(AQW 2826/01)

Reply: Generally Departments only consider core funding for groups operating on a regional basis and relatively few organisations receive such funding.

In the current financial year, the Department for Social Development through its Belfast Regeneration Office have just recently approved £190,000 from their Making Belfast Work Action Plan budget to secure management and administration posts and to provide running costs for 2 Women’ Centres (Ballybeen and Windsor). In the last financial year the same two centres received £167,597 from the same source. The Department for Social Development through its Londonderry Development Initiative also provided funding of £39,026 to three Women’s Centres in the city, because these centres deliver services relevant to that Initiative.

Our officials are presently finalising a position paper on the funding of women’s organizations generally. They are also liaising with officials in the Department for Social Development with a view to identifying how these funding problems can be most effectively addressed.

(AQW 3382/01)

Reply: The number of children living in Northern Ireland is 460,48^4, approximately one third of the total population.

In Norway, there is a total child population of 1.16 million, approximately one quarter of the total population

There are 671,300 children living in Wales, which make up about one fifth of the total population

There are approximately 1.1 million children living in the Republic of Ireland, making up 29% of the total population.

(AQW 3419/01)

Reply: Online transactions are a key priority for all Northern Ireland Departments although they are only one, albeit important, aspect of electronic service delivery.

In the main such transactions are currently related to requests for information, publications and assistance. It is important to note that for many Departments key services include the provision of information and advice and electronic access to that advice is rightly considered to be a transaction. The under-pinning principle is that having contacted government electronically, the customer is satisfied at the end of the interaction.

At present, not all Departments are routinely capturing take-up figures for these transactions although plans to introduce a formal monitoring regime are under consideration as part of the overall e-Business programme.

Nevertheless, a number of Departments have already acknowledged encouraging increases in the uptake of electronic transactions for example Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment have recorded increases as high as 30% month on month and the overall expectation is that this upward trend will continue, particularly as the number of transactions available online grows.

Background statistics which are available for some of the Northern Ireland Civil Service websites also give an indication of the interest in, and usage of, online Departmental information. These, too, have shown encouraging growth in the use of the Internet as a means of interaction between the public and Government Departments and services. For example, job vacancies viewed at Department of Employment and Learning’s ‘JobCentre Online’ increased from 28,128 in April 2001 to 213,129 in April 2002, an increase of 758%.

(AQW 3460/01)

Reply:

(a) As part of the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative the Executive will be able to borrow from Treasury at highly advantageous interest rates which would be below commercial rates. There are two aspects to the borrowing arrangements. In the short term the Executive would be able to borrow up to £125 million from the Treasury under existing legislation. This loan would be repaid from revenue income currently planned. The Initiative also provides for new borrowing arrangements for the Executive in the longer term which, subject to the progress with the Review of Rating Policy, could come into operation from 2004/05.

(b) It will be up to the Executive and the Assembly to decide whether to borrow and by how much to fund public services, though there will be no major changes in local revenue until after full public consultation and until a fairer system for revenue raising has been developed to replace the present system. The extent to which the borrowing power is used will be the subject of full debate within the Executive and the Assembly. There will be major public consultations launched shortly on Public Private Partnerships and the Rating Policy Review, both of which have a relevance to the longer term borrowing under the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative. Consultation will also take place with the Assembly and the public on proposals for the Budget allocations for the coming years.

(AQW 3646/01)

Reply: The table provided contains details of research commissioned over the period 1999 to 2002 and whether or not it has been published. Some of the research is currently in progress and where this is the case a publication date or time period is indicated. The table shows that on one occasion research has not been formally published in terms of a hard copy report. However, this work has been disseminated within the former Centre for the Study of Conflict at the University of Ulster and is available on request.

Additional publications have been produced which are not listed in the table because they were commissioned outside the time period specified. These are either already on the OFMDFM website (www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk) or will be placed there in due course.

(AQW 3743/01)

Reply: The report to the Assembly in February 1999 identified the ten sectors from which membership for the Civic Forum would be drawn. The Ulster Farmers’ Union, the Northern Ireland Agricultural Producers Association and representative organisations from the fishing sector were to nominate 3 members for the agriculture and fisheries sector. However, a member representing NIAPA was not appointed due to internal difficulties within the organisation. We also understand that the member representing the Ulster Farmer’s Union has recently resigned.

The difficulties within NIAPA have now been resolved and officials have begun the process to obtain nominations to fill both the vacancies within the agriculture sector.

(AQO 1458/01)

Reply: We have not jointly considered the exclusion of Sinn Féin Ministers under Section 30 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.

(AQO 1424/01)

Reply: The Executive previously agreed that the Freedom of Information Act 2000 should extend to Northern Ireland and it will be fully in force by January 2005. We will also be reviewing the desirability of separate legislation for Northern Ireland.

We are of course aware of the legislation being introduced in Scotland and we will take account of this in considering the desirability of separate legislation for Northern Ireland.

(AQO 1434/01)

Reply: We explained to this House on 7 May that a lot of work now needs to be done to implement the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative. An Executive sub-Committee is being established to oversee the work.

We have already put in hand action to make early progress. We need to decide in the coming weeks how best to utilise the £200 million which will be available to us over the next two years. Departments have already been asked for their proposals. A new regional cancer centre has been identified as a possible project which could benefit from the short-term package.

We are also working to establish the new strategic investment body as soon as possible to help us take a more strategic approach to investment in our infrastructure. The Executive has agreed to set up a Project Board, with members nominated by parties in the Executive, to advise on the most appropriate remit and status for the new body. The Project Board is expected to meet for the first time shortly.

On the use of the sites at Ebrington and the Maze, Members will be aware that work to develop proposals for the use of Ebrington has already commenced. We are establishing a partnership and regeneration panel involving central and local government, community and business sectors, to bring forward proposals for the Executive’s consideration. We want to use local experience and expertise to advise us on how best to use this strategically important asset. We also want local community and business groups to be consulted and involved in developing ideas for the use of other such sites including the Maze. These extensive estates offer us many possibilities for major economic and social regeneration. We will want to consider the options carefully so that we achieve dynamic development, working in partnership with local communities.

(AQO 1556/01)

Reply: The next plenary of the NSMC is scheduled to take place on Friday 28 June in Armagh.

(AQO 1558/01)

Reply: The first meeting of the Project Board took place on 11 June.

A key function of the Project Board, which comprises members nominated by Ministers from the parties in the Executive, will be to advise on the role, remit and status of the new Strategic Investment Body.

We have nominated the chairs of the Project Board and the UUP, SDLP, DUP and Sinn Fein Ministers have nominated members.

(AQO 1537/01)

Reply: These are, of course, mainly matters for the Northern Ireland Office.

We understand that the timing of the release by the Northern Ireland Prison Service of the Maze will be determined by operational factors including the availability of adequate contingency accommodation within the Prisons estate (currently restricted by an extensive refurbishment programme at other prison establishments) and the need to relocate a number of operational units from the Maze to other sites. It is not, therefore, possible at this stage to put a precise timescale on the site’s release.

(AQO 1569/01)

Reply: At the second British- Irish Summit Council meeting in November 2001, it was agreed that tourism was of significant importance to all members in terms of jobs, revenue, culture and heritage and that benefit would be derived from greater co-ordination across this industry. The Council decided that Guernsey should take the lead on the Tourism Sector and a progress report will be made to the next British-Irish Summit Council meeting which is scheduled to take place in Jersey on 14 June.

The lead responsibility for taking work forward within this sector in Northern Ireland lies with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment. A representative from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment has attended Tourism senior officials meetings held on 1 March and 21 May 2002, with a view to agreeing a future work programme which would be of most benefit to all members.

(AQW 3688/01)

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (Ms Rodgers): My Department conducted a consultation, locally, on the European Commission’s Green Paper proposals for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy, and fed these through by way of contributions to the Commission’s Green Paper consultation. Through regular ongoing communication with UK Ministerial colleagues, I have ensured that issues specific to Northern Ireland, such as the long term future of our nephrops industry, and recognition for the capacity reductions which we have made, have been maintained at the forefront of Member State thinking and communicated at European level negotiations.

The process of consultation on the Commission’s substantive legislative proposals, which were published on 28 May 2002, has now begun. I shall continue to pursue Northern Ireland’s regional interests at Member State and European Level, and by pressing our interests at Fisheries Council meeting. I attended the June Fisheries Council in Luxembourg on 11 June to ensure, through meetings and representations to UK Ministers, that Northern Ireland’s interests are were represented in these negotiations.

I attach particular importance to local consultations with fisheries interests, to ensure that all important aspects of the future viability of Northern Ireland’s fisheries industry are appropriately covered in our response to the Commission’s legislative proposals. I am pleased to say that the Commission’s "Blue Team", which is spearheading their consultation with visits to various locations throughout Europe, will visit Northern Ireland on Thursday 13 June, where the European Commission’s representative office in Belfast will host a seminar for fisheries interests, which will both present the Commission’s proposals, and allow stakeholders to ask questions and put their views directly to Commission officials. I will meet the team during their visit.

(AQW 3769/01)

Ms Rodgers: Equality Impact Assessments have been carried out on the following policies:

• Less Favoured Area Support

• Payment of Agricultural Grants and Subsidies (which included the Implementation of Agenda 2000); and

• Natural Resource Tourism Measure (Peace II)

(AQW 3780/01)

Ms Rodgers: There have been two imports of consignments of corned beef from Argentina in the past 12 months. There have been no other imports of beef from Third Countries within this period.

From the introduction of the European Single Market 1992, the conditions for trade in most products between Member States have been harmonised. This means that, regardless of whether a product is destined for the UK market or another Member State of the European Union, certain basic trade requirements have to be met. With regard to personal imports, general import licences apply which mean that importers can bring small quantities of meat and dairy products into Northern Ireland, without any additional conditions applying. Therefore, no records are kept on the import of beef from Member States.

(AQW 3781/01)

Ms Rodgers: Inspections of imported meat from Third countries are carried out at Border Inspection Posts in accordance with EU Regulations. Once such meat enters the EU it can be traded freely in the same way as EU beef. It is therefore not possible to maintain statistics on the quantity of beef imported into NI, nor is it possible to assess the effect imported beef has on the level of local beef sales.

Market research would however indicate that beef is being imported from the ROI, other EU countries and Third countries with beef from Third countries going to the catering and institutional sectors. It is also understood supermarkets continue to source the majority of their beef from local suppliers. All beef must comply with EU import conditions and with EC beef labelling requirements by having the beef marked with the country and establishment of origin.

I continue to encourage supermarkets and others to make greater use of local produce, including beef, through my attendance at suppliers conferences, company visits and at other events.

(AQW 3795/01)

Ms Rodgers: The Department has made provision under the Animals and Animal Products (Import and Export) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 to ensure dealers that import livestock from other Member States and sell them on, are registered.

However, the introduction of the 30 day standstill requirement following the Foot and Mouth outbreak, has meant that the requirement for dealers to be registered has been overtaken by the fact that animals are not able to move through registered dealers premises at present.

It is recognised that standstills contribute significantly to preventing the spread of exotic animal disease and that the principal trigger for spread of animal disease is animal movement, particularly repetitive movement as through dealers premises or movement involving multiple source contacts or destinations. It is therefore the Department’s intention to maintain the 30 day standstill requirement in Northern Ireland for the foreseeable future.

(AQW 3796/01)

Ms Rodgers: There were 65.8 million dozen eggs graded and packed in registered NI egg packing stations during 2001. This represents a 6% increase on the 62.2 million dozen recorded for the previous year. The laying flock also increased by 1% to 2.63 million birds in the year 2001.

(AQW 3845/01)

Ms Rodgers: My Department will comply fully with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act including the preparation of a publication scheme in time to meet the November 2002 deadline. I am also in the process of appointing an Information Manager who will have specific responsibility for Freedom of Information matters. I have asked senior officials within my Department to detail all the information they publish or intend to publish and this will form the basis of the Publication Scheme.

(AQO 1440/01)

The Minister of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Mr McGimpsey): [holding answer 27 May 2002]: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) administers a number of financial assistance schemes- the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation 2000-2004, the International Fund for Ireland Visitor Attractions Scheme, the Tourism Development Scheme and Events Support Scheme- which are aimed at developing existing visitor attractions and amenities, marketing projects and events support. Applications for assistance under these initiatives will be welcome for projects located in the Foyle Fisheries area.

In addition, all existing tourist accommodation businesses located in the area which have been certified by the NITB are eligible to apply to Invest NI for selective financial assistance. Invest NI can also provide support for a range of management disciplines including marketing, finance and operations.

