08)
3. Mr Weir (North Down):
To ask the Minister of Finance and Personnel how many staff hours have been taken up with departmental or cross-departmental away days, or team-building exercises, in each of the last five years.
(AQW 7999/08)
Questions to the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
1. Mr Hamilton (Strangford):
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many cases of Toxicariasis have been recorded in each of the last 3 years; and how many of the recorded cases involved children aged under 16.
(AQW 8018/08)
2. Mr McHugh (Fermanagh and South Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety how many new born babies died within 48 hours of birth in each of the last 3 years, broken down by maternity unit; and how the mortality rate at each maternity unit compares with the average.
(AQW 8025/08)
3. Mr McHugh (Fermanagh and South Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety why patients are told there is a waiting list of several months to see a consultant, but if they are willing to pay they can see the same consultant within days.
(AQW 8026/08)
4. Mr McHugh (Fermanagh and South Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety what plans his Department has for introducing a satellite service to administer chemotherapy in the Erne Hospital, given the length of time it takes patients to travel to Belfast for daily treatment.
(AQW 8027/08)
5. Mr McHugh (Fermanagh and South Tyrone):
To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety if he has plans to close the Intensive Care Unit at the Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital and replace it with a similar service to that which exists at Gransha Hospital.
(AQW 8028/08)
Questions to the Minister for Regional Development
1. Mr Easton (North Down):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what new street lighting schemes are planned for Millisle over the next 3 years.
(AQW 8006/08)
2. Mr Easton (North Down):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what new street lighting schemes are planned for Donaghadee over the next 3 years.
(AQW 8009/08)
3. Mr Easton (North Down):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what new street lighting schemes are planned for the Ballyholme and Groomsport area of Bangor over the next 3 years.
(AQW 8010/08)
4. Mr Hamilton (Strangford):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what assessment has been made of the need for additional car parking spaces in Saintfield; and what plans he has to increase the current number.
(AQW 8016/08)
5. Mr Hamilton (Strangford):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what plans his Department has, and the timescale for, upgrading waste water treatment facilities in Saintfield.
(AQW 8017/08)
6. Mrs I Robinson (Strangford):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development how much it cost Roads Service to complete alterations to the roads network in the vicinity of (i) Lagan Integrated College; and (ii) Millennium Integrated Primary School.
(AQW 8049/08)
7. Mr Ross ( East Antrim):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development how many car parks in the East Antrim constituency are owned by his Department.
(AQW 8023/08)
8. Mr Shannon (Strangford):
To ask the Minister for Regional Development what co-ordination there is between Roads Service and Northern Ireland Water, to ensure that roads are not re-surfaced and then dug up within a short space of time for water pipes to be laid.
(AQW 8032/08)
Questions to the Minister for Social Development
1. Mr McHugh (Fermanagh and South Tyrone):
To ask the Minister for Social Development, pursuant to her answer to AQW 5090/08, to provide a detailed breakdown of the savings that will be made by the Housing Executive in transferring 20 jobs from Enniskillen to Omagh.
(AQW 8024/08)
Questions to the Assembly Commission
1. Mr Attwood ( West Belfast):
To ask the Assembly Commission (i) how many staff are employed in the Business Office; (ii) the job titles of the Business Office staff; (iii) whether there are proposals to revise the staff structure in the Business Office, including any proposals for new positions; and (iv) how recruitment for any new positions will be conducted.
(AQW 7992/08)