I am also aware that the Foyle Carlingford and Irish Lights Commission (FCILC), a cross-border body sponsored by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, is currently preparing a marine tourism strategy which will set out the Agency’s plans for the development of marine tourism in these areas. As part of this strategy the Agency is in the process of commissioning a marine tourism audit with a view to ascertaining the level of facilities currently available in the Foyle and Carlingford Areas. The Agency hopes to be in a position to publish its marine tourism strategy later this year.

(AQW 3797/01)

Mr McGimpsey: The national stadium issue is currently being considered in the context of my Department’s work on developing a Soccer Strategy for Northern Ireland.

I hope to make a statement in the near future about the Soccer Strategy and this will include my views on the way forward on the national stadium issue.

(AQW 3822/01)

Mr McGimpsey: My Department has not as yet carried out any equality impact assessments but has contributed £10k to the Electronic Libraries for Northern Ireland project carried out by the education and library boards in compliance with the equality schemes of the five boards.

(AQW 3846/01)

Mr McGimpsey: My Department has taken steps to ensure that it fully complies with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. To this end, a dedicated resource has been identified to oversee the production of a ‘Publication Scheme’ which will cover my core Department and our Executive Agencies, Public Record Office of Northern Ireland and Ordnance Survey of Northern Ireland.

I have also established an informal Working Group to ensure we meet the November 2002 deadline.

(AQW 3488/01)

The Minister of Education (Mr M McGuinness): PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC) has only been in existence as a company since July 1998 as a result of the merger between Price Waterhouse and Coopers and Lybrand; the following information relates only to the period since the merger.

Information in relation to specific a) projects and b) period of project is provided below. However, the value of individual contracts awarded to consultants can not be provided as this would breach commercial confidentiality.

(AQW 3745/01)

Mr M McGuinness: Inspections conducted during the current school year in individual schools indicate that such classes do place important demands on teachers in terms of organisation, planning and approaches to teaching and learning but also provided evidence that, in general, teachers are responding well to the differing learning needs within their classes and that children experienced a programme of activities appropriate to their individual needs.

(AQW 3746/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The information requested is as follows:

(AQW 3747/01)

Mr M McGuinness: While the level of resources delegated to its schools is primarily a matter for the NEELB, I am aware of the financial difficulties that have been identified by the Board in relation to its schools and have initiated a full review of the Board’s expenditure plans across its total allocation, in order to inform decisions on what further action can be taken. My officials are currently working closely with Board Officers to examine the position in detail.

(AQW 3748/01)

Mr M McGuinness: When Boards allocate resources across their services they take due cognisance of the Department’s allocation letter which requires Boards to keep administration costs to the minimum levels required to maintain core services. It is particularly important that Boards keep administration costs to a minimum with the ever-increasing emphasis on maximising resources that go to the classroom.

(AQW 3770/01)

Mr M McGuinness: (a) There has been one Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) carried out by the Department of Education to date to the formal consultation phase. This was in respect of the Consultation Document "A Common Funding Formula for Grant-Aided Schools" which was launched on 5 April 2001.

(b) This EQIA formed an integral part (ie Chapter 21) of the Consultation Document and it was prepared in accordance with the Equality Commission’s "Guide to Statutory Duties" document. Therefore, in these circumstances, the specific costs in relation to research, consultation, printing and dissemination in relation to this EQIA were subsumed in the overall cost of the Consultation Document.

(AQW 3786/01)

Mr M McGuinness: As the information requested is extensive, I will arrange to have it placed in the Assembly Library. I enclose a copy for your personal use.

(AQW 3788/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The Transfer Test is not compulsory therefore no pupil is required to sit the test.

Over the past five years the number of pupils opting out of sitting the test is as follows:

(AQW 3789/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The information, in respect of non-Grammar schools which had pupils entered for A-level or equivalent examinations in June 2001, is as follows:

(AQW 3798/01)

Mr M McGuinness: I understand that the South- Eastern Education and Library Board has advised the Ards Borough Council that any receipts accruing from the sale of this land will be used for expenditure on capital development in the Comber area.

(AQW 3844/01)

(a) The number of pupils accepted into Year 8 for the 2002/03 school year in Down High School and St Patrick’s Grammar School, Downpatrick, is as follows:

(b) A breakdown of the Transfer Procedure results obtained by these pupils is set out below:

(AQW 3847/01)

Mr M McGuinness: The Department of Education has appointed an Information Officer whose responsibilities include the preparation of the Department’s Publication Scheme. An Implementation Plan has been drawn up to ensure compliance with the November 2002 deadline and an information audit of the Department is currently under way.

(AQW 3899/01)

Mr M McGuinness: This is the largest consultation ever undertaken on an education issue and the household response form is being distributed to over 670,000 households. Distribution has taken longer than was originally anticipated due to the massive scale of this exercise. However all forms will be delivered within the next few days.

The deadline for comments is 28 June 2002 and I believe this allows sufficient time for everyone to respond.

(AQW 3972/01)

(a) My driver is an employee of Sinn Féin

(b) The driver salary is met by Sinn Féin, which is in turn reimbursed by the Department of Education

(c), (d), & (e) I consider these queries to be internal matters for my Party.

(AQW 3980/01)

Mr M McGuinness: I have said, on a number of occasions in the past, that children should be able to travel to and from school without fear of attack or abuse. I therefore totally deplore the attack which took place in Strabane on 5 June. Any attack on pupils, or vehicles used to transport pupils, when travelling to and from school, is totally unacceptable and there can be no possible justification or excuse for this recent incident.

(AQW 3787/01)

The Minister for Employment and Learning (Ms Hanna): The Department for Employment and Learning does not have information available on the type of school attended prior to enrolment on higher education courses.

(AQW 3799/01)

Ms Hanna: To date, a total of 14 Equality Impact Assessments have been carried out by my Department.

Identifiable invoiced costs are as follows:

• Student Support Review 
  (printing and distribution costs) £3,400
  

• Changes to Employment Legislation
  13 Equality Impact Assessments
  (Research and Consultation costs) £17,110

My Department makes every effort to keep the costs of conducting Equality Impact Assessments to a minimum. The Department does not routinely collate information in relation to in house preparation and ancillary costs associated with the completion of Equality Impact Assessments.

(AQW 3823/01)

(a) The University of Ulster provides a number of places on PGCE (secondary) courses and the decision on how they are split over the various disciplines at both the Coleraine and Jordanstown campuses is at the discretion of the university. All places on the courses are normally filled.

(b) The number of successful applicants will be the same as the number of enrolments, given in the table in part (a).

(c) Number of Republic of Ireland domiciled, full-time enrolments on PGCE (secondary) courses at the University of Ulster, Coleraine campus 1997/98 – 2001/02

(AQW 3848/01)

Ms Hanna: My Department will seek to ensure that it complies fully with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. To this end, an Information Manager has been appointed to oversee all corporate information matters. This includes preparation of the Publication Scheme in time to meet the November 2002 deadline.

(AQW 3860/01)

Ms Hanna: I will complete my review of the operation of the Individual Learning Accounts scheme as it applied in Northern Ireland, and announce my intentions for the future as soon as possible. It is important to absorb fully the lessons from the original ILA national framework, and in particular to take account of the work of the Employability Task Force, in shaping new arrangements to encourage and widen participation in adult learning.

(AQW 3982/01)

Ms Hanna: I have noted with regret the announcement of the closure of Dunnes Stores in Kilkeel with the loss of 36 full and part time jobs.

My local JobCentre manager in Kilkeel has already been in contact with local Dunnes Stores management and has put in place arrangements to offer the full range of JobCentre services to all staff affected by the closure.

(AQW 3659/01)

The Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (Sir Reg Empey): [holding answer 5 June 2002]: The development of renewable energy projects is a matter for the private sector. My Department would only generally become aware of the development of projects when planning permission is being sought and/or an application is made for a generating licence. It is known, however, that planning permission is currently being sought for 2 wind farms (one in Co Tyrone and the other in Co Fermanagh).

Public funding for renewable energy projects is provided through EU grants, and various UK and Northern Ireland support schemes. In the 5 years ending March 2002 a total of £2,781,995.72 was paid to developers of a range of eligible projects in Northern Ireland. Within this total the amounts allocated to wind, solar and wave projects is as follows:

• £447,302.85 for wind energy;

• £97,224.80 for solar energy; and

• £126,985 for an integrated wind/wave project.

(AQW 3704/01)

For the years ending 31 March 2000 and 2001, the full listings of the third parties who received selective financial assistance are published in the NITB annual accounts contained in the NITB Annual Reports. These Reports are held in the Assembly Library. The Annual Report for 2001-2002 is not yet available

(AQW 3726/01)

Sir Reg Empey: My Department and Invest NI recognise the potential of Londonderry and the North West to develop as an economic hub as envisaged in the Regional Development Strategy.

We are committed to working with local partners to help those in the North West progress from the high level vision for the region towards conceiving solid new Developmental ideas that will help the region to fulfill its potential.

We believe that the availability of the Ebrington site is of major strategic importance to the overall economic potential, not only of the Waterside but of Londonderry and indeed the wider North West. We are supportive of the partnership concept being proposed to look at how the site could be best developed and would be eager to play a role in the consultations that will undoubtedly occur regarding the site. The development of the site needs to be set in the context of other opportunities such as Atlantic Cross at Dupont, the plans of the Londonderry Port & Harbour Commissioners for Fort George, the plans for development of the University of Ulster and North West Institute for Further & Higher Education and, of course, those of a number of private developers in the city.

(AQW 3740/01)

Sir Reg Empey: Invest NI’s remit is for all of Northern Ireland. Part of this remit is to encourage an increase in the overall level and quality of new start up businesses and to stimulate growth in established businesses through a range of initiatives and services.

The budget allocated for those initiatives and services is based on anticipated demand and need and covers all of Northern Ireland rather than at sub-regional level.

(AQW 3742/01)

Sir Reg Empey: Invest NI’s remit is for all of Northern Ireland. It encourages new inward investment to locate in appropriate areas based on a range of criteria including availability of labour skills and infrastructure. Particular focus is given to New TSN areas which include West Tyrone.

(AQW 3771/01)

Sir Reg Empey: As the company is currently in Administration, the Administrator is responsible for running the affairs of the company. Invest NI is awaiting the Administrator’s proposals for re-establishing the business on a viable footing, and this will enable Invest NI to determine what role it may be able to play in facilitating the future development of the business.

(AQW 3772/01)

Sir Reg Empey: The company is currently in Administration and we are awaiting proposals from the Administrator on the way forward. I hope these proposals will establish a basis for re-establishing the business on a commercial footing, but until these are to hand it is not possible to provide an assessment of the long- term viability of the company.

(AQW 3794/01)

Sir Reg Empey: DETI has issued four EQIA’s to date for consultation. The following table details these EQIAs and their associated costs:

(AQW 3825/01)

Sir Reg Empey: Costs associated with producing LEDU’s Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) document of it’s Policy Area 1, "To maximise the sustainable growth of small businesses in Northern Ireland (through increased competitiveness") are shown in the following table.

There were no external costs associated with research/ creation of this document.

(AQW 3826/01)

Sir Reg Empey: The Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) administers the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation 2000-2004 which includes funding for marketing projects that will assist Northern Ireland position itself in the global marketplace. To date in 2002-2003 no allocations have been made to projects in the West Tyrone area but applications are under consideration by NITB. Further applications for assistance under this initiative will be welcome for projects located in the West Tyrone area.

(AQW 3834/01)

Sir Reg Empey: The problems of the global economy have impacted on Northern Ireland’s manufacturing sector. The latest available data shows that manufacturing output fell by 8.8% over the year to December 2001, and by 3.5% over the quarter September 2001 to December 2001.

It does not appear that the recent decline of Northern Ireland’s manufacturing output will be reversed in the short term. The latest CBI/Business Strategies Limited Regional Trends Survey (May 2002) reports continued pessimism amongst Northern Ireland’s manufacturers concerning the general business situation. The survey indicates that total orders recorded a pronounced decline in the last quarter (to March 2002) and a further, albeit smaller, fall is expected in the coming months. Despite this general pessimism, it is pleasing to note that export optimism has turned positive for the first time in over a year.

It is also worth noting that despite the decline in industrial manufacturing the small firms sector in Northern Ireland continues to out perform its counterparts in GB. In fact, the recent Engineering Output Survey from the Engineering Employers Federation indicates that Northern Ireland is the only region in the UK that projects an increase in total output over the next 3 months.

(AQW 3849/01)

Sir Reg Empey: In anticipation of the demands of Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation, and of other emerging requirements relating to records management, my Department appointed an Information Manager to coordinate the necessary preparatory measures.

DETI has also established an internal network of local information managers, comprising representatives from the Department’s main business areas and NDPBs. This provides us with a channel for disseminating information and guidance on FOI and other matters and for coordinating action required at branch and division level.

To meet our obligations in respect of publication schemes, a programme of work has already been completed to gather required inputs from the various business areas of the Department. A draft publication scheme incorporating these inputs has been produced and is currently being reviewed by senior officials within the Department. Work is also ongoing to format a web version of the scheme.

In summary, we are on course to meet the November 2002 deadline for completion of this work.

(AQW 3896/01)

Sir Reg Empey: The Manager has been given a verbal and written reprimand about his failure to produce appropriate documentation.

He has also been given a written warning about his conduct in relation to duplicate and personal claims. This stressed the need for absolute accuracy when submitting expenses claims and the need for full supporting documentation.

(AQW 3945/01)

Sir Reg Empey: The lands, in question, were acquired by the then Electricity Board for Northern Ireland, in the 1970s, to facilitate a pump storage electricity generation scheme which did not proceed. They are therefore being disposed of by Northern Ireland Electricity plc (NIE) in accordance with a Disposal Strategy drawn up by the company and approved by the electricity Regulator under the terms of a formal Consent granted by the Regulator. The strategy involves offering the lands back to their original owners or their successors in title.

I am informed by NIE that: (a) at 31 May 2002, there remained 17 outstanding cases in which individuals have applied to purchase lots of land; (b) in 7 of the cases the company is waiting for the purchaser to complete the contract, in 8 cases negotiations between the company and the prospective purchaser are ongoing on a variety of matters, for example, clarification of rights of way, one case is the subject of litigation, and in the remaining case a number of members of the same family have applied to purchase the same portion of land; and (c) it is not possible to give a timescale for completion of all outstanding cases, since this depends on the legal process and the complexity of each case, and is not within the company’s direct control.

(AQW 3983/01)

Sir Reg Empey: Since the closure announcement of Youngs Bluecrest, Kilkeel on Thursday 2nd May Invest NI officials have been in ongoing contact with a wide range of interested parties in an attempt both to avoid closure, if possible, and to address the ramifications if Youngs Bluecrest do indeed cease trading in Kilkeel.

Invest NI has written to Youngs Bluecrest on two separate occasions to set up a meeting to discuss the following issues:

To understand the basis of the closure decision and to investigate if there is any possibility of Youngs Bluecrest (UK) Limited reconsidering or amending their plans.

To investigate alternative usage for Youngs Bluecrest, Kilkeel and to discuss the possibility of non-competing usage, and

To discuss any other possible solutions.

I regret to say that Invest NI is still awaiting a response from Youngs Bluecrest.

There is a strong demand for skilled labour in this sector and I understand that other Kilkeel fish processing companies will be in a position to offer employment to approximately 40 employees of Youngs Bluecrest in the event of closure.

Currently Invest NI officials are involved in discussions with other interested parties in an attempt to minimise the potential employment losses in Kilkeel.

(AQW 3708/01)

The Minister of the Environment (Mr Nesbitt): The enforcement of the legislation governing litter and fly- tipping is a matter for district councils.

The Litter (NI) Order 1994 provides district councils with powers to serve fixed penalty fines (currently £25) for littering. The provisions of the Order are further enforceable through the courts, where littering offences carry a maximum fine of £2,500.

The practice generally referred to as fly-tipping is an offence under Article 5 of the Pollution Control and Local Government (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £5000 or on conviction on indictment to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to an unlimited fine or both. The fines and jail term may be increased where the waste in question is of a hazardous nature.

District councils also have powers under Article 16 of the 1978 Order to require the occupier of the land to remove fly-tipped waste and to take any necessary remedial action. Failure to comply with such a notice is an offence liable, on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £2500 and to a further fine of £1000 for each day that the offence continues.

The 1978 Order also provides district councils with powers to remove fly-tipped waste and to recover its costs from the occupier or from the person responsible for the fly-tipping, if known.

Similar provisions in the Waste and Contaminated Land Order (NI) 1997, replacing those in the 1978 Order, will come into operation when new Waste Management Regulations are made, probably in autumn 2003. The 1997 Order penalties for fly-tipping are in some respects more severe; for example, the maximum fine penalty on summary conviction will be increased from £5000 to £20,000.

While I expect that the penalties for littering and fly-tipping act as a deterrent, the problem which remains is how to make those responsible for these activities, who can be very difficult to trace or apprehend, amenable to the enforcement powers of District Councils.

(AQW 3728/01)

Mr Nesbitt: The unauthorised discharge, referred to in AQW 3548/01, originates from the Downpatrick Waste Water Treatment Works (WWTW), which is the responsibility of the Water Service, an Agency of the Department for Regional Development.

The discharge, which occurs intermittently particularly in periods of heavy rain, is a result of sewage surcharging through a manhole cover inside the works, and flowing through the site fence, directly into a downstream waterway.

(AQW 3800/01)

Mr Nesbitt: No specific discussions have taken place with the European Commission in relation to the implementation of Waste or Waste Packaging Directives. In the general context, and to the extent that resources permit, my officials provide advice to Whitehall Departments on the Northern Ireland position within the overall UK negotiations on new European Community Directives and on discussions between the UK and the Commission in relation to the transposition and implementation of existing Directives. This is part of the ongoing development of EC law.

Apart from this ongoing indirect communication, senior officials from my department met with senior European Commission officials in February this year to discuss issues around the transposition and implementation of environmental Directives. The purpose of that meeting was to fully inform the Commission of the efforts being made by the Department to deal with the large backlog of untransposed Directives inherited from the period of Direct Rule. In the course of the visit an invitation to the Director General to visit Northern Ireland was issued. It is hoped this invitation will be taken up later in the year.

As the need arises and on a case by case basis, officials also raise detailed transposition or implementation issues with their counterparts in the Commission. Discussions on the implementation of the Nitrates Directive are a recent example of this.

(AQW 3816/01)

(a) The sea pen Virgularia mirabilis is found in Carlingford Lough. It is found on all British and Irish coasts but is less frequent in the south. There are three species of sea pen found in the British Isles, but this is the only one found in Carlingford Lough.

(b) The upper part of the Lough is shallow and the seabed consists of a plain of fine muddy sand. The sea pens are found in dense colonies in the shallower waters (0-5m).

(c) There have been two surveys undertaken on behalf of my Department’s Environment and Heritage Service (EHS): - (i) the Northern Ireland Sublittoral Survey published in 1986;and (ii) the Estuarine Classification Monitoring Program published in 1997. The former was a diving project and the sea pens were recorded at six of the sites. The latter was a "grab sampling" programme which found examples of the species but did not indicate the extent of the colonies.

(d) In August 2001, EHS commissioned Queen’s University to undertake a project entitled ‘Marine Survey and Mapping (Benthic Habitats) of Northern Ireland’. The object was to provide information on the extent and distribution of benthic communities and species around our coasts. This work will help identify sites of national and international conservation importance and inform the selection and management of sites under the Habitats Directive. A report is due in March 2003 and will be published shortly thereafter.

(AQW 3824/01)

Mr Nesbitt: My department and other local road safety agencies and departments are committed to using research and analysis of the causes of road collisions involving deaths and serious injuries in guiding our efforts aimed at road casualty reduction.

The investigation of road traffic collisions and the attribution of cause and responsibility is a matter for the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The PSNI annual report, "Road Traffic Accident Statistics", provides a summary of the road traffic injury accidents reported to the police including the main causes of collisions and the types of road user responsible for them.

In some collisions, other factors which contribute to the cause of the collision, in addition to the principal cause, may be identified. However, the principal focus of PSNI’s statistical analysis is on the identification of the main causes of collisions to inform road safety policy and assist targeting resources at road casualty reduction.

The PSNI’s statistical information on collision causation factors is used by my Department in the development and direction of road safety education and publicity, by the Department for Regional Development in developing road engineering measures, including accident remedial and traffic calming schemes, and by the PSNI for targeting its education and enforcement activities.

Research and statistical analysis of the causes of road fatalities also underlie the development of the Northern Ireland Road Safety Strategy to 2012, which will be published in Summer 2002.

I am advised that the PSNI is monitoring a current Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) examination of collision investigation methodology in Great Britain and will consider the findings of this examination with a view to providing more accurate determination of the causes of road collisions in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 3870/01)

Mr Nesbitt: A dedicated unit has been established within my Department to take forward the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, of which the Publication Scheme is one element. Work on the Scheme has commenced and it is anticipated that it will be sent to the Information Commissioner for approval around the beginning of September.

(AQW 3882/01)

(a) As indicated in my previous answer, I intend to update the review of the regulation of the road haulage industry in Northern Ireland undertaken in 1998 when resources and other departmental work priorities permit. It is not possible to be precise at this stage about when that might be.

(b) I can, however, confirm that this review, when it takes place, will be comprehensive, robust and inclusive of the areas addressed in the 1998 consultation.

(AQW 3928/01)

Mr Nesbitt: I refer the Member to my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment’s reply to AQW 3927/01 of 14 June 2002

(AQO 1533/01)

Mr Nesbitt: My Department’s Environment and Heritage Service routinely consults with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on all proposed nature conservation designations, including Areas of Special Scientific Interest. This consultation ensures that any agricultural, forestry and fishery interests in the area to be designated are brought to the attention of my officials and, if necessary, to me.

This close working relationship between the two Departments continues after declaration. The Environment and Heritage Service consults the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on all prospective management agreements with landowners and occupiers of Areas of Special Scientific Interest.

There are also consultations between the two Departments on policy and legislative matters connected with Areas of Special Scientific Interest and other statutory designations. In particular, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development was consulted on my Department’s proposals for a new Areas of Special Scientific Interest Bill, which I plan to introduce into the Assembly in the next session.

(AQO 1511/01)

Mr Nesbitt: There are no current planning applications for new housing development in Strangford. My Department’s Environment and Heritage Service has advised that they wish to discuss the level of treatment in the Strangford Waste Water Treatment Works with the Department for Regional Development’s Water Service. These discussions are in hand to see if a satisfactory solution can be achieved.

(AQO 1545/01)

Mr Nesbitt: In the UK as a whole, around 10 billion plastic bags are given away each year. That constitutes a significant source of landfill and an equally significant source of litter.

Taxation is an excepted matter, so we do not have in Northern Ireland the powers that would enable us to introduce a levy independently of the rest of the UK.

I am aware that Michael Meacher at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has given notice that he intends to press for the introduction of a similar levy. It is my intention to support DEFRA in this. In particular I will raise the issue at meetings of the Environment Sector of the British-Irish Council.

In the meantime I have asked my officials to explore any option which might have an equivalent effect to the levy. They are engaging in discussions with the supermarket sector to look at the possibility of developing a voluntary scheme to encourage consumers to reduce the current excessive use of plastic bags.

The experience of the Republic of Ireland has shown that people are willing to act with greater environmental responsibility when given appropriate encouragement. I am hopeful that we can build constructively on the heightened awareness of waste issues brought about by my Department’s recent ‘Wake up to Waste’ campaign and by District Councils’ consultations on their draft Waste Management Plans.

(AQO 1530/01)

Mr Nesbitt: It would not be lawful for me to impose a moratorium on planning applications, as my Department has a statutory duty to process and determine any valid planning application which it receives.

Accordingly, once all material planning information relating to a proposed development has been received and fully considered, including consultation replies together with any other representations received, my Department is under a legal obligation to determine that application. That obligation could not be set aside during the lengthy period required to undertake the Review of Public Administration.

The member may also be aware that Article 33 of the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991 provides an applicant, in all but major cases designated under Article 31 of that Order, with the right to appeal to the Planning Appeals Commission on the grounds that his or her application has not been determined by my Department within laid down timescales.

[In any case it would not be practicable to define "contentious" in a manner which would not be open to abuse.]

(AQO 1541/01)

Mr Nesbitt: In the general context, resources permitting, my officials provide advice to Whitehall Departments on Northern Ireland perspectives within the overall UK negotiations on new European Community Directives. This is part of the ongoing development of EC law.

Apart from this ongoing indirect communication, senior officials from my department met with senior European Commission officials in February this year to discuss issues around the transposition and implementation of environmental Directives. The purpose of that meeting was to fully inform the Commission of the efforts being made by the Department to deal with the large backlog of untransposed Directives inherited from the period of Direct Rule. It is hoped that senior Commission officials will visit Northern Ireland later in the year to continue the dialogue opened up in February.

As the need arises and on a case by case basis, officials also raise detailed transposition or implementation issues with their counterparts in the Commission. Discussions on the implementation of the Nitrates Directive are a recent example of this.

(AQO 1534/01)

Mr Nesbitt: The Rosses Quay private residential development to the rear of 24 Warrenpoint Road, Rostrevor, was granted full planning permission on 2 March 2000.

The residential development has been substantially completed in accordance with approved plans. However works have been undertaken to the shore and beach which have raised concerns about the impact of the development on the adjoining Area of Special Scientific Interest. Concern has also been expressed that these works impinge on third-party lands and affect an existing right-of-way.

The Divisional Planning Office has discussed these matters with the developer, and an application for retrospective permission for these coastal protection works involving a wall and rock armour has been submitted and is currently under consideration. Progress on this application will be influenced by the resolution of the land-ownership and right-of-way issues.

The planning approval for the residential development is a valid permission, which has been substantially implemented. I have no basis for making any fresh assessment of it. My officials are currently considering the application for the coastal protection works.

(AQO 1538/01)

Mr Nesbitt: With the Speaker’s permission I will take Questions 1538/01, 1539/01 and 1549/01 together.

Under the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991, my Department may list a building on the basis of it having special architectural or historic interest. The Lisburn Road area of Belfast was surveyed during the late 1970s as part of the First Survey of all buildings in Northern Ireland. 16 Ashley Avenue, the former Heaney home, did not meet the listing criteria at that time.

In October 1999, the Belfast Civic Trust requested that the building be spot-listed. My Department does not have spot-listing powers but is seeking such powers in the Planning Amendment Bill, which I introduced into the Assembly today. Notwithstanding this, the Environment and Heritage Service carried out an external appraisal. It concluded that, although it was a fine Victorian house, a full appraisal under the Second Survey of all buildings, then under way, was not appropriate as the building did not have sufficient special interest to meet the listing criteria. Later requests to consider listing the property, received in 2000 and 2002, were given a similar response.

When my Department was told recently of rumoured plans to demolish the house, I instructed my officials to approach the developer seeking an opportunity to undertake a full Second Survey appraisal, with a view to re- considering the case for listing. The developer chose not to do so and demolition began on the eve of the survey. I must emphasise that, as the house was neither listed nor in a Conservation Area, no statutory approvals were needed for its demolition.

(AQO 1539/01)

Mr Nesbitt: With the Speaker’s permission I will take Questions 1538/01, 1539/01 and 1549/01 together.

Under the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991, my Department may list a building on the basis of it having special architectural or historic interest. The Lisburn Road area of Belfast was surveyed during the late 1970s as part of the First Survey of all buildings in Northern Ireland. 16 Ashley Avenue, the former Heaney home, did not meet the listing criteria at that time.

In October 1999, the Belfast Civic Trust requested that the building be spot-listed. My Department does not have spot-listing powers but is seeking such powers in the Planning Amendment Bill, which I introduced into the Assembly today. Notwithstanding this, the Environment and Heritage Service carried out an external appraisal. It concluded that, although it was a fine Victorian house, a full appraisal under the Second Survey of all buildings, then under way, was not appropriate as the building did not have sufficient special interest to meet the listing criteria. Later requests to consider listing the property, received in 2000 and 2002, were given a similar response.

When my Department was told recently of rumoured plans to demolish the house, I instructed my officials to approach the developer seeking an opportunity to undertake a full Second Survey appraisal, with a view to re-considering the case for listing. The developer chose not to do so and demolition began on the eve of the survey. I must emphasise that, as the house was neither listed nor in a Conservation Area, no statutory approvals were needed for its demolition.

(AQO 1549/01)

Mr Nesbitt: With the Speaker’s permission I will take Questions 1538/01, 1539/01 and 1549/01 together.

Under the Planning (Northern Ireland) Order 1991, my Department may list a building on the basis of it having special architectural or historic interest. The Lisburn Road area of Belfast was surveyed during the late 1970s as part of the First Survey of all buildings in Northern Ireland. 16 Ashley Avenue, the former Heaney home, did not meet the listing criteria at that time.

In October 1999, the Belfast Civic Trust requested that the building be spot-listed. My Department does not have spot-listing powers but is seeking such powers in the Planning Amendment Bill, which I introduced into the Assembly today. Notwithstanding this, the Environment and Heritage Service carried out an external appraisal. It concluded that, although it was a fine Victorian house, a full appraisal under the Second Survey of all buildings, then under way, was not appropriate as the building did not have sufficient special interest to meet the listing criteria. Later requests to consider listing the property, received in 2000 and 2002, were given a similar response.

When my Department was told recently of rumoured plans to demolish the house, I instructed my officials to approach the developer seeking an opportunity to undertake a full Second Survey appraisal, with a view to re-considering the case for listing. The developer chose not to do so and demolition began on the eve of the survey. I must emphasise that, as the house was neither listed nor in a Conservation Area, no statutory approvals were needed for its demolition.

(AQW 3516/01)

The Minister of Finance and Personnel (Dr Farren): The information you requested is as follows:

(a) the Department of Finance and Personnel has no plans to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. The Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure is the lead Department for Golden Jubilee Celebrations.

(b) the NICS has awarded the additional Bank Holiday set for Monday, 3 June 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.

(AQW 3526/01)

Dr Farren: The Rate Collection Agency is responsible for the collection of rates in Northern Ireland.

Under rating legislation, vacant unoccupied properties do not normally attract liability for payment of rates. Rates on vacant properties are considered as rates foregone. The total amount of rates foregone in the year ended 31 March 2002 was just over £48m.

A schedule showing the amount of rates foregone in each district council area on vacant property in the commercial and residential sectors, for the year ended 31 March 2002, is attached at Appendix 1. Amounts have been rounded to the nearest thousand pounds.

(AQW 3703/01)

Dr Farren: The table below details the number of flights booked through the Northern Ireland Civil Service Travel Agent’s (Business travel Management) by the Department of Finance and Personnel for the last two financial years.

Data for 1999-2000 is not available from the Travel Agent’s computer system nor is it possible to identify individual journeys.

It should also be noted that these figures do not include any journeys undertaken which were booked through other channels.

(AQW 3749/01)

Dr Farren: The table below shows the number of cases in each Health Board area, in each of the last 5 years, where Bowel Cancer was recorded as the main cause of death.

Coding of deaths registered in 2001 is not yet finalized.

(AQW 3765/01)

(a) The Northern Ireland public sector encompasses a diverse range of organisations of varying sizes, many of which have been pursuing energy efficiency programmes for several years. The Government’s Climate Change Programme introduced new targets based on appraising individual buildings. This requires a more detailed approach to energy reporting, to which some organisations did not give sufficient priority. However, I am satisfied that, given the necessary co-operation, the appropriate structures are in place to take this important work forward.

(b) Performance targets are already in place, having been laid down under the Government’s Climate Change Programme, as set out in the report.

(AQW 3766/01)

Dr Farren: For the purposes of the 1st Public Sector Energy Committee Report for 1999 - 2000, Government Departments and their associated agencies, boards, trusts etc returned information on the buildings which they occupy as set out in the table below. However, not all this information was usable. (Figures relate to the year ending 31 March 2000; in some cases information was supplied for earlier years.)

(AQW 3767/01)

Dr Farren: The following organisations failed to return information or provided data which was incomplete, unusable or returned too late for inclusion in the Public Sector Energy Committee’s 1st Annual Energy Report 1999 – 2000. (These failures relate to year ending 31 March 2000; in some cases information was supplied for earlier years.)

(AQW 3801/01)

Dr Farren: To date a total of 5 Equality Impact Assessments (EIAs) have been completed in the Department of Finance and Personnel. Unfortunately it has not been possible to provide a breakdown of costs as requested. The information available to me in respect of each EIA is shown on the following page.

(AQW 3819/01)

Dr Farren: Discussions with Treasury are continuing at an official level on how the effects of the tax could be reduced within Northern Ireland. I will be writing shortly to the Financial Secretary to Treasury to outline the outcome of these discussions and to determine whether a significant discount from the Aggregates Tax for Northern Ireland is achievable based on the environmental objectives of the tax being met through alternative means. An impact assessment on the damage to roads caused by the introduction of the Aggregates Tax may constitute further evidence as to the negative and disproportionate impact of the tax in Northern Ireland but the current focus must be on securing a version of the tax that better reflects the needs of the local quarrying industry.

(AQW 3839/01)

Dr Farren: In addition to its programme of annual maintenance to hedging and soft landscape the Department proposes to:

(i) treat and power-wash the steps and hard standing areas around the tomb;

(ii) regrout the paving;

(iii) repair and repaint the gates; and

(iv) clean the plinth.

The Department will also be consulting with the Environment and Heritage Agency on whether the inscription on the tomb should be re-cut to improve its definition.

(AQW 3979/01)

Dr Farren: I have considered the findings of the report into the first stage of the quinquennial review, together with the replies to the consultation, and I have decided to proceed with the main recommendations. In particular, I have decided that a Public Private Partnership procurement project to support rate collection services should be initiated with the aim of securing a strategic business partner to help implement and manage the RCA’s replacement IT systems and processes.

(AQW 2709/01)

The Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (Ms de Brún): On Friday 15th March the Food Standards Agency, which has responsibility for food safety and related public health protection matters, issued a statement advising against the consumption of particular batches of prawns and shrimps from South East Asia and also calling for them to be withdrawn from sale because of the detection of residues of nitrofurans, a potential carcinogen, in some of the samples.

I am satisfied that the action taken by the Food Standards Agency was appropriate and commensurate with the problem.

Ar an Aoine 15 Márta d’eisigh an Ghníomhaireacht um Chaighdeáin Bia, atá freagrach as sábháilteacht bia agus ábhair bhainteacha chosaint sláinte poiblí, ráiteas ag comhairliú i gcoinne chaitheamh baisceanna áirithe cloicheán agus ribí róibéis ó Oirdheisceart na hÁise agus d’éiligh sí go n-aistarraingeofaí ón margadh iad mar gur aimsíodh iarmhair nítreafúráin, carcanaigin fhéideartha, i gcuid de na samplaí.

Táim sásta go raibh an gníomh a ghlac an Ghníomhaireacht um Chaighdeáin Bia cuí agus ag teacht le tromchúise na faidhbe.

(AQW 3363/01)

Ms de Brún: I do not use either the DFP Centralised Transport Unit or a contracted-in service. The Department initially rented and subsequently purchased, with the approval of the Department of Finance and Personnel, a car for use by me on official business. The normal tendering procedures were followed in the purchase of the car. The hourly rate paid in respect of the driver is based on the rate paid to drivers in the DFP Centralised Transport Unit.

Ní bhainim úsáid as Aonad Lárnaithe Iompair an DFP ná as seirbhís ar conradh. Fuair an Roinn carr ar cíos ar dtús, agus ceannaíodh ina dhiaidh sin é, le cead na Roinne Airgeadais agus Pearsanra, do m’úsáidse ar ghnó oifigiúil. Leanadh na gnáthnósanna imeachta tairisceana i gceannach an chairr. Is mar seo a leanas an costas iomlán, lena n-áirítear tiománaithe, i ngach bliain airgeadais. Tá an ráta in aghaidh na huaire a íoctar maidir leis an tiománaí bunaithe ar an ráta a íoctar le tiománaithe Aonad Lárnaithe Iompair an DFP.

(AQW 3364/01)

Ms de Brún: Epilepsy is treated as a neurological condition and it is not possible to disaggregate the amount of staff time within this specialty which is spent specifically on treating patients suffering from epilepsy. No neurology services are provided by Trusts within the Northern HSS Board area and residents of this Board’s area receive their services from the Royal Group of Hospitals HSS Trust.

My Department provides financial support for research through the HPSS Research & Development Office for implementation of the HPSS Research & Development Strategy. There is currently one fellowship with the title "Clinical and molecular genetic investigation in familial idiopathic epilepsy".

Tugtar cóireáil ar eipileipse mar bhail néareolaíoch agus tá sé dodhéanta scagadh a dhéanamh ar am a chaitheann foirne laistigh den speisialtóireacht sin go sonrach ar choireáil othair a bhfuil eipileipse orthu. Ní chuireann Iontaobhais laistigh de cheantar Bhord SSS an Tuaiscirt aon seirbhísí néareolaíocha ar fáil agus faigheann áitritheoirí i gceantar an Bhoird sin a gcuid seirbhísí ón Grúpa Ríoga Ospidéal Iontaobhas SSS.

Cuireann mo Roinnse tacaíocht airgeadais ar fáil to thaighde trí Oifig Forbartha agus Taighde SSSP d’fheidhmiú Straitéis Forbartha agus Taighde SSSP. Faoi láthair tá comhaltacht amháin ann leis an teideal "Clinical and molecular genetic investigation in familial idiopathic epilepsy".

(AQW 3469/01)

Ms de Brún: I have submitted a bid for Executive Programme Funds as the major element of my funding strategy for the Regional Cancer Centre. I cannot be specific on the start date for the work until the outcome of that bid is known. The Executive has yet to take decisions on these funds, including the enhanced funds under the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative, but, as I have said previously, I hope to make an announcement before the Summer Recess.

Tá tairiscint curtha isteach agam ar Chistí Chlár an Fheidhmeannais mar phríomhghné de mo straitéis maoinithe don Ionad Réigiúnach Ailse. Ní féidir liom a bheith sonrach faoi dháta tosaigh na hoibre go dtí go mbeadh toradh na tairisceana sin ar eolas agam. Tá cinneadh le déanamh ag an bhFeidhmeannas maidir leis na cistí sin go fóill, lena n-áirítear na cistí feabhsaithe faoin Tionsnamh Athinfheistíochta agus Leasaithe, ach, mar a dúirt mé cheana, tá mé ag súil le fógra a dhéanamh roimh Bhriseadh an tSamhraidh.

(AQW 3483/01)

Ms de Brún: Adoption is the care plan for 162 children who are currently looked after by HSS Trusts. A total of 140 adoption orders were made in 2001 compared with 172 in 2000, 144 in 1999, 121 in 1998 and 150 in 1997. Priorities for Action places an increased emphasis on adoption as a means of securing permanency for children in care and has set a target for 4% of looked after children to be adopted in 2002/03.

Is é uchtú an plean cúraim do 162 páiste atá ag fáil cúnaimh ó na hIontaoibh SSS faoi láthair. Rinneadh 140 ordú uchtaithe ar an iomlán sa bhliain 2001 i gcomparáid le 172 sa bhliain 2000, 144 sa bhliain 1999, 121 sa bhliain 1998 agus 150 sa bhliain 1997. Cuireann Tosaíochtaí do Ghníomh béim níos treise ar uchtú mar mheán le haghaidh buaine a bhaint amach do pháistí atá faoi chúram agus tá sprioc leagtha síos acu go mbeadh 4% de pháistí atá faoi chúram uchtaithe sa bhliain 2002/03.

(AQW 3522/01)

Ms de Brún: The mental health targets which Boards have been asked to deliver on this year are those set out in Priorities for Action.

I have required Health and Social Services Boards to set out clearly and transparently the services they intend to secure to meet the needs of their local population and deliver on the actions set out in Priorities for Action and have introduced quarterly monitoring to track progress towards achieving the targets.

The quarterly monitoring reports will be followed up by meetings between my officials and the Boards to tackle areas of underperformance.

Information on the range of improvements in mental health services since 1997 could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Is iad na spriocanna meabharshláinte ar iarradh ar na Boird gníomhnú orthu na cinn atá leagtha amach in Tosaíochtaí do Gníomh.

D’iarr mé ar na Boird Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta na seirbhísí atá ar intinn acu a dhaingniú chun freastal ar riachtanais an phobail áitiúil a leagan amach go soiléir agus go follasach agus na gníomhartha atá leagtha amach in Tosaíochtaí do Ghníomh a thabhairt i gcrích chomh maith le monatóireacht ráithiúil a thabhairt isteach chun cuntas a choinneail ar an dul chun cinn i mbaint amach na spriocanna.

Leanfaidh cruinnithe idir m’oifigigh agus na Boird na tuarascálacha monatóireachta ráithiúla chun dul i ngleic le réimsí de thearcfheidhmíocht.

Ba ar chostas díréireach a fuarthas tuairisc ar aon fhorbairt ar sheirbhísí meabhairsláinte ó 1997.

(AQW 3531/01)

Ms de Brún: Introductory workshops have already been held for management board members of the two Local Health and Social Care Groups based in the Western Health and Social Services Board area. The other three Boards have plans for similar type workshops for their Groups. Work is progressing well on the development of a training and development strategy for the Groups which will encompass both local and regional training needs.

Training and development will be an important feature of the new Groups’ first year. They will be learning organisations and will be encouraged and assisted to develop to their full potential. This means shared development, multidisciplinary training and team building. Those involved in the Groups will be given opportunities to develop the appropriate skills, and identifying their training and development needs will be one of the early priorities. In developing training and development programmes, Health and Social Services Boards will work closely with Local Health and Social Groups in their areas as well as linking with others who may be able to make a contribution.

Rinneadh réamhcheardlanna cheana do bhaill ar an bhord bainisteoirí den dá Ghrúpa Cúram Sláinte agus Cúraim Shóisialta Aitiúil lonnaithe i gceantar Bhord Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta an Iarthair. Tá pleananna ag na trí Bhord eile faoi choinne ceardlann dá macasamhail dá nGrúpaí. Tá ag éirí go maith leis an obair ar straitéis oiliúna agus forbartha do na Grúpaí a chuirfidh riachtanais áitiúla agus reigiúnacha araon san áireamh.

Beidh oiliúint agus forbairt mar ghné thábhachtach de chéad bhliain na nGrúpaí nua. Eagraíochtaí foghlama a bheidh iontu agus spreagfar iad agus cuideofar leo lena lánacmhainneacht a fhorbairt. Ciallaíonn sé seo comhfhorbairt, oiliúint ildhisciplíneach agus tógáil foirne. Tabharfar deiseanna dóibh siúd a bheidh páirteach sna Grúpaí na scileanna cuí a fhorbairt, agus beidh aimsiú a riachtanais oiliúna agus forbartha ar cheann de na tosaíochtaí luatha. Leis na cláir oiliúna agus forbartha a chur chun cinn, oibreoidh Boird Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta go dlúth le Grúpaí Áitiúla Sláinte agus Sóisialta ina gceantair chomh maith le nasc a dhéanamh le grúpaí eile a d’fhéadfadh cuidiú leo.

(AQW 3594/01)

Ms de Brún: It is not clear how these figures were derived. The calculations made in respect of Scotland, Wales and here were not, presumably, drawn from OECD data since the Organisation does not hold expenditure disaggregated in this way. Nor does it seem that the figures are up to date.

Apart from their precision or currency, however, there is a more fundamental point to be made about figures that express health spending as a percentage of GDP. An important determinant of the need for health care is deprivation. All things being equal, regions of greater deprivation will have to spend more on health care. Given that such regions have (by definition) lower than average GDP, their expenditure on health will account for a higher than average percentage of their local GDP.

Níl sé soiléir faoin dóigh ar thangthas ar na figiúirí seo. Níor tarraingíodh na háirimh maidir le hAlbain, leis an Bhreatain Bheag agus thall anseo, is dócha, ó dháta an OECD (Foras um Chomhoibrithe Eacnamaíoch agus Forbartha) mar ní choinníonn an Foras caiteachas neamhthathagaithe ar an dóigh seo. Níl an chuma air go bhfuil na figiúirí cothrom le dáta ach oiread.

Taobh amuigh dá bheachtas nó dá mbainteacht, áfach, tá pointe níos suntasaí le déanamh faoi fhigiúirí a léiríonn caiteachas ar shláinte mar chéatadán den GDP (Olltáirgeacht Intíre OTI). Is deitéarmanant tábhachtach den ghá le cúram sláinte an díth. Agus gach ní eile mar a gcéanna, beidh ar réigiúin faoi mhórdhíth níos mó a chaitheamh ar chúram sláinte. Ós rud é go bhfuil olltáirgeacht intíre níos lú ná an meán ag a leithéid de réigiúin (de réir sainmhínithe), is amhlaidh go mbeidh a gcaiteachas ar shláinte ina chéatadán dá n-olltáirgeacht intíre áitiúil níos airde ná an meán.

(AQW 3606/01)

Ms de Brún: The known position to date is as follows. Seven members of staff who were previously employed by GP fundholding practices to carry out fund management work have been made redundant. Two of these staff are understood to have already found other jobs. In addition, a further 31 staff have been issued with redundancy notices. The majority of these staff have registered with the Redeployment Unit and it is anticipated that there will be new employment opportunities of some 30 posts in the Local Health and Social Care Groups in the coming weeks, for which these staff will be able to apply.

Seo a leanas cúrsaí mar is eol go dtí seo. Rinneadh seachtar oibrithe, a bhí fostaithe ag cleachtais chistesheilbhe GDanna roimhe sin le hobair stiúrtha maoinithe a dhéanamh, iomarcach. Tuigtear go bhfuair beirt de na hoibrithe seo poist eile cheana féin. Ina theannta sin, tugadh fógraí iomarcachta do 31 oibrí eile. Chláraigh bunús na n-oibrithe seo leis an Ionad Athlonnaithe agus táthar ag súil go mbeidh deiseanna nua fostaíochta ann le 30 post ar fáil sna Grúpaí Áitiúla Sláinte agus Cúráim Shóisialta sna seachtainí atá le teacht, a mbeidh na hoibrithe seo in inmhe iarratas a chur isteach dóibh.

(AQW 3624/01)

Ms de Brún: The targets, which have been set for 2002/2003, are based on the corporate aims and objectives of the Agency as set out in Section 5 of its Corporate and Business Plan. These have been placed in the Assembly library.

Tá na spriocanna, atá leagtha amach do 2002/03, bunaithe ar na haidhmeanna agus cuspóirí na Gníomhaíochta mar atá leagtha amach i gCuid 5 dá Plean Gnó agus Corparáide. Cuireadh iad siúd i leabharlann an Tionóil.

(AQW 3654/01)

(i) A specific target has not been set in regard to waiting time for a neurological examination by a consultant neurologist. The Charter standard for outpatient treatment is that patients should have their first outpatient appointment within three months.

(ii) The number of people waiting for their first outpatient appointment in the Neurology specialty in each HSS Board area is broken down into time bands and is detailed in the table on the following page. The latest figures relate to the quarter ending 31 December 2001.

(i) Níor leagadh sprioc áirithe maidir le hagaí feithimh i dtaca le scrúdúchán néareolaíoch ag néareolaí comhairleach. Is é atá sa chaighdeán Cairte maidir le cóireáil othar seachtarach ná gur chóir an chéad choinne othar seachtarach a bheith acu laistigh de thrí mhí.

(ii) Tá líon na ndaoine ag fanacht ar a gcéad choinne othar seachtarach i sainfheidhm na Néareolaíochta i ngach Bord SSS breactha síos i sealanna ama agus tá sé léirithe sa tábla thíos. Baineann na figiúirí is déanaí leis an cheathrú a fhad le 31 Nollaig 2001.

(AQW 3674/01)

Ms de Brún: There are currently five temporary Fire Control Operators employed in the Control Room, one since September 1996 and four since October 1998. One of the Operators is currently on temporary promotion to Leading Fire Control Operator.

Tá cúigear Oibritheoir Rialaithe Dóiteáin sealadacha fostaithe sa Seomra Rialaithe faoi láthair, duine amháin acu ó Mhéan Fómhair 1996 agus ceathrar ó Dheireadh Fómhair 1998. Tá duine de na hOibritheoirí ar ardú céime sealadach mar Phríomh-Oibritheoir Rialaithe Dóitéan.

(AQW 3710/01)

Ms de Brún: The information available is in two parts: that applicable to Trust owned premises and that for non-Trust owned premises.

For Trust owned premises the timescale and cost involved to upgrade all Residential Care Premises to the Health Technical Memorandum 84 (HTM 84) regulations regarding fire safety is the end of 2006 at a cost of £1.3m.

Non-Trust owned premises are working towards compliance with Health Technical Memorandum 84 (HTM84) standards. A number of homes are experiencing problems in achieving compliance, particularly because of the cost (of compliance) and their current difficult financial situation. Timescales and costs of compliance are not all available at present.

Tá an t-eolas atá ar fáil i dhá chuid: an chuid sin a bhaineann le háitrimh faoi úinéireacht na nIontaobhas agus an chuid sin d’áitrimh nach leis na hiontaobhais iad.

I gcás áitrimh faoi úinéireacht na nIontaobhas, is é an costas ag deireadh 2006 a bhain le gach Áitreamh Chúram Cónaitheach a uasghrádú chuig rialacháin Mheabhrán Teicniúil Sláinte 84 (MTS 84) maidir le sábháilteacht dóiteáin ná £1.3m.

Oibríonn áitrimh nach leis na hIontaobhais iad i dtreo chomhlíonadh chaighdeáin Mheabhrán Teicniúil Sláinte 84 (MTS 84). Tá fadhbanna ag roinnt tithe i gcomhlíonadh a bhaint amach, go háirithe mar gheall ar an gcostas (comhlíonta) agus a ndeacracht reatha i dtaobh cúrsaí airgeadais. Níl amscálaí ná costais chomhlíonta ar fáil i láthair na huaire.

(AQW 3716/01)

Ms de Brún: Proposals on the way forward on the Acute Hospital Review have been discussed at the Executive, and will shortly be issued for public consultation. It is hoped that final decisions can be taken in the course of 2002.

Tá plé déanta ag an bhFeidhmeannas ar thograí maidir leis an mbealach chun cinn ar an Athbhreithniú ar na hOspidéil Géarliachta, agus eiseofar na tograí sin go luath i gcomhair chomhchomhairliú poiblí. Táthar ag súil gur féidir na cinní deiridh a ghlacadh i rith na bliana 2002.

(AQW 3718/01)

Ms de Brún: Information is available on the percentage of children immunised before their first birthday against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and HiB, and is detailed in the table below.

Tá eolas ar fáil ar chéatadán na bpáistí imdhíonta roimh a gcéad bhreithlá ar dhiftéire, teiteanas, triuch, polaimiailíteas, bruitíneach, MMR (bruitíneach, plucamas, agus bruitíneach dhearg) agus ar HiB, agus tá sé léirithe sa tábla thíos.

(AQW 3720/01)

Ms de Brún: Information is not available in the form requested. However, between April 1999 and March 2001, 26 doctors, 87 nurses and 97 other staff were appointed to provide cancer related services.

Níl eolas ar fáil sa leagan amach a iarradh. Ceapadh 26 dochtúir, 87 altra agus 97 d’fhoireann eile, áfach, idir Aibreán 1999 agus Márta 2001 chun seirbhísí a bhaineann le hailse a sholáthar.

(AQW 3724/01)

Ms de Brún: The total number of pre-registration nursing students expected to enter the final year of study in the 2003/04 Academic Year is 767.

This figure comprises the September 2001 intake of 411 students and March 2002 intake of 215 students by Queens University and the September 2001 intake of 141 students by University of Ulster.

All students have the potential to graduate but this can be influenced by academic progress, temporary withdrawals or permanent withdrawals for a variety of reasons.

Is é an líon iomlán mac léinn altranais réamhchláraithe a bhfuiltear ag súil go rachaidh siad isteach sa bhliain deiridh staidéir i mBliain Acadúil 2003/04 ná 767.

Sa líon sin tá glacadh isteach 411 mac léinn i Meán Fómhair 2001 agus glacadh isteach 215 mac léinn i Márta 2002 ag Ollscoil na Ríona chomh maith le glacadh isteach 141 mac léinn i Meán Fómhair 2001 ag Ollscoil Uladh.

Tá de chumas ag gach mac léinn céim a bhaint amach ach d’fhéadfadh dul chun cinn acadúil, aistarraingtí sealadacha nó aistarraingtí buana ar chúiseanna éagsúla tionchar a imirt air sin.

(AQW 3727/01)

Ms de Brún: I understand that the Eastern HSS Board are currently undertaking a three month communications process to brief interested parties on the approach used in producing the latest findings on locality equity shares. After this the Board will make proposals about how the issue might be addressed and this will be subject to public consultation.

Tuigim go bhfuil Bord SSS an Oirthir ag tabhairt faoi phróiseas cumarsáide trí mhí i láthair na huaire le páirtithe leasmhara a chur ar an eolas faoin mhodh oibre úsáidte leis na torthaí is déanaí ar scaireanna cothromais ceantair a chur amach. Ina dhiaidh seo, déanfaidh an Bord moltaí ar an dóigh ar féidir tabhairt faoin cheist seo agus beidh seo faoi réir comhairlithe phoiblí.

(AQW 3729/01)

Ms de Brún: I will be considering this application for funding in the context of both the budget allocation which will be determined by the Executive in the Spending Review and the other bids for resources which have been made to me. No information is collected centrally on this disorder and therefore it is not possible to assess the long term cost of not providing such a centre.

Beidh mé ag déanamh machnaimh ar an iarratas seo le haghaidh maoinithe i gcomhthéacs dháileadh an bhuiséid a chinnfidh an Feidhmiúchán san Athbhreithniú ar Chaiteachas agus na dtairiscintí eile le haghaidh acmhainní a tugadh dom. Ní bhailítear eolas ar bith go lárnach ar an neamhord seo agus, mar sin de, ní fhéadtar measúnú a dhéanamh ar chostas fadtéarmach gan a leithéid d’ionad a sholáthar.

(AQW 3730/01)

Ms de Brún: No information is collected centrally on this disorder and therefore it would be impossible to assess the financial implications to Social Services of non-diagnosis or late diagnosis of young people with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder.

Ní bhailítear eolas go lárnach ar an neamhord seo agus mar sin de, bheadh sé dodhéanta impleachtaí airgeadais neamhfháthmheas nó fháthmheas mall daoine óga le Neamhord Easpa Aire agus Hipirghníomhaíochta a mheasúnú do na Seirbhísí Sóisialta.

(AQW 3733/01)

Ms de Brún: People with diabetes are routinely managed in primary care, at hospital or shared care between hospital and primary care. Good quality diabetes management would involve regular assessment of the patient’s health so that early signs of any complications can be detected and managed appropriately. Part of this care should include monitoring of blood sugar, blood pressure and regular examination of eyes for signs of diabetic retinopathy.

Déantar bainistíocht go rialta ar dhaoine a bhfuil diabéiteas orthu i bpríomhchúram, san otharlann nó cúram roinnte idir otharlann agus príomhchúram. Bheadh measúnú rialta ar shláinte an othair i gceist le bainistíocht mhaith diabéitis sa dóigh go dtiocfadh luathchomharthaí aimhréidhe ar bith a thabhairt chun solais le go dtig bainistíocht chuí a dhéanamh orthu. Mar chuid den chúram ba chóir go mbeadh monatóireacht ar shiúcra na fola, brú fola agus scrúdú rialta na súl le teacht ar chomharthaí reitineapaite diabéití.

(AQW 3734/01)

Ms de Brún: On the basis of the amount of time oncologists devote to bowel cancer as part of their care for cancer patients in general, the following figures have been derived:

De réir an mhéid ama a chaitheann oinceolaithe ag cóireáil ailse inne mar chuid dá gcúram d’othair le hailse i gcoitinne, a fuarthas na figiúirí seo a leanas:

(AQW 3735/01)

Ms de Brún: My objective is to build on the significant progress which has been made in recent years in the diagnosis and treatment of all cancers, including bowel cancer. My Department is at present awaiting information on a colorectal cancer screening pilot scheme established in England in 2000. These results should be available late 2002. For those patients with bowel cancer, Trusts are required to use guidelines produced or endorsed by my Department’s Regional Advisory Committee on Cancer (RACC), which include specific guidance on improving outcomes in colorectal cancer. Additionally, my aim is to ensure that treatment is provided by multidisciplinary cancer teams and that lead clinicians in a range of conditions, such as breast, lung and colo-rectal cancers, are identified.

Is é an cuspóir atá agam ná tógáil ar an dul chun cinn suntasach atá déanta le blianta beaga anuas i bhfáthmheas agus i gcóireáil gach cineál ailse, ailse inne san áireamh.Tá mo Roinnse ag feitheamh ar eolas i láthair na huaire ar scéim píolóta scagthástála ailse drólann-reictí a bunaíodh i Sasana sa bhliain 2000. Ba chóir go mbeadh na torthaí sin ar fáil i ndeireadh 2002. I gcás na n-othar sin a bhfuil ailse inne orthu, éilítear ar na hIontaobhais úsáid a bhaint as na treoirlínte a chuireann Coiste Réigiúnach Comhairleach ar Ailse (RACC) mo Roinnse ar fáil, nó na treoirlínte sin a aontaíonn sé leo, lena n-áirítear treoir shainiúil ar na torthaí in ailse drólainn-reicteach a fheabhsú. Chomh maith leis sin, is í an aidhm atá agam a chinntiú go soláthraíonn foirne ildisciplíneacha ailse an chóireáil agus go sainaithnítear cliniceoirí ceannródaíocha i réimse riochtaí mar ailsí brollaigh, scamhóg agus drólann- reicteach.

(AQW 3737/01)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is as follows:

Seo a leanas an t-eolas iarrtha:

(AQW 3753/01)

Ms de Brún: The 23 Sure Start projects which are now operating here provide a range of services for approximately 17,500 children under the age of 4 and their families.

Soláthraíonn na 23 scéim Sure Start atá ag feidhmiú anseo anois, réimse seirbhísí do thimpeall is 17,500 páiste faoi 4 bliain d’aois agus dá dteaghlaigh.

(AQW 3754/01)

Ms de Brún: Increases in the number of care packages in effect over the last three years are detailed in the following table.

Tá méaduithe i líon na bpacáistí cúraim i bhfeidhm thar na trí bliana deireanacha léirithe sa tábla thíos.

(AQW 3755/01)

Ms de Brún: The information is detailed in the table below. Figures refer to 31 March of each year.

Tá an t-eolas léirithe sa tábla thíos. Tagraíonn na figiúirí do 31 Márta i ngach bliain.

(AQW 3756/01)

Ms de Brún: The numbers of additional residential care places for children which have been provided in each of the last three years have been as follows:

The 17 extra places provided in 2001/02 count towards fulfilling the commitment in the Executive’s Programme for Government to increase by March 2003 the number of residential child care places by 52 above the level of provision at July 2001. At present there are several projects being developed by Health and Social Services Boards and Health and Social Services Trusts which will enable this commitment to be achieved.

Seo a leanas líon na n-áiteanna breise cúraim chónaithe a cuireadh ar fáil do pháistí i ngach bliain na trí bliana deireanacha:

Tá na 17 áit bhreise curtha ar fáil i 2001/02 mar chuid de chomhlíonadh ghealltanas Clár Rialtais an Fheidhmiúcháin le líon na n-áiteanna cúraim chónaithe do pháistí a mhéadú go 52 áit faoi Mhárta 2003, níos mó ná leibhéal an tsoláthair i mí Iúil 2001. Faoi láthair, tá roinnt scéimeanna á bhforbairt ag na Boird Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta agus ag na hIontaobhais Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta a chuirfidh ar a chumas an gealltanas seo a chomhlíonadh.

(AQW 3757/01)

Ms de Brún: There were no additional child and adolescent in-patient psychiatric beds created in the last 3 years. Funding has been secured to provide 10 additional adolescent psychiatric inpatient beds and it is planned that these beds will be operational by September of this year.

Níor cruthaíodh leapacha breise síciatracha othair chónaithigh do pháistí agus d’ógánaigh sna trí bliana deireanacha. Fuarthas maoiniú le 10 leaba breise síciatracha othair chónaithigh a chur ar fáil d’ógánaigh agus tá sé beartaithe go mbeidh na leapacha seo in úsáid faoi Mheán Fómhair na bliana seo.

(AQW 3759/01)

Ms de Brún: This information is detailed in the table below.

Tá an t-eolas seo léirithe sa tábla thíos.

(AQW 3760/01)

Ms de Brún: I recently received a request from the Hospice for an emergency loan to help with financial difficulties. My Department is currently considering this request.

Fuair mé iarratas ar na mallaibh ón Ospáis le haghaidh iasachta práinní le cuidiú le deacrachtaí airgeadais. Tá an Roinn s’agam ag déanamh machnaimh ar an iarratas faoi láthair.

(AQW 3761/01)

Ms de Brún: In the last 12 months, in relation to the Acute Hospital Review:

(a) I received invitations from 5 district councils;

(b) I accepted all the invitations;

(c) I met with Omagh, Fermanagh, Magherafelt, Cookstown and Down District Councils;

(d) I met with Omagh District Council on the 30th October 2001; with Fermanagh District Council on the 21st November 2001; with Magherafelt and Cookstown District Council (jointly) on the 6th December 2001; and with Down District Council on the 9th January 2002.

Sna 12 mí deireanach, maidir leis an Athbhreithniú ar Ghéarotharlanna:

(a) Fuair mé cuirí ó 5 comhairle ceantair;

(b) Ghlac mé leis na cuirí go léir;

(c) Bhuail mé le Comhairlí Ceantair na hÓmaí, Fhear Manach, Mhachaire Rátha, na Coirre Críochaí (le chéile) agus an Dúin;

(d) Bhuail mé le Comhairle Ceantair na hÓmaí ar 30 Deireadh Fómhair 2001; le Comhairle Ceantair Fhear Manach ar 21 Samhain 2001, le Comhairlí Ceantair Mhachaire Rátha agus na Coirre Críochaí (le chéile) ar 6 Nollaig 2001; agus le Comhairle Ceantair an Dúin ar 9 Eanáir 2002.

(AQW 3763/01)

Ms de Brún: Information is not available in the form requested.

Níl an t-eolas ar fáil ar an dóigh iarrtha.

(AQW 3764/01)

Ms de Brún: Information is not available in the form requested.

Níl an t-eolas ar fáil ar an dóigh iarrtha.

(AQW 3774/01)

Ms de Brún: Information is not available in the form requested.

Níl an t-eolas ar fáil ar an dóigh iarrtha.

(AQW 3775/01)

Ms de Brún: Information is not available in the form requested.

Níl an t-eolas ar fáil ar an dóigh iarrtha.

(AQW 3782/01)

Ms de Brún: Officials in my Department are in discussion with their counterparts in the Department of Education and Learning to assess the impact the reduction in ESF funding will have on health and social services.

Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts are already aware of the retraction of European funding in the coming years, and the pressures this will put on their own voluntary activity support budgets. It will be for them to assess the value of current projects and to decide whether to continue funding them, taking into account the impact withdrawal may have on the well-being of the service users involved. This will involve careful assessment of priorities, opportunity costs and available resources.

Tá oifigigh ó mo Roinn i mbun caibidlí lena gcomhghleacaithe sa Roinn Oideachais agus Foghlama le measúnú a dhéanamh ar an tionchar a bheidh ag an laghdú i maoiniú ESF ar na seirbhísí sláinte agus sóisialta.

Tá a fhios ag na Boird agus ag na hIontaobhais Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta cheana féin faoi aistarraingt an mhaoinithe Eorpaigh a dhéanfar sna blianta atá le teacht, agus faoi na brúnna a chuirfidh sí seo ar a mbuiséid thacaíochta féin do ghníomhaíochtaí deonacha. Fúthu féin a bheidh sé measúnú a dhéanamh ar fhiúntas na scéimeanna reatha agus cinneadh a dhéanamh iad a mhaoiniú go fóill nó gan iad a mhaoiniú, ag cur san áireamh an tionchar a d’fhéadfadh an aistarraingt a bheith aici ar leas na n-úsáideoirí seirbhísí lena mbaineann sí. Beidh measúnú cúramach ar thosaíochtaí, ar chostais deiseanna, agus ar na hacmhainní ar fáil i gceist.

(AQW 3783/01)

Ms de Brún: The provision of day services is a shared responsibility between statutory providers in the fields of education, training, employment and health and social services, and voluntary sector providers. The aim is to enable people with a learning disability to access the service most appropriate to their needs at a particular point in time. Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts have developed the necessary multi-agency networks and protocols to meet identified local need.

My Department’s Priorities for Action 2002/03 require Boards and Trusts to continue to develop the range of day care and respite services for people with a learning disability. Some of the additional funding allocated to Boards for the development of community services in 2002/03 will be available for this purpose.

Idir soláthraithe reachtúla i réimsí oideachais, oiliúna, fostaíochta, na seirbhísí sláinte agus sóisialta agus soláthraithe na hearnála deonaí atá an chomhfhreagracht as seirbhísí lae a sholáthar. Is í an aidhm ná cur ar chumas daoine le míchumas foghlama an tseirbhís is oiriúnaí dá riachtanais a fháil ag am ar leith. D’fhorbair na Boird agus na hIontaobhais Sláinte agus Seirbhísí Sóisialta na gréasáin agus na prótacail riachtanacha ilghníomhaireachta le riar ar riachtanais aitheanta áitiúla.

Éilíonn Tosaíochtaí le hAghaidh Gnímh 2002/03 mo Roinne ar Bhoird agus ar Iontaobhais réimse a seirbhísí cúraim lae agus faoisimh a fhorbairt go fóill do dhaoine le míchumas foghlama. Cuirfear cuid den mhaoiniu breise dáilte ar Bhoird le haghaidh forbairt seirbhísí pobail i 2002/03 ar fáil don chuspóir seo.

(AQW 3802/01)

Ms de Brún: Arimidex has been available on prescription here for ten years and is widely prescribed for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. It is not yet licensed for use in the precautionary treatment of patients who have had surgery and/or radiotherapy for curable breast cancer. The results of clinical studies to date are not sufficiently matured to conclude that Arimidex provides a clear survival advantage in the long term in these cases.

Tá Arimidex ar fáil ar oideas le deich mbliana anuas anois agus moltar mar chóir leighis go forleathan é chun ailse brollaigh forbartha a leigheas. Níl sé ceadúnaithe go fóill i leigheas réamh-aireach na n-othar a chuaigh faoi mháinliacht agus/nó a raibh radaiteiripe d’ailse brollaigh inleigheasta acu. Níl torthaí na staidéar cliniciúil go dtí seo aibí/forbartha go leor chun teacht ar an gcinneadh go bhfuil buntáiste soiléir san fhadtéarma ag Arimidex ó thaobh marthanais de sna cásanna seo.

(AQW 3803/01)

Ms de Brún: The information requested is not available.

Níl fáil ar an eolas a iarradh.

(AQW 3805/01)

Ms de Brún: Arimidex has been available here for at least ten years and is widely prescribed for the treatment of advanced breast cancer. Preliminary results from a large multi-centre study comparing the use of Arimidex with the traditional agent Tamoxifen show that it is too early to say if Arimidex provides a clear survival advantage in long term use for patients who have had surgery for early breast cancer.

A number of patients from the Ulster Hospital’s Breast Clinic have been included in this study, in which the health service here has been a major contributor.

Tá Arimidex ar fáil anseo le deich mbliana anuas ar a laghad agus moltar go forleathan mar chóir leighis é chun ailse brollaigh atá forbartha a leigheas. Léiríonn réamhthorthaí ó staidéar mór ilionad a chuir úsáid Arimidex i gcomparáid leis an oibreán traidisiúnta Tamoxifen go bhfuil sé róluath a rá an bhfuil buntáiste amach is amach san fhadtéarma ag baint le Arimidex ó thaobh marthanais de maidir le hothair a chuaigh faoi mháinliacht d’ailse brollaigh go luath.

Áirítear roinnt othar ó Chlinic Brollaigh Ospidéal Uladh sa staidéar sin agus ba mhó an cúnamh a bhí sa tseirbhís sláinte ansin dóibh.

(AQW 3809/01)

Ms de Brún: Belfast East, East Antrim and North Antrim constituencies have neither an Acute hospital nor a Minor Injuries Unit.

Níl Géarotharlann nó Ionad Mionghortuithe i dtoghlaigh Bhéal Feirste Thoir, Aontroma Thoir nó Thuaidh.

(AQW 3817/01)

Ms de Brún: It is not possible to assess the present standards of diagnosis of young people with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. Continual Professional Development of GPs and psychiatrists is designed to ensure increased awareness and to keep professionals up to date with developments in this area.

Support for the individuals diagnosed with ADHD is provided via the child and adolescent services. Support for the families and carers is available through a range of mental health carer support services provided by the statutory and voluntary sectors.

Ní féidir caighdeáin láithreacha fháthmheas dhaoine óga le Neamhord Easpa Aire agus Hipirghníomhaíochta (NEAH) a mheasúnú. Tá sé de chuspóir ag Forbairt Leanúnach Ghairmiúil Ghnáthdhochtúirí agus síciatraithe níos mó eolais air a chinntiú agus gairmithe a choinneáil ar an eolas faoi na forbairtí sa réimse seo.

Tugtar tacaíocht do na daoine aonair fáthmheasta le NEAH tríd na seirbhísí páistí agus ógánach. Tá tacaíocht do theaghlaigh agus d’fheighlithe ar fáil trí réimse seirbhísí tacaíochta d’fheighlithe sláinte meabhrach soláthraithe ag na hearnálacha reachtúla agus deonacha.

(AQW 3818/01)

Ms de Brún: Psychiatrists are educated about ADHD during their general professional training as part of child and adolescent mental health subjects. Child and adolescent psychiatrists, who undergo higher professional training in this sub-specialty prior to becoming consultants, would focus on relevant areas such as ADHD in considerably more depth. Post graduate Continual Professional Development of psychiatrists would ensure increased awareness of ADHD and that professionals keep up to date with developments in this area.

Múintear ábhar an NEAH do shíciatraithe le linn a n-oiliúna gairmiúla ginearálta mar chuid d’ábhair sláinte meabhrach an pháiste agus an ógánaigh. Dhíreodh síciatraithe páistí agus ógánach, a dhéanann oiliúint ghairmiúil níos airde san fhospeisialtacht seo sula ndéantar comhairleacha díobh, i bhfad níos mine ar réimsí cuí amhail NEAH. Chinnteodh Forbairt Leanúnach Ghairmiúil Iarchéime na síciatraithe go mbeadh níos mó eolais acu ar NEAH agus go gcinneodh gairmithe súil ar fhorbairtí sa réimse seo.

(AQW 3739/01)

The Minister for Regional Development (Mr P Robinson): I can advise that the expenditure on roads maintenance in West Tyrone represents 9.0 % of the total spend on roads maintenance in Northern Ireland during 2001/2002.

(AQW 3776/01)

Mr P Robinson: Water Service has 918 wastewater treatment works and sea outfalls. The treatment processes used are as follows:

• primary treatment which removes suspended solids in the wastewater prior to discharge to the receiving waters;

• secondary treatment which provides an additional stage of treatment involving some form of biological process which removes soluble and colloidal organic matter prior to discharge; and

• tertiary treatment which employs further processes designed to remove residual suspended solids and reduce ammonia, nitrogen or phosohorous.

Discharges from sea outfalls are normally provided with screened treatment to remove large floating solid material.

The treatment process used is determined by the effluent consent standards, which are set by the Environment and Heritage Service. The following table provides a breakdown of the number of wastewater treatment works by treatment process.

(AQW 3777/01)

Mr P Robinson: The provision of secondary treatment processes at the proposed North Coast Wastewater Treatment Works will ensure that wastewater discharges comply with the standards set by the Department of the Environment’s Environment and Heritage Service. These standards take account of European Community Directives and United Kingdom standards, together with local environmental requirements.

The site of the proposed works is large enough to permit the construction of tertiary treatment facilities, should standards be made more rigorous in the future. The additional capital cost would be in the order of £2 million and the additional running costs are estimated to be around £53,000 per anum.

Given the current underfunding of Water Service, and the pressures on its capital investment programme, I could not sanction spending an additional £2 million on treating wastewater to standards higher than those set by the regulatory authorities.

(AQW 3778/01)

Mr P Robinson: The proposed North Coast Wastewater Treatment Works is a substantial project. The works will be constructed at Craigtown More and treated effluent will be conveyed 1 kilometre out to sea through a submerged pipeline to be laid off Rinagree Point. This will enable existing wastewater treatment works at Coleraine to be downgraded, removing the present discharge of treated effluent to the River Bann. Wastewater from Castlerock and Articlave will be pumped to a storm water holding facility at the Coleraine site. New pumping stations, to be constructed at Portrush and Portstewart, will transfer flows to the new North Coast Works and permit the removal of effluent discharges to the Articlave River and the sea at Castlerock, Blackrock and Ramore Head. The project will accommodate future residential, tourist and commercial growth for the next 30 years.

Water Service recently applied for outline planning permission for the Works and the timetable for its construction is presently under review. The earliest possible date that the construction could commence would be 2003, however, the actual date will be subject to the availability of funding. It is estimated that construction of the works will take 4 years to complete.

(AQW 3779/01)

Mr P Robinson: The current estimate of the capital cost of the North Coast Wastewater Treatment Works project is in the region of £36 million. This comprises £18 million for the treatment works, £6 million for the sea outfall and £12 million for sewers and pumping stations.

(AQW 3790/01)

Mr P Robinson: I am answering Question numbers AQW 3790/01, and AQW 3791/01 together.

I should explain that in certain circumstances my Department’s Roads Service may provide salt bins on adopted roads, which are not included in the salting schedule. The salt bins are provided for use by local residents on a self-help basis during periods of icy weather conditions.

To qualify for consideration for the provision of a salt bin, the gradient of a road should be equal to, or greater than, 5% (i.e. 1in 20) and where a reasonable alternative route on the salting schedule is not available. Other criteria taken into account are the road geometry, residential and commercial usage and community welfare reasons. A point scoring system is then applied.

From November to March inclusive the salt boxes are inspected and filled as required. If necessary, during the summer months some boxes are removed in case they would be stolen or damaged. Normally the boxes would not be provided within 100 metres of one another.

I am advised that there are 25 salt boxes within the Carrickfergus area. Details of the locations are detailed on the table below.

(AQW 3791/01)

Mr P Robinson: I am answering Question numbers AQW 3790/01, and AQW 3791/01 together.

I should explain that in certain circumstances my Department’s Roads Service may provide salt bins on adopted roads, which are not included in the salting schedule. The salt bins are provided for use by local residents on a self-help basis during periods of icy weather conditions.

To qualify for consideration for the provision of a salt bin, the gradient of a road should be equal to, or greater than, 5% (i.e. 1in 20) and where a reasonable alternative route on the salting schedule is not available. Other criteria taken into account are the road geometry, residential and commercial usage and community welfare reasons. A point scoring system is then applied.

From November to March inclusive the salt boxes are inspected and filled as required. If necessary, during the summer months some boxes are removed in case they would be stolen or damaged. Normally the boxes would not be provided within 100 metres of one another.

I am advised that there are 25 salt boxes within the Carrickfergus area. Details of the locations are detailed on the table below.

(AQW 3813/01)

Mr P Robinson: My Department has published one final EIA and issued a further one for consultation. The costs (including staff costs) are detailed below:

(AQW 3879/01)

Mr P Robinson: A dedicated unit has been established within my Department to take forward the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, of which the Publication Scheme is one element. Work on the Scheme is well advanced and it is anticipated that it will be sent to the Information Commissioner for approval in September.

(AQO 1522/01)

Mr P Robinson: I have currently no plans to introduce a scheme that will offer additional compensation to farmers and landowners who have small parcels of land acquired for road development. The Department of Finance and Personnel, Valuation and Lands Agency is responsible for the agreeing of compensation in such cases and I am informed by that Agency that compensation is based on open market value.

(AQO 1528/01)

Mr P Robinson: My Department entered a total of 38 bids under the Reinvestment and Reform Initiative amounting to £277 million of which £99 million relates to 2002/03 and £178 million to 2003/04.

The detailed list of bids was made available to the Regional Development Committee and I have arranged for a copy to be put in the Assembly Library. The list includes 15 projects put forward in April for support under the Infrastructure Executive Programme Fund. The schemes include strategic road improvements on major routes throughout Northern Ireland, upgrading the Eastern Seaboard Corridor – i.e. the A8, Westlink, the M1 and various schemes on the A1 including the dualling of the road between Newry and the Border – Skeoge Link and the final stage of the Omagh throughpass. I have also sought significant investment in new buses and have bid for the funds necessary to continue work on the railways including the Antrim – Knockmore railway line. In respect of water and sewerage I am seeking resources to replace defective water mains and sewers, to reduce leakage, to improve water quality and enhance environmental protection measures.

(AQO 1535/01)

Mr P Robinson: The A8 Belfast to Larne Road forms a key link in Northern Ireland’s Strategic Transportation Network and is part of the Trans European Network. My Department’s Roads Service intends to carry out a package of improvements costing some £12 million to the A8 Belfast to Larne road.

The current position on each of the 5 components is as follows:

• 2 climbing lanes at Ballynure – the climbing lanes are under construction and should be complete by October 2002;

• Doagh Road to Coleman’s Corner dualling – all statutory procedures will be completed when the Vesting Order becomes operative on 24 June 2002. It is expected that the tender documents will issue in July 2002 and that the contract will be awarded in the autumn, with work commencing before the end of this year;

• New roundabouts at Millbrook and Antiville – this scheme has already completed the Environmental Assessment and Planning Approval (Direction Order) stages of the statutory procedures. I am pleased to be able to announce today that the single objection to the Vesting Order is being set aside without recourse to a Public Inquiry; this will allow the land acquisition phase to be completed shortly. Roads Service has already initiated the tender process with a view to making a start on site later this year.

• Link road and roundabout scheme at the A57 junction, Ballynure – the Notice of Intention to Make a Vesting Order is being prepared and should be published this summer;

• Traffic calming measures at Ballynure – these will be implemented as part of the new link road and roundabout scheme at the A57 junction, Ballynure.

(AQO 1510/01)

Mr P Robinson: Officials of Water Service and Environment and Heritage Service met recently to discuss Environmental and Heritage Service’s concerns about the pollution of waterways in the Downpatrick area, and the operation of the Downpatrick Wastewater Treatment Works.

In addition to installing new inlet screens, Water Service intends to carry out some modifications at the Works which will address Environment and Heritage Service’s concerns. This work is due to be completed before the July holidays and Environment and Heritage Service has advised that it will enable the present restrictions on development, in the area served by the Works, to be lifted.

Water Service has a major ongoing and planned programme of detailed investigations into the sewerage networks across Northern Ireland. The aim of these investigations, which are known as drainage area studies, is to determine the improvements necessary to enable the sewerage networks to meet future capacity and environmental requirements.

The study into the Downpatrick sewerage network had been scheduled to commence in 2003. However, it has been agreed with Environment and Heritage Service, that it will be brought forward and will now commence in the Autumn of 2002. The study will take 2 years to complete.

(AQO 1518/01)

Mr P Robinson: Translink has advised that it is currently considering options for the upgrading of the East Antrim Line. The extent of the upgrading will depend on the availability of funding.

Among the options being considered is the conversion of two level crossings at Jordanstown and Troopers Lane from automatic half-barrier to a manually controlled barrier with CCTV, and the re-lay of the line.

Translink has advised that work planned is in line with ongoing improvements. During the past 12 months, over £1m was spent on sea defences; Carrickfergus station was refurbished and new Park and Ride facilities were built at Whitehead station.

(AQO 1526/01)

Mr P Robinson: The Regional Development Strategy (RDS) designates sea and air ports as regional gateways and highlights the need to develop the Regional Strategic Transport Network, based on Key Transport Corridors, to connect a number of towns and provide links to the major regional gateways. The Regional Transportation Strategy, which I will bring to the Assembly before the summer recess, will identify the transportation priorities and level of investment required, including that for the Regional Strategic Transport Network, over the next 10 years to progress significantly towards that vision.

(AQO 1553/01)

Mr P Robinson: To achieve the longer-term transportation vision for Northern Ireland, set out in the Regional Development Strategy, would require additional investment of around £2.5 billion over the next 25 years. The Regional Transportation Strategy, which I will bring to the Assembly before the summer recess, will identify the transportation priorities and level of investment required, including that for the Regional Strategic Transport Network (which includes the KTCs), over the next 10 years to progress significantly towards achievement of the vision.

(AQO 1509/01)

Mr P Robinson: My Department’s Roads Service has advised me that currently this £5.5M scheme is 4 weeks ahead of schedule and is due for completion in September 2002.

The Tillysburn Bridge carries the Sydenham Bypass over the Bangor to Belfast railway line. It carries 56,000 vehicles per day and is being replaced as part of Roads Service’s bridge strengthening programme. One element of the scheme is the provision of an underpass to service Belfast City Airport part-funded by the airport authorities. It will allow vehicles leaving the airport and intending to turn right, to pass under the Sydenham Bypass before joining the Belfast-bound carriageway via a slip road.

I hope the Member will agree that this project has been managed very efficiently and, due to considerable traffic management arrangements put in place by Roads Service and the contractor, disruption to road and rail users has been kept to a minimum.

(AQO 1544/01)

Mr P Robinson: Roads Service expenditure in West Tyrone, which comprises the Omagh and Strabane District Council areas, was just over £15million in the 2001/2002 financial year. This includes some £4.5 million on major road improvement schemes, £1.5 million on other improvements including accident remedial and traffic calming schemes and £9 million on road maintenance including winter service, grass cutting and street lighting.

In the current financial year Water Service proposes to invest £14 million on upgrading water and sewerage infrastructure in the Omagh and Strabane District Council areas. Some £12 million of this is to be spent on the upgrading of Lough Macrory Water Treatment Works, Strabane Wastewater Treatment Works and Omagh Wastewater Treatment Works.

Water Service operational expenditure, which includes items such as wages, salaries, materials, hired and contract services, is not available on an Assembly constituency or District Council basis. However, operational expenditure in the Service’s Western Division, which includes the West Tyrone area, was almost £22 million in the 2001/2002 financial year. It is envisaged that a similar amount will be spent in the current financial year.

(AQO 1561/01)

Mr P Robinson: My Department’s Roads Service has taken several steps to address the traffic situation in Kilkeel. Traffic calming works at Knockchree Avenue and Rooney Road, Kilkeel, have recently been carried out in response to public requests to reduce vehicle speeds and improve safety on these roads. The effectiveness and impact of this scheme will be monitored over the coming months.

A number of dropped kerbs have also been provided in Kilkeel during the last financial year to facilitate the movement of pedestrians and my engineers have made further provision within this year’s programme for similar work to be carried out at sites which will be selected in consultation with representative groups in the area.

In regard to traffic congestion in the town centre, a recent survey did not indicate significant delays during weekdays. It was noted, however, that inappropriate parking and delivery vehicles had an adverse affect on traffic flows particularly during peak times. I am pleased to inform you that where necessary Roads Service plan to refurbish the markings and signage associated with existing waiting restrictions in order to assist enforcement and improve traffic progression. This work will be completed within the next quarter.

(AQO 1516/01)

Mr P Robinson: The level of expenditure on consultant fees on Roads Service projects in each of the past 3 years is as follows:

This includes road and bridge schemes, and work associated with Area Planning and Development Control.

(AQO 1525/01)

Mr P Robinson: My colleague Gregory Campbell and I have both had correspondence with members of the Scottish Executive to emphasize the importance to the Northern Ireland economy of upgrading the network of roads linking with the Scottish Ferry ports. I also took the opportunity to raise this issue with my counterpart in the Scottish Executive during a meeting earlier this year on another matter.

A planned meeting to discuss a range of issues including the upgrade of the Scottish roads network was subsequently postponed and as a result of changes within the Scottish Executive has not yet been reinstated.

(AQO 1512/01)

Mr P Robinson: Over the last few months there has been a spate of attacks from bridges and all such attacks must be condemned by the whole community. Unfortunately they are not new, nor are they confined to bridges over the M2 such as Arthur’s Bridge. There is also a widespread problem of stone throwing from the roadside, which can have equally serious consequences for those using the roads.

My Department’s Roads Service and the police treat these incidents very seriously and the matter is kept under constant review. A protective covering for Arthur’s Bridge to try to deter such attacks would be a very large structure, requiring a headroom of some 5.3. metres high. Setting aside issues of cost, such engineering measures will only reduce but not eliminate the risk of this particular type of attack. They will be seen as a challenge to vandals who will find other modes of attack, possibly from the roads running beside the motorway.

There are also serious reservations about the visual amenity of such fortifications, with signals being sent of a community in decline. In particular, the M2 downhill approach is one of the most attractive gateways into Belfast and to fortify bridges along this route would not be conducive to the image we would like to portray for such a major entrance into our capital city.

Our conclusion at present, therefore, is that engineering measures such as the erection of screens on bridges should only be implemented as a last resort. This is also the view of our counterparts in Great Britain where similar problems have existed in various locations for some time.

Essentially the throwing of objects from bridges is a matter for the Police and enhanced enforcement together with strong community leadership may well be the best way forward. I therefore welcome the recent announcements by the Security Minister, Jane Kennedy, that Arthur’s Bridge will be one of the locations where a CCTV camera will be erected as part of the overall NIO CCTV initiative for North Belfast.

(AQW 3723/01)

The Minister for Social Development (Mr Dodds): The information is as follows:

(AQW 3725/01)

Mr Dodds: Local government boundaries are not major influencing factors in improving the housing situation, either by programmed improvement schemes or in assessing housing need for new build.

The social newbuild programme is determined by housing need, primarily based on an analysis of waiting lists, which again are not constrained by local government boundaries. When assessing housing need, recognition is given to both the local and wider housing markets in North Belfast and Newtownabbey, including those which straddle local government boundaries.

The Department has recently changed the method for determining the threshold levels for Co-ownership participants. These are no longer based on local government boundaries but are now calculated on the basis of broader area bands which reflect, more accurately, house price fluctuations. This means that there is an opportunity for participants to purchase housing in areas where house prices have risen markedly over the past few years.

(AQW 3793/01)

Mr Dodds: There are no plans for the private sector to become involved in the direct delivery of social security benefits in Northern Ireland. A significant investment programme is currently taking place in all Social Security Offices across Northern Ireland which will result in major improvements in the range and quality of services available to the public. I can therefore confirm that no plans exist to reduce the number of Social Security Offices.

In common with other government departments, the private sector is engaged by the Social Security Agency to provide specific technical support. The use of the private sector in such circumstances does not have any impact on the number of civil service jobs in Northern Ireland.

(AQW 3814/01)

Mr Dodds: Since the introduction of Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Department for Social Development has issued five equality impact assessments for consultation. These are:

• Provision of relevant, accurate and timely information and advice about social security benefits

• Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Bill

• Child Support Agency Northern Ireland Field Operations

• Private Sector Grants

• Partners for Change – Government’s strategy for the support of the Voluntary and Community Sector.

The table below sets out the cost for each equality impact assessment (EQIA).

(AQW 3833/01)

Mr Dodds: The current procedure for deciding a customers entitlement to Disability Living Allowance is set to ensure that all decisions are made in accordance with Social Security legislation. The processes for making awards are constantly being reviewed and it is intended to introduce a new computerised process in the Autumn.